Click here to view 2019 April Visa Bulletin.

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued the Monthly Visa Bulletin for April 2019, reflecting minor forward movement for EB-1 for all chargeability areas except China & India, EB-2 for China & India, EB-3 and Other Workers China, India, & the Philippines, and EB-5 China & Vietnam, with the remainder of the priority dates remaining current.

The April 2019 Visa Bulletin shows similar modest movement forward as compared to the March 2019 Visa Bulletin. The specific changes in the Final Action Cut-Off Dates, or priority dates, are:

EB-1: China and India – No movement from February 22, 2017; All Other Chargeability Areas – Forward progress of one month to February 1, 2018.
EB-2: China – Forward progress of three months to April 1, 2016; India – Forward progress of three days to April 12, 2009.
EB-3: China – Forward progress of three weeks to August 1, 2015; India – Forward progress of one month to June 22, 2009; Philippines – Forward progress of three months to March 1, 2018.
Other Workers: China – Forward progress of one week to August 22, 2007; India – Forward progress of one month to June 22, 2009; Philippines – Forward progress of three months to March 1, 2018.
EB-5: China (Non-Regional Center) – Forward progress of one week to September 15, 2014; Vietnam – Forward progress of one month, one week to August 22, 2016.
Applicants whose priority dates are currently backlogged should review the dates below to assess whether they may be eligible to file their immigrant visa application during the month of April. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) confirmed on its website that beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant petitions whose priority dates become current in April 2019 should use the “Final Action Cut-Off Dates,” or priority dates, when filing during the month of April 2019. In the recent past during certain months, CIS had accepted employment-based immigrant visa applications filed based on the “Dates for Filing” dates, which were typically earlier or sooner than the priority dates.

Beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant visa petitions who may become eligible to file their immigrant visa applications in April should initiate preparation of their applications now with their Foster immigration attorney to plan for the earliest possible filing date in the month of April. Foster LLP will continue to monitor immigrant visa availability and provide updates via future Immigration Updates© and on our website at www.fosterglobal.com.