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Visa Bulletin for December 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.

36 final action dates advanced and 0 retrogressed compared with November 2018. Biggest moves: EB-1 (China and India) advanced 3 months to Sep 1, 2016; EB-1 (all countries, Mexico and Philippines) advanced 3 months to Jul 1, 2017; EB-3 (India) advanced 59 days to Mar 1, 2009.

Final Action Dates — December 2018

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

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Aug 8, 2011 +47 d	Aug 8, 2011 +47 d	Aug 8, 2011 +47 d	Aug 1, 1997 no change	Feb 15, 2007 +14 d
F2A	Oct 8, 2016 +23 d	Oct 8, 2016 +23 d	Oct 8, 2016 +23 d	Sep 22, 2016 +21 d	Oct 8, 2016 +23 d
F2B	Feb 15, 2012 +45 d	Feb 15, 2012 +45 d	Feb 15, 2012 +45 d	Jun 8, 1997 no change	Jun 8, 2007 +7 d
F3	Aug 1, 2006 +24 d	Aug 1, 2006 +24 d	Aug 1, 2006 +24 d	Dec 22, 1995 no change	Jul 8, 1995 +16 d
F4	Apr 22, 2005 +31 d	Apr 22, 2005 +31 d	Jun 8, 2004 +7 d	Feb 8, 1998 no change	Jul 15, 1995 +30 d

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Jul 1, 2017 +3 mo	Sep 1, 2016 +3 mo	Sep 1, 2016 +3 mo	Jul 1, 2017 +3 mo	Jul 1, 2017 +3 mo
EB-2	Current no change	Jul 1, 2015 +47 d	Apr 1, 2009 +6 d	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	Jun 8, 2015 +7 d	Mar 1, 2009 +59 d	Current no change	Jun 15, 2017 +7 d
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Jun 1, 2007 +31 d	Mar 1, 2009 +59 d	Current no change	Jun 15, 2017 +7 d
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Jan 1, 2017 +40 d	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Aug 22, 2014 +7 d	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — December 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	Apr 22, 1999 +6.4 mo	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	Mar 22, 2014 no change	Mar 22, 2014 no change	Mar 22, 2014 no change	Aug 1, 1997 +40 d	Dec 15, 2007 no change
F3	Jan 8, 2007 no change	Jan 8, 2007 no change	Jan 8, 2007 no change	Oct 8, 1999 +9.5 mo	Jun 1, 1997 no change
F4	Feb 1, 2006 +8 mo	Feb 1, 2006 +8 mo	Jan 1, 2005 no change	Sep 15, 1998 +2.8 mo	Apr 22, 1997 +12.5 mo

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Jun 1, 2018 no change	Oct 1, 2017 no change	Oct 1, 2017 no change	Jun 1, 2018 no change	Jun 1, 2018 no change
EB-2	Current no change	Sep 8, 2015 +2.8 mo	May 22, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	Dec 1, 2015 +3.8 mo	Jan 1, 2010 +3 mo	Current no change	Aug 1, 2017 +31 d
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Jun 1, 2008 no change	Jan 1, 2010 +3 mo	Current no change	Aug 1, 2017 +31 d
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 2018 Visa Bulletin?

EB-1 (China and India) advanced 3 months to Sep 1, 2016; EB-1 (all countries, Mexico and Philippines) advanced 3 months to Jul 1, 2017; EB-3 (India) advanced 59 days to Mar 1, 2009; EB-3 Other Workers (India) advanced 59 days to Mar 1, 2009; F1 (all countries, China and India) advanced 47 days to Aug 8, 2011; EB-2 (China) advanced 47 days to Jul 1, 2015; F2B (all countries, China and India) advanced 45 days to Feb 15, 2012; EB-4 (Mexico) advanced 40 days to Jan 1, 2017.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for December 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.