The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process, or if already pending, when the final step can be adjudicated.

Below is a summary of the January Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month.

India: EB-1 surges 3 years, 8 months, to September 1, 2020. More modest gains in other categories: EB-2 progresses 2 months to March 1, 2012, while EB-3 and EB-3 Other Workers inch forward 1 month to June 1, 2012.

China:  EB-1 advances 4.5 months to July 1, 2022; EB-2 proceeds 2 months, 10 days, to January 1, 2020, and EB-3 progresses 7 months, 10 days, to September 1, 2020. EB-3 Other Workers gains the most ground, leaping 1 year to January 1, 2017.

All Other Countries:  EB-1 remains current; EB-2 progresses 3.5 months to November 1, 2022; EB-3 advances 8 months to August 1, 2022; and EB-3 Other Workers creeps ahead 1 month to September 1, 2020.

USCIS will accept I-485 applications in January based on the Department of State’s more favorable Dates for Filing chart, which allows from 2 to 10 months of additional filing time depending on nationality and category.

• Chinese nationals gain 6 months to file in EB‑1; 6 months in EB-2; 10 months in EB‑3; and 5 months in EB-3 Other Workers.
• Indian nationals gain 4 months in EB-1; 2.5 months in EB-2; and 2 months in both EB-3 and Other Workers.
• All other country nationals may file their I-485s in advance of their priority dates being current by 3.5 months in EB-2; 6 months in EB-3; and 3.5 months in Other Workers.

This post was co-authored by Carol Schlenker.