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Visa Bulletin for January 2021

Final action dates and dates for filing for family-sponsored and employment-based green cards, as published by the U.S. Department of State.

23 final action dates advanced and 0 retrogressed compared with December 2020. Biggest moves: EB-1 (China and India) advanced 5 months to Sep 1, 2019; EB-3 (China) advanced 44 days to Dec 15, 2017; F4 (Philippines) advanced 31 days to Feb 1, 2002.

Final Action Dates — January 2021

An immigrant visa or green card can be approved only if the priority date is earlier than the date shown. Changes compared with December 2020 are shown under each date.

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Sep 15, 2014 no change	Sep 15, 2014 no change	Sep 15, 2014 no change	Jan 15, 1998 +7 d	Jan 1, 2012 +17 d
F2A	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change
F2B	Jul 8, 2015 no change	Jul 8, 2015 no change	Jul 8, 2015 no change	May 1, 1999 +23 d	Aug 15, 2011 +14 d
F3	Jul 8, 2008 +23 d	Jul 8, 2008 +23 d	Jul 8, 2008 +23 d	Aug 22, 1996 +21 d	Mar 1, 2002 +14 d
F4	Oct 8, 2006 +16 d	Oct 8, 2006 +16 d	Mar 15, 2005 +7 d	Jul 1, 1998 +9 d	Feb 1, 2002 +31 d

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current no change	Sep 1, 2019 +5 mo	Sep 1, 2019 +5 mo	Current no change	Current no change
EB-2	Current no change	Jun 1, 2016 +31 d	Oct 8, 2009 +7 d	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	Dec 15, 2017 +44 d	Mar 22, 2010 +7 d	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Mar 1, 2009 +14 d	Mar 22, 2010 +7 d	Current no change	Current no change
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Dec 1, 2018 +9 d	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Aug 15, 2015 no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — January 2021

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	Jul 22, 2015 no change	Jul 22, 2015 no change	Jul 22, 2015 no change	Feb 22, 2000 no change	Oct 8, 2012 no change
F2A	Aug 1, 2020 no change	Aug 1, 2020 no change	Aug 1, 2020 no change	Aug 1, 2020 no change	Aug 1, 2020 no change
F2B	May 1, 2016 no change	May 1, 2016 no change	May 1, 2016 no change	Dec 1, 1999 no change	Apr 1, 2012 no change
F3	Jun 1, 2009 no change	Jun 1, 2009 no change	Jun 1, 2009 no change	Aug 15, 2000 no change	Dec 22, 2002 no change
F4	Sep 15, 2007 no change	Sep 15, 2007 no change	Nov 22, 2005 no change	Apr 22, 1999 no change	Sep 1, 2002 no change

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current no change	Nov 1, 2020 no change	Nov 1, 2020 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-2	Current no change	Oct 1, 2016 no change	May 15, 2011 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	Jun 1, 2018 no change	Jan 1, 2014 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Jul 1, 2009 +2 mo	Jan 1, 2014 no change	Current no change	Current 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	Dec 15, 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 2021 Visa Bulletin?

EB-1 (China and India) advanced 5 months to Sep 1, 2019; EB-3 (China) advanced 44 days to Dec 15, 2017; F4 (Philippines) advanced 31 days to Feb 1, 2002; EB-2 (China) advanced 31 days to Jun 1, 2016; F2B (Mexico) advanced 23 days to May 1, 1999; F3 (all countries, China and India) advanced 23 days to Jul 8, 2008; F3 (Mexico) advanced 21 days to Aug 22, 1996; F1 (Philippines) advanced 17 days to Jan 1, 2012.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for January 2021 (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.