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Visa Bulletin for January 2019

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 December 2018. Biggest moves: EB-1 (China and India) advanced 3.4 months to Dec 15, 2016; EB-4 (Mexico) advanced 3.4 months to Apr 15, 2017; EB-1 (all countries, Mexico and Philippines) advanced 3 months to Oct 1, 2017.

Final Action Dates — January 2019

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

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Aug 22, 2011 +14 d	Aug 22, 2011 +14 d	Aug 22, 2011 +14 d	Aug 1, 1997 no change	Mar 1, 2007 +14 d
F2A	Nov 8, 2016 +31 d	Nov 8, 2016 +31 d	Nov 8, 2016 +31 d	Oct 15, 2016 +23 d	Nov 8, 2016 +31 d
F2B	Mar 15, 2012 +29 d	Mar 15, 2012 +29 d	Mar 15, 2012 +29 d	Jun 8, 1997 no change	Jun 22, 2007 +14 d
F3	Aug 15, 2006 +14 d	Aug 15, 2006 +14 d	Aug 15, 2006 +14 d	Dec 22, 1995 no change	Jul 22, 1995 +14 d
F4	May 22, 2005 +30 d	May 22, 2005 +30 d	Jun 15, 2004 +7 d	Feb 8, 1998 no change	Sep 1, 1995 +48 d

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Oct 1, 2017 +3 mo	Dec 15, 2016 +3.4 mo	Dec 15, 2016 +3.4 mo	Oct 1, 2017 +3 mo	Oct 1, 2017 +3 mo
EB-2	Current no change	Aug 1, 2015 +31 d	Apr 1, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	Jun 8, 2015 no change	Mar 1, 2009 no change	Current no change	Jun 22, 2017 +7 d
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Jul 1, 2007 +30 d	Mar 1, 2009 no change	Current no change	Jun 22, 2017 +7 d
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Apr 15, 2017 +3.4 mo	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Sep 1, 2014 +10 d	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — January 2019

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	Aug 22, 1999 +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	Sep 8, 1997 +38 d	Dec 15, 2007 no change
F3	Jan 8, 2007 no change	Jan 8, 2007 no change	Jan 8, 2007 no change	May 1, 2000 +6.8 mo	Jun 1, 1997 no change
F4	May 15, 2006 +3.4 mo	May 15, 2006 +3.4 mo	Jan 1, 2005 no change	Oct 8, 1998 +23 d	Apr 22, 1997 no change

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 no change	May 22, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	Jan 1, 2016 +31 d	Apr 1, 2010 +3 mo	Current no change	Aug 1, 2017 no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Jun 1, 2008 no change	Apr 1, 2010 +3 mo	Current no change	Aug 1, 2017 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 January 2019 Visa Bulletin?

EB-1 (China and India) advanced 3.4 months to Dec 15, 2016; EB-4 (Mexico) advanced 3.4 months to Apr 15, 2017; EB-1 (all countries, Mexico and Philippines) advanced 3 months to Oct 1, 2017; F4 (Philippines) advanced 48 days to Sep 1, 1995; F2A (all countries, China, India and Philippines) advanced 31 days to Nov 8, 2016; EB-2 (China) advanced 31 days to Aug 1, 2015; F4 (all countries and China) advanced 30 days to May 22, 2005; EB-3 Other Workers (China) advanced 30 days to Jul 1, 2007.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for January 2019 (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.