Employment-Based Cut-off Date Changes Over Last Month’s Visa Bulletin
| Preference Category | Chargeability | Change From Last Month’s Visa Bulletin |
| EB-1 | Current Across All Chargeability Areas |
| EB-2 | All Chargeability Areas | Current |
| China | Advances 8 years, 4 months |
| India | Advances 5 years, 6 months |
| Mexico | Current |
| Philippines | Current |
| EB-3 | All Chargeability Areas | Advances 1 month |
| China | Advances ~9 years, 9 months |
| India | Advances 6 months, 1 week |
| Mexico | Advances 1 month |
| Philippines | Advances ~10 years |
Please keep in mind that September 2015 was the last month of the U.S. government’s fiscal year and that many preference category cut-off dates retrogressed dramatically in September. October begins a new fiscal year which, when contrasted with the dramatic roll-backs in September cut-off dates, makes the advances in October look somewhat more outstanding than they necessarily are.
Please also note that the U.S. State Department has revamped its approach to the monthly Visa Bulletin. More information from USCIS can be found at here.
Relevant U.S. State Department Commentary
Effective with the October 2015 Visa Bulletin, the State Department has changed the way it publishes monthly Visa Bulletins. The Department explains that:
The chart [above] reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the cut-off date in the chart below may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The cut-off date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file applications, regardless of priority date.
The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.
USCIS has determined that this chart may be used . . . this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. Applicants for adjustment of status may visit www.USCIS.gov/visabulletininfo for additional information.