Change:

October 2021 Visa Bulletin

For September 2021 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-september-2021.aspx

For analysis of October 2021 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-analysis-october-2021.aspx

October 2021 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from October 1 to October 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 01DEC14
01DEC14 01DEC14 15JAN99 01MAR12
F2A C C C C C
F2B 22SEP15 22SEP15 22SEP15 15MAR00 22OCT11
F3 22NOV08 22NOV08 22NOV08 15MAY97 08JUN02
F4 22MAR07 22MAR07 15SEP05 08FEB99 22AUG02
"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 15MAY16 15MAY16 15MAY16 01AUG00 22APR15
F2A 01JUN21 01JUN21 01JUN21 01JUN21 01JUN21
F2B 22SEP16 22SEP16 22SEP16 01OCT00 01OCT13
F3 22AUG09 22AUG09 22AUG09 08SEP00 01OCT03
F4 01OCT07 01OCT07 01JAN06 01JUN99 01FEB04

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 C 01JUL18 C 01SEP11 C C
3rd C 08JAN19 C 01JAN14 C C
Other Workers C 01FEB10 C 01JAN14 C C
4th C C 15MAR19 C 01MAR20 C
Certain Religious Workers U U U U U U
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 22NOV15 C C C C
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
U U U U U U
"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 01SEP18 C 08JUL12  C C
3rd C 15JAN19 C 08JAN14 C C
Other Workers C 01MAY10 C 08JAN14 C C
4th C C 15MAY19 C C C
Certain Religious Workers C C 15MAY19 C C C
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 15DEC15 C C C C
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
C 15DEC15 C C C C

Special Notice from USCIS:(Show/Hide)

D. EXPIRATION OF TWO EMPLOYMENT CATEGORIES

Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):

Pursuant to Section 102 of Division I, Title I of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), the non-minister special immigrant program expires on September 30, 2021. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight September 29, 2021. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of September 29, 2021, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight September 29, 2021.

The final action date for this category has been listed as “Unavailable” for October.

If there is legislative action extending this category for FY-2022, the final action date would immediately become “Current” for October for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, which would be subject to a March 15, 2019 final action date, and Mexico, which would be subject to a March 1, 2020 final action date.

Employment Fifth Preference I5 and R5 Regional Center Visa Categories (I5 and R5):

Division O, Title 1, Section 104 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 extended the immigrant investor pilot program until June 30, 2021. No I5 or R5 visas may be issued overseas or final action taken on adjustment of status cases after June 30, 2021.

The final action dates for the I5 and R5 categories have been listed as “Unavailable” for October.

If there is legislative action extending this category for October, the final action dates would immediately become “Current” for October for all countries except China-mainland born I5 and R5, which would be subject to a November 22, 2015 final action date.

E. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV

F. VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE COMING MONTHS

FAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement)

Worldwide dates:

F1: No movement expected
F2A: Current
F2B: No movement expected
F3: No movement expected
F4: No movement expected

EMPLOYMENT-based categories (potential monthly movement)

Employment First:

Worldwide: Current
China: Current
India: Current

Employment Second:

Worldwide: Current
China: Up to several months
India: Up to several months

Employment Third:

Worldwide: A final action date could be imposed as early as November
China: A retrogression of this date could occur as early as November
India: A retrogression of this date could occur as early as November
Mexico: A final action date could be imposed as early as November
Philippines: A final action date could be imposed as early as November

Employment Fourth: Current for most countries

El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras: Limited, if any, movement expected
Mexico: Limited, if any, movement expected

Employment Fifth: Current for most countries

China: No forward movement


The above final action date projections for the Family and Employment categories indicate what is likely to happen on a monthly basis through January. The determination of the actual monthly final action dates is subject to fluctuations in applicant demand and several other variables impacting processing.

G. @TRAVELGOV HOSTING MONTHLY YOUTUBE LIVE “CHATS WITH CHARLIE”

@TravelGov will be hosting "Chats with Charlie" on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/TravelGov) to discuss information provided in the monthly Visa Bulletin. This month’s chat is scheduled to take place on September 15, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. EST to discuss the October Visa Bulletin. Questions can be emailed to [email protected] ahead of the event with "Chat with Charlie Question" in the subject line. Questions will also be taken via the YouTube Live Chat and will be answered in real-time. The event is intended to address issues of general interest related to the content of the Visa Bulletin, and no policy, case or post specific questions will be accepted.


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