Visa Bulletin January 2019

Updated information for the January 2019 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 January 2019 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 22AUG11 22AUG11 22AUG11 01AUG97 01MAR07
F2A 08NOV16 08NOV16 08NOV16 15OCT16 08NOV16
F2B 15MAR12 15MAR12 15MAR12 08JUN97 22JUN07
F3 15AUG06 15AUG06 15AUG06 22DEC95 22JUL95
F4 22MAY05 22MAY05 15JUN04 08FEB98 01SEP95

 

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 22AUG99 15FEB08
F2A 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17
F2B 22MAR14 22MAR14 22MAR14 08SEP97 15DEC07
F3 08JAN07 08JAN07 08JAN07 01MAY00 01JUN97
F4 15MAY06 15MAY06 01JAN05 08OCT98 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 01OCT17 15DEC16 01OCT17 15DEC16 01OCT17 01OCT17 01OCT17
2nd C 01AUG15 C 01APR09 C C C
3rd C 08JUN15 C 01MAR09 C 22JUN17 C
Other Workers C 01JUL07 C 01MAR09 C 22JUN17 C
4th C C 22FEB16 C 15APR17 C C
Certain Religious Workers U U U U U U U
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 01SEP14 C C C C 01JUN16
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
U U U U U U U

 

 

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 01JAN16 C 01APR10 C 01AUG17
Other Workers C 01JUN08 C 01APR10 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.

en_USEnglish