March 2019 Visa Bulletin

D. SCHEDULED EXPIRATION OF TWO EMPLOYMENT VISA CATEGORIES

Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):

Pursuant to the continuing resolution, signed on January 25, 2019, the non-minister special immigrant program expires on February 15, 2019. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight February 14, 2019. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of February 14, 2019, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight February 14, 2019.

The final action date for this category has been listed as “Unavailable” for March. If there is legislative action extending this category for FY-2019, the final action date would immediately become “Current” for March 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 January 1, 2018 date.

Employment Fifth Preference Categories (I5 and R5):

The continuing resolution signed on January 25, 2019 extended this immigrant investor pilot program until February 15, 2019. The I5 and R5 visas may be issued until close of business on February 15, 2019, 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 February 15, 2019.

The final action dates for the I5 and R5 categories have been listed as “Unavailable” for March. If there is legislative action extending them for FY-2019, the final action dates would immediately become “Current” for March for all countries except China-mainland born I5 and R5 which would be subject to a September 8, 2014 final action date and Vietnam, which would be subject to a July 15, 2016 final action date.