The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process, or if already pending, when the final step can be adjudicated.

Below is a summary of the January Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes (or not) from the previous month. 

China:   EB-1 has a cut-off date of February 1, 2022; EB-2 remains frozen at June 8, 2019 and EB-3 at August 1, 2018; EB-3 Other Workers advances another six months, to December 22, 2013.

India:    EB-1 has a cut-off date of February 1, 2022; EB-2 remains frozen at October 8, 2011 and EB-3 at June 15, 2012; EB-3 Other Workers also stalls at June 15, 2012.

All Other Countries:       EB-1 remains current; EB-2 keeps its cut-off date of November 1, 2022; EB-3 remains current; and EB-3 Other Workers remains at June 1, 2020.

NOTE 1:      As we were warned in the December Visa Bulletin, the EB-1 preference category for China and India retrogressed this month. EB-1 applicants from those countries are subject to a final action date of February 1, 2022, and an application filing date of June 1, 2022. The State Department says it will continually monitor the situation and make necessary adjustments.

NOTE 2:      USCIS has confirmed that it will accept I-485 applications in January based on the State Department’s slightly more favorable Dates for Filing chart.

Carol Schlenker also contributed to this article.