APRIL VISA BULLETIN: FUTURE EB-3 RETROGRESSION?

The Department of State has just issued the April 2022 Visa Bulletin.  This is the seventh Visa Bulletin of Fiscal Year 2022. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these dates may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment.

 

EB	All Other	CHINA	INDIA	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	C	C	C
2nd	C	01MAR19	08JUL13	C
3rd	C	22MAR18	15JAN12	C

Table B: Dates of Filing

The USCIS is expected to use the Table B Dates of Filing chart for I-485 employment-based filings. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

The chart stayed similar to the past month’s Visa Bulletin.  One bright spot was that India EB-2 moved ahead by 2+ months, which should allow additional long-delayed Indian nationals to apply for their green cards.  Unfortunately, China EB-2, India EB-3, and China EB-3 stayed the same. 

The news remained positive for Philippines and Worldwide EB-3, where dates held at Current.  However, there is one important note at the end of this month’s Visa Bulletin, which bears watching in future months, as it would affect both Philippines and Worldwide EB-3,

F. AVAILABILITY OF EMPLOYMENT THIRD PREFERENCE “OTHER WORKERS” (EW) NUMBERS

High number use in the Employment Third Preference “Other Workers” (EW) category may necessitate the establishment of a worldwide final action date as early as June to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the Fiscal Year 2022 annual limit. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.