The Visa Bulletin for December 2016 includes information on oversubscription of Mexico employment-based fourth and certain religious workers preference categories, the scheduled expiration of two employment visa categories, and projections on future employment-based visa availability.
Note: As of November 9, 2016, USCIS has not advised whether in December 2016, it will accept adjustment of status applications for family- or employment-based petitions based on filing dates, rather than final action dates. USCIS anticipates that this information will be released within one week of the monthly Visa Bulletin.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if our office can help you take advantage of this (very time-sensitive for some) opportunity to file I-485 applications. We are also happy to provide a free quote for preparing and filing your I-485 application.
We also invite you to contact us if our office can be of any assistance in your immigration matters or you have any questions or comments about the December 2016 Visa Bulletin.
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); “C” means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and “U” means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlierthan the final action date listed below.)
| Employ- ment based |
All Charge- ability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA |
EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS |
INDIA | MEX | PHILIPP |
| 1st | C | C | C | C | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 22SEP12 | C | 01FEB08 | C | C |
| 3rd | 01JUL16 | 01JUL13 | 01JUL16 | 15MAR05 | 01JUL16 | 01JUN11 |
| Other Workers | 01JUL16 | 01NOV05 | 01JUL16 | 15MAR05 | 01JUL16 | 01JUN11 |
| 4th | C | C | 15JUL15 | C | 15JUL15 | C |
| Certain Religious Workers | C | C | 15JUL15 | C | 15JUL15 | C |
| 5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) |
C | 22MAR14 | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Regional Center (I5 and R5) |
C | 22MAR14 | C | C | C | C |
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to “*Other Workers”.
Fourth: Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level.
Fifth: Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of Pub. L. 102-395.