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Visa Bulletin for December 2017

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

26 final action dates advanced and 2 retrogressed compared with November 2017. Biggest moves: F1 (Philippines) retrogressed 24 months to Jan 1, 2005; F2B (Philippines) retrogressed 6 months to Jul 1, 2006; EB-3 Other Workers (China) advanced 3 months to Jul 1, 2006.

Final Action Dates — December 2017

An immigrant visa or green card can be approved only if the priority date is earlier than the date shown. Changes compared with November 2017 are shown under each date.

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Feb 1, 2011 +10 d	Feb 1, 2011 +10 d	Feb 1, 2011 +10 d	Apr 1, 1996 no change	Jan 1, 2005 −24 mo
F2A	Dec 22, 2015 +37 d	Dec 22, 2015 +37 d	Dec 22, 2015 +37 d	Nov 15, 2015 +14 d	Dec 22, 2015 +37 d
F2B	Nov 22, 2010 +7 d	Nov 22, 2010 +7 d	Nov 22, 2010 +7 d	Jul 22, 1996 no change	Jul 1, 2006 −6 mo
F3	Sep 8, 2005 +24 d	Sep 8, 2005 +24 d	Sep 8, 2005 +24 d	May 22, 1995 +14 d	Mar 8, 1995 +7 d
F4	Jun 8, 2004 +17 d	Jun 8, 2004 +17 d	Nov 22, 2003 +31 d	Oct 8, 1997 no change	Aug 1, 1994 +54 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	Jul 1, 2013 +16 d	Nov 1, 2008 +24 d	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	Mar 8, 2014 +35 d	Oct 15, 2006 no change	Current no change	Jan 15, 2016 no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Jul 1, 2006 +3 mo	Oct 15, 2006 no change	Current no change	Jan 15, 2016 no change
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Apr 22, 2016 +21 d	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Jul 15, 2014 +14 d	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — December 2017

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, 2012 no change	Jan 1, 2012 no change	Jan 1, 2012 no change	Nov 1, 1996 no change	Oct 1, 2007 no change
F2A	Nov 1, 2016 no change	Nov 1, 2016 no change	Nov 1, 2016 no change	Nov 1, 2016 no change	Nov 1, 2016 no change
F2B	Sep 1, 2011 no change	Sep 1, 2011 no change	Sep 1, 2011 no change	Jan 1, 1997 no change	Sep 1, 2007 no change
F3	Dec 1, 2005 no change	Dec 1, 2005 no change	Dec 1, 2005 no change	Oct 1, 1995 no change	Jun 15, 1995 no change
F4	Nov 15, 2004 no change	Nov 15, 2004 no change	Jun 22, 2004 no change	Feb 8, 1998 no change	Mar 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	Nov 15, 2013 no change	Feb 8, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	Sep 1, 2015 no change	Jan 1, 2008 no change	Current no change	Aug 1, 2016 no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Jun 1, 2008 no change	Jan 1, 2008 no change	Current no change	Aug 1, 2016 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 December 2017 Visa Bulletin?

F1 (Philippines) retrogressed 24 months to Jan 1, 2005; F2B (Philippines) retrogressed 6 months to Jul 1, 2006; EB-3 Other Workers (China) advanced 3 months to Jul 1, 2006; F4 (Philippines) advanced 54 days to Aug 1, 1994; F2A (all countries, China, India and Philippines) advanced 37 days to Dec 22, 2015; EB-3 (China) advanced 35 days to Mar 8, 2014; F4 (India) advanced 31 days to Nov 22, 2003; F3 (all countries, China and India) advanced 24 days to Sep 8, 2005.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for December 2017 (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.