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Visa Bulletin for October 2018

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

45 final action dates advanced and 0 retrogressed compared with September 2018. Biggest moves: EB-2 (all countries, Mexico and Philippines) became current; EB-3 (all countries and Mexico) became current; EB-3 Other Workers (all countries and Mexico) became current.

Final Action Dates — October 2018

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

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Jun 1, 2011 +54 d	Jun 1, 2011 +54 d	Jun 1, 2011 +54 d	Aug 1, 1997 no change	Dec 22, 2006 +37 d
F2A	Aug 22, 2016 +31 d	Aug 22, 2016 +31 d	Aug 22, 2016 +31 d	Aug 1, 2016 +31 d	Aug 22, 2016 +31 d
F2B	Nov 22, 2011 +21 d	Nov 22, 2011 +21 d	Nov 22, 2011 +21 d	May 15, 1997 +23 d	May 15, 2007 +23 d
F3	Jun 15, 2006 +45 d	Jun 15, 2006 +45 d	Jun 15, 2006 +45 d	Dec 22, 1995 no change	Jun 8, 1995 +7 d
F4	Feb 15, 2005 +38 d	Feb 15, 2005 +38 d	May 1, 2004 +23 d	Jan 22, 1998 +7 d	Jun 8, 1995 +7 d

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Apr 1, 2017 +10 mo	Jun 1, 2016 +53 mo	Jun 1, 2016 +53 mo	Apr 1, 2017 +10 mo	Apr 1, 2017 +10 mo
EB-2	Current now current	Apr 1, 2015 +26.9 mo	Mar 26, 2009 +26.8 mo	Current now current	Current now current
EB-3	Current now current	Jun 1, 2015 +7 mo	Jan 1, 2009 +72 mo	Current now current	Jun 1, 2017 +7 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Current now current	May 1, 2007 no change	Jan 1, 2009 +72 mo	Current now current	Jun 1, 2017 +7 mo
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current now current	Oct 22, 2016 +8.2 mo	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Aug 15, 2014 +7 d	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — October 2018

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	Oct 8, 1998 +37 d	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	Jun 22, 1997 +14 d	Dec 15, 2007 no change
F3	Jan 8, 2007 +3.5 mo	Jan 8, 2007 +3.5 mo	Jan 8, 2007 +3.5 mo	Dec 22, 1998 +2.5 mo	Jun 1, 1997 +22 mo
F4	Jun 1, 2005 +31 d	Jun 1, 2005 +31 d	Jan 1, 2005 no change	Jun 22, 1998 +21 d	Apr 8, 1996 +4.2 mo

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Jun 1, 2018 retrogressed	Oct 1, 2017 retrogressed	Oct 1, 2017 retrogressed	Jun 1, 2018 retrogressed	Jun 1, 2018 retrogressed
EB-2	Current no change	Jun 15, 2015 +2.5 mo	May 22, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current no change	Aug 8, 2015 −4.8 mo	Oct 1, 2009 +5 mo	Current no change	Jul 1, 2017 no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Current no change	Jun 1, 2008 no change	Oct 1, 2009 +5 mo	Current no change	Jul 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 October 2018 Visa Bulletin?

EB-2 (all countries, Mexico and Philippines) became current; EB-3 (all countries and Mexico) became current; EB-3 Other Workers (all countries and Mexico) became current; EB-4 (India) became current; EB-3 (India) advanced 72 months to Jan 1, 2009; EB-3 Other Workers (India) advanced 72 months to Jan 1, 2009; EB-1 (China and India) advanced 53 months to Jun 1, 2016; EB-2 (China) advanced 26.9 months to Apr 1, 2015.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for October 2018 (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.