Visa Bulletin September 2018

Updated information for the September 2018 Visa Bulletin is now available.

The new tables include the consular filing dates and final visa issuance action.

If you would like to view the Visa Bulletin tables on Filing for Adjustment of Status (immigrant visa applications filed within the United States) click here.

These are the tables of the Visa Bulletin for September 2018 for family or employment based cases:

Final Action Dates for Family-Based Case Requests

 

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 08APR11 08APR11 08APR11 01AUG97 15NOV06
F2A 22JUL16 22JUL16 22JUL16 01JUL16 22JUL16
F2B 01NOV11 01NOV11 01NOV11 22APR97 22APR07
F3 01MAY06 01MAY06 01MAY06 22DEC95 01JUN95
F4 08JAN05 08JAN05 08APR04 15JAN98 01JUN95

 

Dates for Filing Family Based Case Applications

 

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 08MAR12 08MAR12 08MAR12 01SEP98 15FEB08
F2A 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17
F2B 22MAR14 22MAR14 22MAR14 08JUN97 15DEC07
F3 22SEP06 22SEP06 22SEP06 08OCT98 01AUG95
F4 01MAY05 01MAY05 01JAN05 01JUN98 01DEC95

 

Employment-Based Case Applications Final Action Dates

 

Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
EL SALVADOR
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES VIETNAM
1st 01JUN16 01JAN12 01JUN16 01JAN12 01JUN16 01JUN16 01JUN16
2nd 01JAN13 01JAN13 01JAN13 01JAN07 01JAN13 01JAN13 01JAN13
3rd 01NOV16 01NOV14 01NOV16 01JAN03 01NOV16 01NOV16 01NOV16
Other Workers 01NOV16 01MAY07 01NOV16 01JAN03 01NOV16 01NOV16 01NOV16
4th C C 15FEB16 15FEB16 15FEB16 C C
Certain Religious Workers C C 15FEB16 15FEB16 15FEB16 C C
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 08AUG14 C C C C 08AUG14
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
C 08AUG14 C C C C 08AUG14

 

Dates for Submitting Employment-Based Case Applications

 

Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
EL SALVADOR
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS
INDIA MEXICO  PHILIPPINES 
1st C C C C C C
2nd C 01APR15 C 22MAY09 C C
3rd C 01JAN16 C 01MAY09 C 01JUL17
Other Workers C 01JUN08 C 01MAY09 C 01JUL17
4th C C 01MAY16 C C C
Certain Religious Workers C C 01MAY16 C C C
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 01OCT14 C C C C
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
C 01OCT14 C C C C

 

Remember that in October 2015, the process for filing applications changed. Now, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services publish two tables for each visa preference category with the following information: In the sections where a "C" is marked, it means that the category is current, and applications may be filed regardless of the applicant's priority date.

- Final Action Dates: dates on which immigrant visas can finally be issued.
- Dates for Filing: earliest date a person can file an application for an immigrant visa.

In order to determine when you can start the process to apply for an immigrant visa through consular channels or adjustment of status, you should check the lists every month.

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