February 2019 Visa Bulletin

D. SCHEDULED EXPIRATION OF TWO EMPLOYMENT VISA CATEGORIES

Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):

With the expiration of the continuing resolution on December 21, 2018 authorization for the non-minister special immigrant program has lapsed. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases. Therefore, the final action date for this category has been listed as “Unavailable” for February.

If there is legislative action extending this category for FY-2019, the final action date would immediately become “Current” for February for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras which would be subject to a March 1, 2016 final action date, and for Mexico which would be subject to a September 1, 2017 final action date.

Employment Fifth Preference Categories (I5 and R5):

With the expiration of the continuing resolution on December 21, 2018 authorization for the immigrant investor pilot program has lapsed. No I5 or R5 visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases. Therefore, the final action dates for the I5 and R5 categories have been listed as “Unavailable” for February.

If there is legislative action extending them for FY-2019, the final action dates would immediately become “Current” for February for all countries except China-mainland born, which would be subject to a September 1, 2014 final action date and Vietnam, which would be subject to a June 15, 2016 final action date.

E. VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE COMING MONTHS

FAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement)

Worldwide dates (except oversubscribed countries):

F1: Up to five weeks
F2A: Up to one month
F2B: Up to two months
F3: Up to two weeks
F4: Up to six weeks

EMPLOYMENT-based categories (potential monthly movement)

Employment First:

WORLDWIDE (most countries): Up to two months.
China and India: Up to one month.

Employment Second:

Worldwide: Current for the foreseeable future.
China: Up to three months.
India: Up to one week

Employment Third:

Worldwide: Current
China: Up to three weeks.
India: Up to three months.
Mexico: Current
Philippines: Rapid movement to generate demand.

Employment Fourth: Current for most countries.

El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras: Up to one week.
Mexico: Rapid forward movement until limit is reached.

Employment Fifth: The category will remain “Current” for most countries.

China-mainland born: Up to one week.
Vietnam: Up to three weeks.

The above final action date projections for the Family and Employment categories indicate what is likely to happen on a monthly basis through May. The determination of the actual monthly final action dates is subject to fluctuations in applicant demand and a number of other variables. It is also important to remember that by no means has every applicant with a priority date earlier than a prevailing final action date been processed for final visa action, with applicants often processing at their own initiative and convenience.