Can a family petition be filed for children or adoptive parents?

family petition children to parents

In this week's Consulta Migratoria® column I answer the question of a reader who wishes to obtain permanent residency through adoption. Each case is different and the answers vary depending on the immigration history of each person. Here I provide a general answer to her questions. Please consult with an immigration attorney ... Read more

Visa Bulletin February 2020

Visa Bulletin

Updated information for the February 2020 Visa Bulletin is now available. The new tables include consular filing dates and final visa issuance action. If you would like to view the Visa Bulletin tables on Filing for Adjustment of Status (applications for a visa ... Read more

Visa Bulletin January 2020

Visa Bulletin

Updated information for the January 2020 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 (applications for a visa ... Read more

Visa Bulletin December 2019

Visa Bulletin

[et_pb_section fb_built="1″ _builder_version="3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.25″ background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat"][et_pb_column type="4_4″ _builder_version="3.25″ custom_padding="||||" custom_padding__hover="||||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.8.1″ background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" hover_enabled="0″ admin_label="Text" sticky_enabled="0″]Updated information for the December 2019 Visa Bulletin is now available. The new tables include the dates for filing applications through the consular channel and final visa issuance action. If you would like to ... Read more

Judge's emergency order prevents denial of visas to uninsured immigrants

Temporary restraining order

In an emergency action, a federal judge today blocked the implementation of President Trump's executive order requiring the denial of immigrant visas and barring foreign nationals without health coverage or who cannot afford to pay for their medical expenses in the United States from entering the country.

Trump orders denial of visas to immigrants without medical coverage

White House proclamation

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the denial of immigrant visas and barring entry into the country to foreigners who do not have health care coverage or can afford to pay for their medical expenses in the United States. In his presidential proclamation "Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Will Financially Burden the United States Healthcare ... Read more

Visa Bulletin October 2019

Visa Bulletin

Updated information for the October 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 October 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 15JAN13 15JAN13 15JAN13 08AUG97 01JUL08
F2A C C C C C
F2B 01JUN14 01JUN14 01JUN14 01AUG98 01SEP08
F3 15SEP07 15SEP07 15SEP07 22FEB96 01APR98
F4 22NOV06 22NOV06 01OCT04 15DEC97 08JUL98

Dates for Filing Family Based Case Applications

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 15JUL13 15JUL13 15JUL13 15NOV99 01JAN09
F2A 01AUG19 01AUG19 01AUG19 01AUG19 01AUG19
F2B 01DEC14 01DEC14 01DEC14 01APR99 01MAR09
F3 15MAR08 15MAR08 15MAR08 15JUL00 01OCT98
F4 15MAY07 15MAY07 01JUN05 01JAN99 08JAN99

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 22APR18 01NOV16 22APR18 01JAN15 22APR18 22APR18 22APR18
2nd C 01JAN15 C 12MAY09 C C C
3rd C 01NOV15 C 01JAN09 C 15OCT17 C
Other Workers C 01JAN08 C 01JAN09 C 15OCT17 C
4th C C 01JUL16 C 01MAY17 C C
Certain Religious Workers U U U U U U U
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 22OCT14 C 22NOV17 C C 15OCT16
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 01JUL19 01SEP17 01JUL19 15MAR17 01JUL19 01JUL19
2nd C 01AUG16 C 01JUL09 C C
3rd C 01MAR17 C 01FEB10 C C
Other Workers C 01AUG08 C 01FEB10 C C
4th C C 15AUG16 C C C
Certain Religious Workers C C 15AUG16 C C C
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 01JAN15 C C C C
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
C 01JAN15 C C C C

Remember that in October 2015, the process for submitting 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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