The U.S. State Department released the February Visa Bulletin, showing no movement in Dates for Filing in key employment-based categories. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it would use the Dates for Filing chart to determine employment-based filing eligibility.
Dates for Filing for Employment-Based Preference Cases:
Preference | All Other Countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
EB-1 | Current | Jan. 1, 2023 | Jan. 1, 2021 | Current | Current |
EB-2 | Feb. 15, 2023 | June 1, 2020 | May 15, 2012 | Feb. 15, 2023 | Feb. 15, 2023 |
EB-3 | Feb. 1, 2023 | July 1, 2021 | Aug. 1, 2012 | Feb. 1, 2023 | Jan. 1, 2023 |
Additional Information: The lack of movement in the February Dates for Filing follows significant forward movement in some key categories in January. February will mark the fifth consecutive month that USCIS has used Dates for Filing to determine employment-based filing eligibility. This is welcome news given that the Dates for Filing Chart generally has more progressive cutoff dates than the Final Action Dates chart. BAL will continue monitoring the Visa Bulletin and will provide updates as information becomes available.