The U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued the Monthly Visa Bulletin for May 2019, reflecting slight forward progress 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.  The remainder of the priority dates remain current with per country quotas not reached.

The specific changes in the “Final Action 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 March 1, 2018.
• EB-2: China – Forward progress of one month, two weeks to May 15, 2016; India – Forward progress of four days to April 12, 2009.
• EB-3: China – Forward progress of three weeks to August 22, 2015; India – Forward progress of one week to July 1, 2009; Philippines – Forward progress of three months to June 1, 2018.
• Other Workers: China – Forward progress of one week to September 1, 2007; India – Forward progress of one week to July 1, 2009; Philippines – Forward progress of three months to June 1, 2018.
• EB-5: China (Non-Regional Center) – Forward progress of one week to September 22, 2014; Vietnam – Forward progress of one month to September 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 May.  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed on its website that beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant petitions whose priority dates become current in May 2019 should use the “Final Action Dates,” or priority dates, when filing during the month of May 2019.  In the recent past during certain months, USCIS 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 May should initiate preparation of these applications now with their Foster immigration attorney to plan for the earliest possible filing date in the month of May.