With a big forward push for EB-1 India, the March 2021 visa bulletin comes with a big splash nearing the end of February. Armed with a huge seven-month forward momentum, EB-1 India has gone from January 1, 2020 all the way to August 1, 2020 and is leading the way for all the employment based categories for both India and China.
As Path2USA had predicted in February 2021’s visa bulletin, EB-1, EB-2 as well as EB-3 was expected to jump ahead next month. And rightfully so, all three have made significant advancements led by EB-1 with a 7-month push.
Final Action Cutoff Dates
The final action cutoff dates for issuance of an immigrant visa are:
- EB-1: India and China advance to Aug 1, 2020.
- EB-2: India moves to Jan 15, 2010 while China advances by 1 month to July 15, 2016
- EB-3: India moves forward to July 1, 2010 and China to Feb 8, 2018. EB-3 is current for all other countries of chargeability.
- EB-4: India and China remain current
- EB-5*: India remains current while China continues to stay at Aug 15, 2015
*The Regional and Non-Regional Center programs will remain current for all countries
Dates For Filing
Unlike last month, the EB-1 category is current for all countries of chargeability in March 2021.
Adjustment Of Status Filings
USCIS continues to honor the Final Action Date chart for adjustment of status filings according to the March 2021 visa bulletin. This would be a continuation from January 2021 when Final Action Dates were announced by the State department.
Most of 2020, USCIS had opted for the Dates for Filing chart to honor the adjustment of status petitions.
To be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment of status next month, the visa holder should have a priority date earlier than the date listed above. Cut-off dates for India and China, the majority countries with employment based visas is listed above.
Family-based categories
F-2a must use the Final Action Dates and all other family-based I-485 petitions should use the Final Filing Dates, per the March 2021 visa bulletin.
What To Expect Next
US President-elect Joe Biden Promises More H1-B Visas, Reduced Green Card Backlogs Next Year
Outgoing President Trump had extended the entry ban for certain categories of immigrants from outside the U.S. until March 31, 2021. While President Biden has said that any proposals that haven’t gone into effect by Jan 20, 2021 should be stalled for 60 days, it is still undecided if the entry ban will be lifted. This was announced in April 2020 and was valid until Dec 2020, and then was extended to March 2021.
The unused visas might spillover to employment based categories. However, the effect will be accessible only by Fall 2021.
Predictions For April 2021 Visa Bulletin
- EB-1: India might continue the upward trend and move further into Jan 2021 while China might move forward by 3 more months
- EB-2: India and China can expect a forward movement by 1 month
- EB-3: India and China can expect similar advances like that of March 2021’s visa bulletin
- EB-4: India and China remain current
- EB-5: India remains current while China has no movement at all
Is April 2021 going to show similar results in its visa bulletin? Stay tuned to this space to know the cut-off dates as soon as the State Department releases it visa bulletin for April 2021.