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Visa Bulletin for January 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.

35 final action dates advanced and 0 retrogressed compared with December 2015. Biggest moves: EB-2 (India) advanced 8 months to Feb 1, 2008; F1 (Philippines) advanced 5 months to Jun 1, 2003; EB-3 Other Workers (China) advanced 4 months to Dec 1, 2006.

Final Action Dates — January 2016

An immigrant visa or green card can be approved only if the priority date is earlier than the date shown. Changes compared with December 2015 are shown under each date.

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	May 15, 2008 +44 d	May 15, 2008 +44 d	May 15, 2008 +44 d	Dec 22, 1994 +14 d	Jun 1, 2003 +5 mo
F2A	Aug 1, 2014 +47 d	Aug 1, 2014 +47 d	Aug 1, 2014 +47 d	Jun 1, 2014 +24 d	Aug 1, 2014 +47 d
F2B	Apr 1, 2009 +31 d	Apr 1, 2009 +31 d	Apr 1, 2009 +31 d	Sep 8, 1995 no change	Jan 1, 2005 +31 d
F3	Aug 1, 2004 +31 d	Aug 1, 2004 +31 d	Aug 1, 2004 +31 d	Aug 1, 1994 +24 d	Nov 1, 1993 +10 d
F4	Apr 22, 2003 +31 d	Apr 22, 2003 +31 d	Apr 22, 2003 +31 d	Apr 1, 1997 no change	Jul 22, 1992 +21 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	Feb 1, 2012 no change	Feb 1, 2008 +8 mo	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Oct 1, 2015 +30 d	Jul 1, 2012 +2.5 mo	May 15, 2004 +23 d	Oct 1, 2015 +30 d	Nov 1, 2007 +3 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Oct 1, 2015 +30 d	Dec 1, 2006 +4 mo	May 15, 2004 +23 d	Oct 1, 2015 +30 d	Nov 1, 2007 +3 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 8, 2014 +24 d	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — January 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 +5 mo	Oct 1, 2009 +5 mo	Oct 1, 2009 +5 mo	Apr 1, 1995 no change	Sep 1, 2005 no change
F2A	Jun 15, 2015 +3.5 mo	Jun 15, 2015 +3.5 mo	Jun 15, 2015 +3.5 mo	Jun 15, 2015 +3.5 mo	Jun 15, 2015 +3.5 mo
F2B	Dec 15, 2010 +5.5 mo	Dec 15, 2010 +5.5 mo	Dec 15, 2010 +5.5 mo	Apr 1, 1996 no change	May 1, 2005 no change
F3	Aug 1, 2005 +4 mo	Aug 1, 2005 +4 mo	Aug 1, 2005 +4 mo	May 1, 1995 no change	Aug 1, 1995 no change
F4	May 1, 2004 +3 mo	May 1, 2004 +3 mo	May 1, 2004 +3 mo	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 +4 mo	Oct 1, 2013 no change	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Jan 1, 2016 +4 mo	Jan 1, 2010 no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Jan 1, 2016 +4 mo	Jan 1, 2007 no change	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Jan 1, 2016 +4 mo	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 January 2016 Visa Bulletin?

EB-2 (India) advanced 8 months to Feb 1, 2008; F1 (Philippines) advanced 5 months to Jun 1, 2003; EB-3 Other Workers (China) advanced 4 months to Dec 1, 2006; EB-3 (Philippines) advanced 3 months to Nov 1, 2007; EB-3 Other Workers (Philippines) advanced 3 months to Nov 1, 2007; EB-3 (China) advanced 2.5 months to Jul 1, 2012; F2A (all countries, China, India and Philippines) advanced 47 days to Aug 1, 2014; F1 (all countries, China and India) advanced 44 days to May 15, 2008.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for January 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.