February 2019 Visa Bulletin: Minor Advances and the Expired EB-5 Program

In the newly released January visa bulletin, EB-2 and EB-3 visas remain current for most countries. EB-2 in China have advanced two months to October 1, 2015 and India advanced 1 week to April 6, 2009. EB-3 for the Philippines advanced 3 weeks to August 1, 2017. EB-1 categories for all countries remain regressed. EB-1 for China and India has advanced to February 8, 2017, and for all over countries to December 1, 2017. The EB-5 Regional Center Program along with the EB-4 Non-Minister Religious Worker program are both currently expired. USCIS is accepting new applications but are not adjudicating them at this time. Adjudication will begin again once the program is renewed along with the government funding. For more information about how different immigration services are affected during the shutdown, please click here.

Every year, Congress sets limits on the number of immigrant visas that can be issued each year. In order to adjust status to that of a legal permanent resident, also known as a Green Card holder, an immigrant visa must be available to the applicant both at the time of filing and at the time of adjudication. Visa retrogression happens when a country’s visa allowance is not “current”, but rather a cutoff date is imposed on its applicants. The Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin which lists the cutoff dates that govern visa availability. It determines which applicants are eligible to file for adjustment of status, as well as which applicants are eligible for permanent resident status. Applicants who have a priority date earlier than the cutoff date published in the most current Visa Bulletin are eligible to apply for permanent residence.