June 2019 Visa Bulletin

D. INDIA EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIRST PREFERENCE VISA AVAILABILITY

Despite the final action date for this country having been held for the past three months, there continues to be an extremely high rate of demand for Employment First preference (E1) numbers, primarily for USCIS adjustment of status applicants. This situation has resulted in the retrogression of this final action date for the month of June in an effort to limit future number use.

Such action will only be temporary with the E1 date for India returning to at least February 22, 2017 for October, the first month of fiscal year 2020.

E. EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIFTH PREFERENCE VISA AVAILABILITY

India: Continued heavy applicant demand is expected to result in the India Employment Fifth preference (E5) category approaching the per-country annual limit during July. This is likely to result in the imposition of a July final action date, and that date will be sometime in 2017. Then for August, India will become subject to the same final action date which applies to China-mainland born Employment Fifth preference applicants for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Such action will only be temporary with the E5 date for India most likely advancing to the summer or fall of 2017 for October, the first month of fiscal year 2020.

Vietnam: Continued heavy applicant demand is expected to result in the Vietnam Employment Fifth preference (E5) category reaching the per-country annual limit during July. Then for August, Vietnam will become subject to the same final action date which applies to China-mainland born Employment Fifth preference applicants for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Such action will only be temporary with the Vietnam E5 date most likely advancing to the fall or early winter of 2016 for October, the first month of fiscal year 2020.