Visa Bulletin December 2018

Updated information for the December 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 U.S.) click here.

These are the tables of the Visa Bulletin for December 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 08AUG11 08AUG11 08AUG11 01AUG97 15FEB07
F2A 08OCT16 08OCT16 08OCT16 22SEP16 08OCT16
F2B 15FEB12 15FEB12 15FEB12 08JUN97 08JUN07
F3 01AUG06 01AUG06 01AUG06 22DEC95 08JUL95
F4 22APR05 22APR05 08JUN04 08FEB98 15JUL95

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 22APR99 15FEB08
F2A 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17
F2B 22MAR14 22MAR14 22MAR14 01AUG97 15DEC07
F3 08JAN07 08JAN07 08JAN07 08OCT99 01JUN97
F4 01FEB06 01FEB06 01JAN05 15SEP98 22APR97

 

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 01JUL17 01SEP16 01JUL17 01SEP16 01JUL17 01JUL17 01JUL17
2nd C 01JUL15 C 01APR09 C C C
3rd C 08JUN15 C 01MAR09 C 15JUN17 C
Other Workers C 01JUN07 C 01MAR09 C 15JUN17 C
4th C C 22FEB16 C 01JAN17 C C
Certain Religious Workers C C 22FEB16 C 01JAN17 C C
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 22AUG14 C C C C 01MAY16
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
C 22AUG14 C C C C 01MAY16

 

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 01JUN18 01OCT17 01JUN18 01OCT17 01JUN18 01JUN18
2nd C 08SEP15 C 22MAY09 C C
3rd C 01DEC15 C 01JAN10 C 01AUG17
Other Workers C 01JUN08 C 01JAN10 C 01AUG17
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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