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Visa Bulletin for December 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.

34 final action dates advanced and 1 retrogressed compared with November 2016. Biggest moves: EB-4 (Mexico) retrogressed to Jul 15, 2015; EB-2 (India) advanced 3 months to Feb 1, 2008; EB-3 (China) advanced 2.5 months to Jul 1, 2013.

Final Action Dates — December 2016

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

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Dec 1, 2009 +40 d	Dec 1, 2009 +40 d	Dec 1, 2009 +40 d	Apr 15, 1995 +7 d	Sep 15, 2005 +14 d
F2A	Feb 22, 2015 +31 d	Feb 22, 2015 +31 d	Feb 22, 2015 +31 d	Feb 15, 2015 +38 d	Feb 22, 2015 +31 d
F2B	May 8, 2010 +23 d	May 8, 2010 +23 d	May 8, 2010 +23 d	Oct 15, 1995 +7 d	Mar 1, 2006 +14 d
F3	Feb 15, 2005 +24 d	Feb 15, 2005 +24 d	Feb 15, 2005 +24 d	Dec 8, 1994 +7 d	Aug 15, 1994 +7 d
F4	Dec 22, 2003 +21 d	Oct 1, 2003 +2 mo	Apr 1, 2003 +45 d	May 15, 1997 +7 d	May 22, 1993 +14 d

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	Sep 22, 2012 +2.3 mo	Feb 1, 2008 +3 mo	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Jul 1, 2016 no change	Jul 1, 2013 +2.5 mo	Mar 15, 2005 +7 d	Jul 1, 2016 no change	Jun 1, 2011 +2 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Jul 1, 2016 no change	Nov 1, 2005 +2 mo	Mar 15, 2005 +7 d	Jul 1, 2016 no change	Jun 1, 2011 +2 mo
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Jul 15, 2015 retrogressed	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Mar 22, 2014 +14 d	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — December 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, 2011 no change	Jan 1, 2011 no change	Jan 1, 2011 no change	Jun 1, 1995 no change	May 1, 2006 no change
F2A	Nov 22, 2015 no change	Nov 22, 2015 no change	Nov 22, 2015 no change	Nov 22, 2015 no change	Nov 22, 2015 no change
F2B	Feb 8, 2011 no change	Feb 8, 2011 no change	Feb 8, 2011 no change	Jun 1, 1996 no change	Feb 1, 2007 no change
F3	Aug 22, 2005 no change	Aug 22, 2005 no change	Aug 22, 2005 no change	May 1, 1995 no change	Jan 1, 1995 no change
F4	Jul 1, 2004 no change	Jul 1, 2004 no change	May 1, 2004 no change	Dec 1, 1997 no change	Apr 1, 1994 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	Mar 1, 2013 no change	Apr 22, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	May 1, 2014 no change	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Current no change	Sep 1, 2013 no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Aug 1, 2009 no change	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Current no change	Sep 1, 2013 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	Jun 15, 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 December 2016 Visa Bulletin?

EB-4 (Mexico) retrogressed to Jul 15, 2015; EB-2 (India) advanced 3 months to Feb 1, 2008; EB-3 (China) advanced 2.5 months to Jul 1, 2013; EB-2 (China) advanced 2.3 months to Sep 22, 2012; F4 (China) advanced 2 months to Oct 1, 2003; EB-3 (Philippines) advanced 2 months to Jun 1, 2011; EB-3 Other Workers (China) advanced 2 months to Nov 1, 2005; EB-3 Other Workers (Philippines) advanced 2 months to Jun 1, 2011.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for December 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.