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Visa Bulletin for February 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.

32 final action dates advanced and 0 retrogressed compared with January 2016. Biggest moves: EB-2 (India) advanced 6 months to Aug 1, 2008; F1 (Philippines) advanced 5 months to Nov 1, 2003; EB-3 (China) advanced 3 months to Oct 1, 2012.

Final Action Dates — February 2016

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

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Jul 8, 2008 +54 d	Jul 8, 2008 +54 d	Jul 8, 2008 +54 d	Jan 1, 1995 +10 d	Nov 1, 2003 +5 mo
F2A	Sep 1, 2014 +31 d	Sep 1, 2014 +31 d	Sep 1, 2014 +31 d	Jun 8, 2014 +7 d	Sep 1, 2014 +31 d
F2B	May 15, 2009 +44 d	May 15, 2009 +44 d	May 15, 2009 +44 d	Sep 8, 1995 no change	Feb 1, 2005 +31 d
F3	Oct 1, 2004 +2 mo	Oct 1, 2004 +2 mo	Oct 1, 2004 +2 mo	Sep 8, 1994 +38 d	Nov 22, 1993 +21 d
F4	Jun 8, 2003 +47 d	Jun 8, 2003 +47 d	Jun 8, 2003 +47 d	Apr 1, 1997 no change	Aug 8, 1992 +17 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	Mar 1, 2012 +29 d	Aug 1, 2008 +6 mo	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Oct 1, 2015 no change	Oct 1, 2012 +3 mo	Jun 15, 2004 +31 d	Oct 1, 2015 no change	Jan 8, 2008 +2.2 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Oct 1, 2015 no change	Dec 22, 2006 +21 d	Jun 15, 2004 +31 d	Oct 1, 2015 no change	Jan 8, 2008 +2.2 mo
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Jan 15, 2014 +7 d	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — February 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	Oct 1, 2009 no change	Oct 1, 2009 no change	Oct 1, 2009 no change	Apr 1, 1995 no change	Sep 1, 2005 no change
F2A	Jun 15, 2015 no change	Jun 15, 2015 no change	Jun 15, 2015 no change	Jun 15, 2015 no change	Jun 15, 2015 no change
F2B	Dec 15, 2010 no change	Dec 15, 2010 no change	Dec 15, 2010 no change	Apr 1, 1996 no change	May 1, 2005 no change
F3	Aug 1, 2005 no change	Aug 1, 2005 no change	Aug 1, 2005 no change	May 1, 1995 no change	Aug 1, 1995 no change
F4	May 1, 2004 no change	May 1, 2004 no change	May 1, 2004 no change	Jun 1, 1998 no change	Jan 1, 1993 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	Jan 1, 2013 no change	Jul 1, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Jan 1, 2016 no change	Oct 1, 2013 no change	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Jan 1, 2016 no change	Jan 1, 2010 no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Jan 1, 2016 no change	Jan 1, 2007 no change	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Jan 1, 2016 no change	Jan 1, 2010 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	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 February 2016 Visa Bulletin?

EB-2 (India) advanced 6 months to Aug 1, 2008; F1 (Philippines) advanced 5 months to Nov 1, 2003; EB-3 (China) advanced 3 months to Oct 1, 2012; EB-3 (Philippines) advanced 2.2 months to Jan 8, 2008; EB-3 Other Workers (Philippines) advanced 2.2 months to Jan 8, 2008; F3 (all countries, China and India) advanced 2 months to Oct 1, 2004; F1 (all countries, China and India) advanced 54 days to Jul 8, 2008; F4 (all countries, China and India) advanced 47 days to Jun 8, 2003.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for February 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.