USCIS October 2018 Visa Bulletin Update

Last Updated on July 13, 2023

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently released its October 2018 Visa Bulletin. Read below for more details.

Dates for Filing Family-Based Adjustment of Status Application

Dates for Filing for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications

USCIS October 2018 Visa Bulletin Overview

There were a few changes in wait times for family-sponsored green card applications between the September and October bulletins.

Wait times decreased for families from China (mainland born), India, Mexico and the Philippines for all family-sponsored visas except in the F-2A category. Additionally, wait times slightly decreased for families from Mexico seeking the F-2B visa.

Looking at employment-based application wait times, second and third preference wait times are now current, while wait times for first preference have decreased. Overall, wait times decreased for a majority of immigrant workers.

Learn more about visa wait times, including who’s waiting and for how long in our recent blog post.

What do the Letters Mean in the Visa Bulletin?

A “C” indicates that a category is current, meaning that applicants with any priority date can apply for adjustment of status. Current status is subject to change, however, and any changes are reflected on a month-to-month basis with each Visa Bulletin update.

Visa Bulletin Charts

The Visa Bulletin has two different charts that can determine when someone can file an I-485 adjustment of status application to receive their green card. DOS will post two charts per visa preference category in the DOS Visa Bulletin. The charts are:

  • Application Final Action Dates (dates for when green cards/immigrant visas may be issued); and
  • Dates for Filing Applications (earliest dates when applicants may be able to apply for green cards/immigrant visas)

When USCIS determines there are immigrant visas available for the filing of additional adjustment of status applications, the Dates for Filing Applications chart may be used to determine when to file an adjustment of status application with USCIS. Otherwise, the Application Final Action Dates chart has generally been mandated as the chart by which foreign nationals can determine when to file an adjustment of status application with USCIS.

In a departure from the prior practice of USCIS mandating the use of the Final Action Dates charts for employment-based applicants, in the October 2018 Visa Bulletin, individuals may use the Dates for Filing Applications chart rather than the Final Action Dates chart. For instance, this will reduce the retrogression of the EB-1 category for all foreign nationals, and for individuals born in mainland China, India, and the Philippines. It will allow more applicants than usual to take advantage of shifts forward in the cutoff dates for the EB-2 and EB-3 preference categories.

It is possible that with future Visa Bulletins, the USCIS will return to their practice of requiring that only the Final Action Dates chart can be used by foreign nationals to file I-485 adjustment of status applications.

For the official October 2018 Visa Bulletin from USCIS, please navigate to uscis.gov.

Envoy is pleased to provide you this information, which was prepared in collaboration with attorneys Ryan Bay and Scott Kuhagen at Global Immigration Associates, P.C. (www.giafirm.com), Envoy’s affiliated law firm.

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