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Visa Bulletin for July 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.

25 final action dates advanced and 2 retrogressed compared with June 2016. Biggest moves: EB-4 (Mexico) retrogressed to Jan 1, 2010; EB-3 Other Workers (China) retrogressed 39.7 months to Jan 1, 2004; EB-3 (Philippines) advanced 3.5 months to Feb 15, 2009.

Final Action Dates — July 2016

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

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Mar 22, 2009 +2.2 mo	Mar 22, 2009 +2.2 mo	Mar 22, 2009 +2.2 mo	Mar 8, 1995 +14 d	Feb 1, 2005 +41 d
F2A	Nov 15, 2014 +7 d	Nov 15, 2014 +7 d	Nov 15, 2014 +7 d	Sep 1, 2014 no change	Nov 15, 2014 +7 d
F2B	Dec 8, 2009 +47 d	Dec 8, 2009 +47 d	Dec 8, 2009 +47 d	Sep 8, 1995 no change	Jul 1, 2005 +30 d
F3	Dec 1, 2004 no change	Dec 1, 2004 no change	Dec 1, 2004 no change	Oct 22, 1994 no change	Mar 1, 1994 +28 d
F4	Sep 8, 2003 +31 d	Jan 1, 2003 no change	Jan 1, 2001 no change	Apr 15, 1997 no change	Jan 1, 1993 +31 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	Jan 1, 2010 no change	Nov 1, 2004 +31 d	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Mar 1, 2016 +15 d	Jan 1, 2010 no change	Oct 22, 2004 +30 d	Mar 1, 2016 +15 d	Feb 15, 2009 +3.5 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Mar 1, 2016 +15 d	Jan 1, 2004 −39.7 mo	Oct 22, 2004 +30 d	Mar 1, 2016 +15 d	Feb 15, 2009 +3.5 mo
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Jan 1, 2010 retrogressed	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Feb 15, 2014 no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — July 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	Oct 15, 2015 no change	Oct 15, 2015 no change	Oct 15, 2015 no change	Oct 15, 2015 no change	Oct 15, 2015 no change
F2B	Dec 15, 2010 no change	Dec 15, 2010 no change	Dec 15, 2010 no change	May 15, 1996 no change	Jan 1, 2006 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	Apr 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	Jun 1, 2013 no change	Jul 1, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	May 1, 2015 no change	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Current no change	Jan 1, 2010 no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Aug 1, 2009 no change	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Current 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 July 2016 Visa Bulletin?

EB-4 (Mexico) retrogressed to Jan 1, 2010; EB-3 Other Workers (China) retrogressed 39.7 months to Jan 1, 2004; EB-3 (Philippines) advanced 3.5 months to Feb 15, 2009; EB-3 Other Workers (Philippines) advanced 3.5 months to Feb 15, 2009; F1 (all countries, China and India) advanced 2.2 months to Mar 22, 2009; F2B (all countries, China and India) advanced 47 days to Dec 8, 2009; F1 (Philippines) advanced 41 days to Feb 1, 2005; F4 (all countries) advanced 31 days to Sep 8, 2003.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for July 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.