IMPACT – MEDIUM
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that next month it will only accept employment-based adjustment-of-status applications based on the Final Action Dates chart that was publish in the State Department’s July Visa Bulletin.
The Dates for Filing chart will not apply. Employment-based immigrants must follow the Final Action Dates chart (below) to determine filing eligibility. Only applicants with priority dates earlier than the dates listed in the chart will be permitted to file their applications for adjustment of status in July.
Application Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases:
| Category | China | El Salvador Guatemala Honduras | India | Mexico | Philippines | Vietnam | All Other Countries |
| EB-1 | May 8, 2017 | April 22, 2018 | Jan. 1, 2015 | April 22, 2018 | April 22, 2018 | April 22, 2018 | April 22, 2018 |
| EB-2 | Nov. 1, 2016 | Current | April 24, 2009 | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Jan. 1, 2016 | Current | July 1, 2009 | Current | Current | Current | Current |
USCIS also announced that family-based immigrants will be permitted to use the Dates for Filing chart that is applicable to family-sponsored immigrants in July. The Dates for Filing chart for family-based immigrants was also published in the July Visa Bulletin.
This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.