Immigration Hub

Visa Bulletin for January 2016

Data as of · Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin · Sources checked

All priority date cutoffs in the January 2016 Visa Bulletin, for employment-based and family-sponsored categories and each chargeability country. Green and red notes show the change from December 2015: 35 final action dates advanced and 0 retrogressed. The biggest moves were EB-2 India (+8.0 months), F1 Philippines (+5.0 months), EB-3 Other Workers China (+4.0 months).

USCIS filing chart for January 2016 (adjustment of status in the U.S.)

Source: USCIS, January 2016 adjustment of status filing charts.

New to the two charts? Read Final Action Dates vs Dates for Filing.

Employment-based: Final Action Dates

CategoryIndiaChinaMexicoPhilippinesAll other countries
EB-1CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-2Feb 1, 2008+8.0 mowas Jun 1, 2007Feb 1, 2012CurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-3May 15, 2004+0.8 mowas Apr 22, 2004Jul 1, 2012+2.5 mowas Apr 15, 2012Oct 1, 2015+1.0 mowas Sep 1, 2015Nov 1, 2007+3.0 mowas Aug 1, 2007Oct 1, 2015+1.0 mowas Sep 1, 2015
EB-3 Other WorkersMay 15, 2004+0.8 mowas Apr 22, 2004Dec 1, 2006+4.0 mowas Aug 1, 2006Oct 1, 2015+1.0 mowas Sep 1, 2015Nov 1, 2007+3.0 mowas Aug 1, 2007Oct 1, 2015+1.0 mowas Sep 1, 2015
EB-4CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5CurrentJan 8, 2014+0.8 mowas Dec 15, 2013CurrentCurrentCurrent

Employment-based: Dates for Filing

CategoryIndiaChinaMexicoPhilippinesAll other countries
EB-1CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-2Jul 1, 2009Jan 1, 2013CurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-3Jul 1, 2005Oct 1, 2013Jan 1, 2016+4.0 mowas Sep 1, 2015Jan 1, 2010Jan 1, 2016+4.0 mowas Sep 1, 2015
EB-3 Other WorkersJul 1, 2005Jan 1, 2007Jan 1, 2016+4.0 mowas Sep 1, 2015Jan 1, 2010Jan 1, 2016+4.0 mowas Sep 1, 2015
EB-4CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5CurrentMay 1, 2015CurrentCurrentCurrent

Family-sponsored: Final Action Dates

CategoryIndiaChinaMexicoPhilippinesAll other countries
F1May 15, 2008+1.4 mowas Apr 1, 2008May 15, 2008+1.4 mowas Apr 1, 2008Dec 22, 1994+0.5 mowas Dec 8, 1994Jun 1, 2003+5.0 mowas Jan 1, 2003May 15, 2008+1.4 mowas Apr 1, 2008
F2AAug 1, 2014+1.5 mowas Jun 15, 2014Aug 1, 2014+1.5 mowas Jun 15, 2014Jun 1, 2014+0.8 mowas May 8, 2014Aug 1, 2014+1.5 mowas Jun 15, 2014Aug 1, 2014+1.5 mowas Jun 15, 2014
F2BApr 1, 2009+1.0 mowas Mar 1, 2009Apr 1, 2009+1.0 mowas Mar 1, 2009Sep 8, 1995Jan 1, 2005+1.0 mowas Dec 1, 2004Apr 1, 2009+1.0 mowas Mar 1, 2009
F3Aug 1, 2004+1.0 mowas Jul 1, 2004Aug 1, 2004+1.0 mowas Jul 1, 2004Aug 1, 1994+0.8 mowas Jul 8, 1994Nov 1, 1993+0.3 mowas Oct 22, 1993Aug 1, 2004+1.0 mowas Jul 1, 2004
F4Apr 22, 2003+1.0 mowas Mar 22, 2003Apr 22, 2003+1.0 mowas Mar 22, 2003Apr 1, 1997Jul 22, 1992+0.7 mowas Jul 1, 1992Apr 22, 2003+1.0 mowas Mar 22, 2003

Family-sponsored: Dates for Filing

CategoryIndiaChinaMexicoPhilippinesAll other countries
F1Oct 1, 2009+5.0 mowas May 1, 2009Oct 1, 2009+5.0 mowas May 1, 2009Apr 1, 1995Sep 1, 2005Oct 1, 2009+5.0 mowas May 1, 2009
F2AJun 15, 2015+3.5 mowas Mar 1, 2015Jun 15, 2015+3.5 mowas Mar 1, 2015Jun 15, 2015+3.5 mowas Mar 1, 2015Jun 15, 2015+3.5 mowas Mar 1, 2015Jun 15, 2015+3.5 mowas Mar 1, 2015
F2BDec 15, 2010+5.5 mowas Jul 1, 2010Dec 15, 2010+5.5 mowas Jul 1, 2010Apr 1, 1996May 1, 2005Dec 15, 2010+5.5 mowas Jul 1, 2010
F3Aug 1, 2005+4.0 mowas Apr 1, 2005Aug 1, 2005+4.0 mowas Apr 1, 2005May 1, 1995Aug 1, 1995Aug 1, 2005+4.0 mowas Apr 1, 2005
F4May 1, 2004+3.0 mowas Feb 1, 2004May 1, 2004+3.0 mowas Feb 1, 2004Jun 1, 1998Jan 1, 1993May 1, 2004+3.0 mowas Feb 1, 2004

FAQ

Which categories advanced in the January 2016 Visa Bulletin?

Compared with December 2015, 35 final action dates moved forward: EB-2 India (Jun 1, 2007 to Feb 1, 2008), EB-3 India (Apr 22, 2004 to May 15, 2004), EB-3 China (Apr 15, 2012 to Jul 1, 2012), EB-3 Mexico (Sep 1, 2015 to Oct 1, 2015), EB-3 Philippines (Aug 1, 2007 to Nov 1, 2007), EB-3 Rest of World (Sep 1, 2015 to Oct 1, 2015), EB-3 Other Workers India (Apr 22, 2004 to May 15, 2004), EB-3 Other Workers China (Aug 1, 2006 to Dec 1, 2006), EB-3 Other Workers Mexico (Sep 1, 2015 to Oct 1, 2015), EB-3 Other Workers Philippines (Aug 1, 2007 to Nov 1, 2007), EB-3 Other Workers Rest of World (Sep 1, 2015 to Oct 1, 2015), EB-5 China (Dec 15, 2013 to Jan 8, 2014), F1 India (Apr 1, 2008 to May 15, 2008), F1 China (Apr 1, 2008 to May 15, 2008), F1 Mexico (Dec 8, 1994 to Dec 22, 1994), F1 Philippines (Jan 1, 2003 to Jun 1, 2003), F1 Rest of World (Apr 1, 2008 to May 15, 2008), F2A India (Jun 15, 2014 to Aug 1, 2014), F2A China (Jun 15, 2014 to Aug 1, 2014), F2A Mexico (May 8, 2014 to Jun 1, 2014), F2A Philippines (Jun 15, 2014 to Aug 1, 2014), F2A Rest of World (Jun 15, 2014 to Aug 1, 2014), F2B India (Mar 1, 2009 to Apr 1, 2009), F2B China (Mar 1, 2009 to Apr 1, 2009), F2B Philippines (Dec 1, 2004 to Jan 1, 2005), F2B Rest of World (Mar 1, 2009 to Apr 1, 2009), F3 India (Jul 1, 2004 to Aug 1, 2004), F3 China (Jul 1, 2004 to Aug 1, 2004), F3 Mexico (Jul 8, 1994 to Aug 1, 1994), F3 Philippines (Oct 22, 1993 to Nov 1, 1993), F3 Rest of World (Jul 1, 2004 to Aug 1, 2004), F4 India (Mar 22, 2003 to Apr 22, 2003), F4 China (Mar 22, 2003 to Apr 22, 2003), F4 Philippines (Jul 1, 1992 to Jul 22, 1992), F4 Rest of World (Mar 22, 2003 to Apr 22, 2003).

Did any category retrogress in January 2016?

No. No final action date moved back compared with December 2015.

Which chart did USCIS designate for January 2016?

For January 2016, USCIS designated the Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored applicants and the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based applicants for adjustment of status applications.

Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin, January 2016. Check the official bulletin and the USCIS filing chart before you act.