Change:

March 2018 Visa Bulletin

For February 2018 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2018/visa-bulletin-february-2018.aspx

For analysis of March 2018 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2018/visa-bulletin-analysis-march-2018.aspx

March 2018 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from March 1 to March 31 only). Please see below for more details.

Family Based:
Final Action Dates
Dates For Filing Applications
"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.
Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability 
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-mainland 
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 22MAR11
22MAR11 22MAR11 22JUL96 15OCT05
F2A 22MAR16 22MAR16 22MAR16 01MAR16 22MAR16
F2B 01MAR11 01MAR11 01MAR11 15OCT96 08SEP06
F3 15DEC05 15DEC05 15DEC05 22JUN95  22MAR95
F4 22AUG04 22AUG04 01FEB04 15NOV97 22NOV94
"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.
Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability 
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland 
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 01JAN12 01JAN12 01JAN12 08SEP97 01OCT07
F2A 01MAY17 01MAY17 01MAY17 01MAY17 01MAY17
F2B 01SEP11 01SEP11 01SEP11 01JAN97 01SEP07
F3 01DEC05 01DEC05 01DEC05 01APR97 15JUN95
F4 22JAN05 22JAN05 22JUN04 08FEB98 01MAR95

Employment Based:
Final Action Dates
Dates For Filing Applications
"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.
Employment-
based
All Chargeability 
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland 
born
EL SALVADOR
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES
1st C C C C C C
2nd 08DEC13 C 15DEC08 C C
3rd C 15NOV14 C 01JAN07  01MAY16
Other Workers C 01MAR07 01JAN07 01MAY16
4th C C 01DEC15  C 01JUL16  C
Certain Religious Workers C C 01DEC15 C 01JUL16 C
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 22JUL14 C C C C
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
C 22JUL14 C C C C
"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.
Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland 
born
EL SALVADOR
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS
INDIA MEXICO  PHILIPPINES 
1st C C C C C C
2nd C 01FEB15 C 08FEB09  C C
3rd C 01JAN16 C 01JAN08 C 01OCT16
Other Workers C 01JUN08 C 01JAN08 C 01OCT16
4th C C 15APR16 C C C
Certain Religious Workers C C 15APR16 C C C
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 01SEP14 C C C C
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
C 01SEP14 C C C C

Special Notice from USCIS:(Show/Hide)

D. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT (SI) TRANSLATOR CATEGORY VISA AVAILABILITY

Given the limited availability of visa numbers and the existing demand, the Department expects to reach the FY-2018 annual limit of 50 Special Immigrant Visas in the SI category early this year. As a result, it has been necessary to maintain a March Final Action Date of April 22, 2012. It is likely that number use will require the SI category to become “unavailable” in the coming months. Once the annual limit of 50 visas is reached, further issuances in the SI category will not be possible until October 2018, under the FY-2019 annual limit. The SQ Special Immigrant Visa category for certain Iraqi and Afghan nationals employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq or Afghanistan is not affected and remains current.

E. VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE COMING MONTHS

Continued heavy applicant demand is expected to result in the Vietnam Employment Fifth preference category reaching the per-country annual limit during March. Once this happens the category will become subject to a final action date, and visa availability for the remainder of FY-2018 will be dependent upon the extent to which otherwise unused numbers are available.

F. SCHEDULED EXPIRATION OF TWO EMPLOYMENT VISA CATEGORIES

Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):

Pursuant to the continuing resolution, signed on February 9, 2018, the non-minister special immigrant program expires on March 23, 2018. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight March 22, 2018. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of March 22, 2018, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight March 22, 2018.

If there is no legislative action extending this category for FY-2018, the final action date would immediately become "Unavailable" for March for all countries.

Employment Fifth Preference Categories (I5 and R5):

The continuing resolution signed on February 9, 2018 extended this immigrant investor pilot program until March 23, 2018. The I5 and R5 visas may be issued until close of business on March 23, 2018, and may be issued for the full validity period. No I5 or R5 visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after March 23, 2018.

If there is no legislative action extending this category for FY-2018, the final action date would immediately become "Unavailable" for March for all countries.


Also See:

More Options: If you are new to immigration process or would like to see what other immigration options are available, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/immigration/

Email Newsletter: To receive email as soon as latest visa bulletin is released, please click here.

When Can I Get My Green Card: Get step-by-step details on when you can expect to get your green card (including latest timeframe for each step of GC process for both EB and FB categories).

USCIS/NVC Timeframe: Please click here to see how long it currently takes to process application.

Current Step: If your priority date is not current, then you can calculate when it may become current, check your case status, case processing time, etc: https://www.mygcvisa.com/calculator

Next Steps: If priority date is current and

1. If applicant is inside US, they will have to file I-485: https://blog.mygcvisa.com/2013/04/how-to-file-i-485-application.html

2. If applicant is outside US, it will be sent to NVC: https://www.mygcvisa.com/nvc/overview-after-nvc-petition-approved.aspx

Recommended Reading:

Please click here for latest immigration news or see the top menu for analysis, news stories and other useful FAQ or USCIS links.
Discuss With Everyone: View Previous 16,500+ comments


Live Visitors:
Current Online Users:
Charts & Calculator:
Visa Bulletin Details:
Visa Bulletins:

View 2024 Visa BulletinsView 2023 Visa BulletinsView 2022 Visa Bulletins
View 2021 Visa BulletinsView 2020 Visa BulletinsView 2019 Visa BulletinsView 2018 Visa BulletinsView 2017 Visa BulletinsView 2016 Visa BulletinsView 2015 Visa BulletinsView 2014 Visa BulletinsView 2013 Visa BulletinsView 2012 Visa BulletinsView 2011 Visa BulletinsView 2010 Visa BulletinsView 2009 Visa BulletinsView 2008 Visa BulletinsView 2007 Visa BulletinsView 2006 Visa BulletinsView 2005 Visa BulletinsView 2004 Visa BulletinsView 2003 Visa BulletinsView 2002 Visa Bulletins
Newsletter Subscribe:
Get latest visa bulletin and blog posts sent directly to your email address.
Our Friendly Sponsor:
Find Us On Facebook:


🔥 Support Site:

If you would like to support this site, please donate using paypal button below and/or visit our friendly sponsors:

Donate Via PayPal
Immigrant & Non Immigrant Visas
Rate My Professor Celebrity Net Worth