The September 2018 DOS Visa Bulletin “Final Action” chart contains important updates. The September Visa Bulletin for employment-based cases became effective August 9, 2018, due to high demand of immigrant visa numbers in the EB-2/EB-3 Worldwide, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Philippines preference categories. The DOS states that the increased demand for immigrant visa numbers is due primarily to the implementation of employment-based adjustment interviews with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).

EB-1 Priority Workers for All Chargeability areas, El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras, Mexico, Philippines, and Vietnam advances 1 month to a cut-off date of June 1, 2016. EB-1 China and India maintains their cut-off dates at January 1, 2012. EB-2 “Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability” for All Chargeability areas, China, El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras, Mexico, Philippines, and Vietnam now have Final Action Dates of January 1, 2013. EB-2 India retrogresses over two years to a January 1, 2007 cut-off date. EB-3 “Professionals/Skilled Workers” for All Chargeability areas, El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras, Mexico, Philippines, and Vietnam have a Final Action date of November 1, 2016. EB-3 China advances four months to a cut-off date of November 1, 2014. EB-3 India retrogresses six years to January 1, 2003.

Expect minimal forward movement for the EB-1 category for the next several months. With the start of Fiscal Year 2019 in October, the DOS anticipates that the EB-2/EB-3 Worldwide, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Philippines cut-off dates will return to those established in the August Visa Bulletin. Continue monitoring the monthly Visa Bulletin for further developments.