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Visa Bulletin for August 2018

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

27 final action dates advanced and 4 retrogressed compared with July 2018. Biggest moves: EB-1 (all countries, Mexico and Philippines) retrogressed to May 1, 2016; EB-4 (India) retrogressed to Feb 8, 2016; EB-3 (China) advanced 17.9 months to Jul 1, 2014.

Final Action Dates — August 2018

An immigrant visa or green card can be approved only if the priority date is earlier than the date shown. Changes compared with July 2018 are shown under each date.

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	May 8, 2011 +16 d	May 8, 2011 +16 d	May 8, 2011 +16 d	Aug 1, 1997 no change	Aug 1, 2006 +2 mo
F2A	Jul 22, 2016 +30 d	Jul 22, 2016 +30 d	Jul 22, 2016 +30 d	Jul 1, 2016 +23 d	Jul 22, 2016 +30 d
F2B	Oct 22, 2011 +2.2 mo	Oct 22, 2011 +2.2 mo	Oct 22, 2011 +2.2 mo	Apr 1, 1997 +24 d	Feb 15, 2007 +14 d
F3	Jun 15, 2006 +45 d	Jun 15, 2006 +45 d	Jun 15, 2006 +45 d	Dec 1, 1995 no change	May 1, 1995 +16 d
F4	Dec 22, 2004 +37 d	Dec 22, 2004 +37 d	Mar 22, 2004 no change	Jan 15, 1998 no change	Apr 22, 1995 +31 d

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	May 1, 2016 retrogressed	Jan 1, 2012 no change	Jan 1, 2012 no change	May 1, 2016 retrogressed	May 1, 2016 retrogressed
EB-2	Current no change	Mar 1, 2015 +59 d	Mar 15, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	Jul 1, 2014 +17.9 mo	Jan 1, 2009 +2 mo	Current no change	Jun 1, 2017 +5 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	May 1, 2007 no change	Jan 1, 2009 +2 mo	Current no change	Jun 1, 2017 +5 mo
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Feb 8, 2016 retrogressed	Feb 8, 2016 no change	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Aug 1, 2014 no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — August 2018

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	Mar 8, 2012 no change	Mar 8, 2012 no change	Mar 8, 2012 no change	Sep 1, 1998 no change	Feb 15, 2008 no change
F2A	Dec 1, 2017 no change	Dec 1, 2017 no change	Dec 1, 2017 no change	Dec 1, 2017 no change	Dec 1, 2017 no change
F2B	Jan 8, 2012 no change	Jan 8, 2012 no change	Jan 8, 2012 no change	Jun 8, 1997 no change	Dec 15, 2007 no change
F3	Sep 22, 2006 no change	Sep 22, 2006 no change	Sep 22, 2006 no change	Oct 8, 1998 no change	Aug 1, 1995 no change
F4	May 1, 2005 no change	May 1, 2005 no change	Jan 1, 2005 no change	Jun 1, 1998 no change	Dec 1, 1995 no change

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	Apr 1, 2015 no change	May 22, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	Jan 1, 2016 no change	May 1, 2009 no change	Current no change	Jul 1, 2017 no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Jun 1, 2008 no change	May 1, 2009 no change	Current no change	Jul 1, 2017 no change
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Oct 1, 2014 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 2018 Visa Bulletin?

EB-1 (all countries, Mexico and Philippines) retrogressed to May 1, 2016; EB-4 (India) retrogressed to Feb 8, 2016; EB-3 (China) advanced 17.9 months to Jul 1, 2014; EB-3 (Philippines) advanced 5 months to Jun 1, 2017; EB-3 Other Workers (Philippines) advanced 5 months to Jun 1, 2017; F2B (all countries, China and India) advanced 2.2 months to Oct 22, 2011; F1 (Philippines) advanced 2 months to Aug 1, 2006; EB-3 (India) advanced 2 months to Jan 1, 2009.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for August 2018 (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.