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Visa Bulletin for August 2016

Final action dates and dates for filing for family-sponsored and employment-based green cards, as published by the U.S. Department of State.

20 final action dates advanced and 6 retrogressed compared with July 2016. Biggest moves: EB-1 (China and India) retrogressed to Jan 1, 2010; EB-2 (all countries, Mexico and Philippines) retrogressed to Feb 1, 2014; EB-4 (India) retrogressed to Jan 1, 2010.

Final Action Dates — August 2016

An immigrant visa or green card can be approved only if the priority date is earlier than the date shown. Changes compared with July 2016 are shown under each date.

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	May 22, 2009 +2 mo	May 22, 2009 +2 mo	May 22, 2009 +2 mo	Mar 8, 1995 no change	Mar 22, 2005 +49 d
F2A	Nov 15, 2014 no change	Nov 15, 2014 no change	Nov 15, 2014 no change	Sep 1, 2014 no change	Nov 15, 2014 no change
F2B	Jan 8, 2010 +31 d	Jan 8, 2010 +31 d	Jan 8, 2010 +31 d	Sep 8, 1995 no change	Sep 15, 2005 +2.5 mo
F3	Dec 1, 2004 no change	Dec 1, 2004 no change	Dec 1, 2004 no change	Oct 22, 1994 no change	Mar 15, 1994 +14 d
F4	Sep 15, 2003 +7 d	Jan 1, 2003 no change	Jan 1, 2001 no change	Apr 15, 1997 no change	Feb 1, 1993 +31 d

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current no change	Jan 1, 2010 retrogressed	Jan 1, 2010 retrogressed	Current no change	Current no change
EB-2	Feb 1, 2014 retrogressed	Jan 1, 2010 no change	Nov 15, 2004 +14 d	Feb 1, 2014 retrogressed	Feb 1, 2014 retrogressed
EB-3	Mar 15, 2016 +14 d	Jan 1, 2010 no change	Nov 8, 2004 +17 d	Mar 15, 2016 +14 d	May 15, 2009 +2.9 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Mar 15, 2016 +14 d	Jan 1, 2004 no change	Nov 8, 2004 +17 d	Mar 15, 2016 +14 d	May 15, 2009 +2.9 mo
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Jan 1, 2010 retrogressed	Jan 1, 2010 no change	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Feb 15, 2014 no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — August 2016

Applicants with a priority date earlier than these dates can submit documents to the National Visa Center, and — in months when USCIS says so — file Form I-485. See Final Action Date vs. Date for Filing.

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Jan 1, 2010 +3 mo	Jan 1, 2010 +3 mo	Jan 1, 2010 +3 mo	Apr 1, 1995 no change	Dec 22, 2005 +3.7 mo
F2A	Nov 22, 2015 +38 d	Nov 22, 2015 +38 d	Nov 22, 2015 +38 d	Nov 22, 2015 +38 d	Nov 22, 2015 +38 d
F2B	Feb 8, 2011 +55 d	Feb 8, 2011 +55 d	Feb 8, 2011 +55 d	May 22, 1996 +7 d	Feb 1, 2006 +31 d
F3	Aug 22, 2005 +21 d	Aug 22, 2005 +21 d	Aug 22, 2005 +21 d	May 1, 1995 no change	Aug 1, 1995 no change
F4	Jun 15, 2004 +45 d	Jun 15, 2004 +45 d	May 1, 2004 no change	Jun 1, 1998 no change	Jul 15, 1993 +3.4 mo

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-2	Current no change	Jun 1, 2013 no change	Jul 1, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	May 1, 2015 no change	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Current no change	Jan 1, 2013 +36 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Aug 1, 2009 no change	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Current no change	Jan 1, 2013 +36 mo
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	May 1, 2015 no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

* "All countries" = All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed. "Current" means no backlog: any priority date qualifies. Dates are copied from the official bulletin; always confirm on travel.state.gov before acting.

Summary

What changed in the August 2016 Visa Bulletin?

EB-1 (China and India) retrogressed to Jan 1, 2010; EB-2 (all countries, Mexico and Philippines) retrogressed to Feb 1, 2014; EB-4 (India) retrogressed to Jan 1, 2010; EB-3 (Philippines) advanced 2.9 months to May 15, 2009; EB-3 Other Workers (Philippines) advanced 2.9 months to May 15, 2009; F2B (Philippines) advanced 2.5 months to Sep 15, 2005; F1 (all countries, China and India) advanced 2 months to May 22, 2009; F1 (Philippines) advanced 49 days to Mar 22, 2005.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for August 2016 (travel.state.gov)

Figures are copied from the official files without changes; derived numbers (changes, backlog estimates) are explained on the methodology page. Not legal advice.