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Visa Bulletin for January 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.

34 final action dates advanced and 0 retrogressed compared with December 2016. Biggest moves: EB-2 (India) advanced 2.4 months to Apr 15, 2008; EB-3 (China) advanced 2.3 months to Sep 8, 2013; F4 (China) advanced 52 days to Nov 22, 2003.

Final Action Dates — January 2017

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

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Jan 8, 2010 +38 d	Jan 8, 2010 +38 d	Jan 8, 2010 +38 d	Apr 22, 1995 +7 d	Oct 1, 2005 +16 d
F2A	Mar 22, 2015 +28 d	Mar 22, 2015 +28 d	Mar 22, 2015 +28 d	Mar 8, 2015 +21 d	Mar 22, 2015 +28 d
F2B	Jun 8, 2010 +31 d	Jun 8, 2010 +31 d	Jun 8, 2010 +31 d	Oct 15, 1995 no change	Apr 8, 2006 +38 d
F3	Mar 1, 2005 +14 d	Mar 1, 2005 +14 d	Mar 1, 2005 +14 d	Dec 15, 1994 +7 d	Sep 1, 1994 +17 d
F4	Jan 22, 2004 +31 d	Nov 22, 2003 +52 d	May 15, 2003 +44 d	May 15, 1997 no change	Jun 8, 1993 +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	Oct 15, 2012 +23 d	Apr 15, 2008 +2.4 mo	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Aug 1, 2016 +31 d	Sep 8, 2013 +2.3 mo	Mar 15, 2005 no change	Aug 1, 2016 +31 d	Jul 22, 2011 +51 d
EB-3 Other Workers	Aug 1, 2016 +31 d	Dec 1, 2005 +30 d	Mar 15, 2005 no change	Aug 1, 2016 +31 d	Jul 22, 2011 +51 d
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Jul 15, 2015 no change	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Apr 8, 2014 +17 d	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — January 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, 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 January 2017 Visa Bulletin?

EB-2 (India) advanced 2.4 months to Apr 15, 2008; EB-3 (China) advanced 2.3 months to Sep 8, 2013; F4 (China) advanced 52 days to Nov 22, 2003; EB-3 (Philippines) advanced 51 days to Jul 22, 2011; EB-3 Other Workers (Philippines) advanced 51 days to Jul 22, 2011; F4 (India) advanced 44 days to May 15, 2003; F1 (all countries, China and India) advanced 38 days to Jan 8, 2010; F2B (Philippines) advanced 38 days to Apr 8, 2006.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for January 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.