Visa Bulletin May 2018

Updated information for the May 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 May 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 15NOV96 22JAN06
F2A 01JUN16 01JUN16 01JUN16 22APR16 01JUN16
F2B 15MAY11 15MAY11 15MAY11 01DEC96 15DEC06
F3 01FEB06 01FEB06 01FEB06 01SEP95 01APR95
F4 01OCT04 01OCT04 01MAR04 08JAN98 01FEB95

 

Dates for Filing Family Based Case Applications

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 08JAN12 08JAN12 08JAN12 15JUL98 08OCT07
F2A 22SEP17 22SEP17 22SEP17 22SEP17 22SEP17
F2B 08SEP11 08SEP11 08SEP11 22MAY97 08SEP07
F3 08SEP06 08SEP06 08SEP06 22SEP98 22JUL95
F4 01APR05 01APR05 01DEC04 08MAY98 15OCT95

 

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 C 01JAN12 C 01JAN12 C C C
2nd C 01SEP14 C 22DEC08 C C C
3rd C 01JUN15 C 01MAY08 C 01JAN17 C
Other Workers C 01MAY07 C 01MAY08 C 01JAN17 C
4th C C 15DEC15 C 22OCT16 C C
Certain Religious Workers C C 15DEC15 C 22OCT16 C C
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 22JUL14 C C C C 22JUL14
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
C 22JUL14 C C C C 22JUL14

 

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 01FEB15 C 01APR09 C C
3rd C 01JAN16 C 01SEP08 C 01JUL17
Other Workers C 01JUN08 C 01SEP08 C 01JUL17
4th C C 15APR16 C C C
Certain Religious Workers C C 15APR16 C C C
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 01SEP14 C C C C
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
C 01SEP14 C C C C

 

Remember that in October 2015, the application process changed. Now, the Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services publish two tables for each visa preference category with the following information:In 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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