Click here to view 2019 March Visa Bulletin.

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the Monthly Visa Bulletin for March 2019, showing modest progress for EB-1 for all chargeability areas as well as EB-2 for China and India, EB-3 and Other Workers China, India, and the Philippines, and EB-5 China and Vietnam, with the remainder of the priority dates remaining current.

The specific changes in the Final Action Cut-Off Dates, or priority dates, from the February 2019 Bulletin to March 2019 Visa Bulletin are:

1. EB-1: China and India – Forward progress of two weeks for China and India to February 22, 2017; Mexico – Forward progress of three weeks to February 22, 2017; All Other Chargeability Areas – Forward progress of one month to January 1, 2018.
2. EB-2: China – Forward progress of three months to January 1, 2016; India – Forward progress of three days to April 9, 2009.
3. EB-3: China – Forward progress of one week to July 8, 2015; India – Forward progress of one month to May 22, 2009; Philippines – Forward progress of four months to December 1, 2017.
4. Other Workers: China – Forward progress of two weeks to August 15, 2007; India – Forward progress of one month to May 22, 2009; Philippines – Forward progress of four months to December 1, 2017.
5. EB-5: China (Non-Regional Center) – Forward progress of one week to September 8, 2014; Vietnam – Forward progress of one month to July 15, 2016.

The “U” in the EB-5 Regional Center Category means that visa numbers are not authorized for issuance of immigrant visas at this time.

Applicants whose priority dates are currently backlogged are recommended to review the dates below to determine if they may be eligible to file during the month of March. 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 March 2019 should use the “Final Action Cut-Off Dates” when filing during the month of March 2019. CIS had in the recent past had accepted applications filed during certain months based on the typically earlier “Dates for Filing.”

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