The Department of State (DOS) posted the February 2019 Visa Bulletin, which provides the visa number availability for family-sponsored and employment-sponsored preference categories, as well as for the diversity visa lottery cut-offs. Applicants for immigrant visas (and adjustment of status to legal permanent residency) who have a priority date (place in line) earlier than the application date in the Bulletin may file for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status.
The following information is the for the final action dates chart for employment-based visas. The EB-1 category remains backlogged and is at December 15, 2016, for China and India and October 1, 2017 for the worldwide category. The EB-2 China category has a priority date of August 1, 2015, and India’s is at April 1, 2009. The EB-3 worldwide category is backlogged at June 8, 2015, for China and March 1, 2009, for India.
The following information is the for the filing dates chart for employment-based visas. The EB-1 category remains backlogged and is at October 1, 2017, for China and India and June 1, 2018, for the worldwide category. The EB-2 China category has a priority date of November 1, 2015, and India’s is at May 22, 2009. The EB-3 worldwide category is current and is backlogged at January 1, 2016, for China and April 1, 2010, for India.
Each month USCIS announces which chart it will use for determining acceptance of applications to adjust status (Form I-485) (https://www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo) . USCIS has not yet announced whether the applicant must use the filing date or final action date chart from the Visa Bulletin.
It is not likely that the EB-1 categories will advance significantly before the second quarter of FY2019.
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