The US State Department has released the April 2022 Visa Bulletin and there have been some significant changes to make note of for both India and Mexico. It’s important to check the latest Visa Bulletin before filing your I-130, PERM, or I-140 application to give you an idea of the dates that the US State Department is currently processing. You should be checking the bulletins monthly once your I-130 or I-140 application is approved.
For April 2022, family-based green card applications, with the expectation of F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents), must use the “Dates for Filing” when filing an “adjustment of status” application for those already living in the United States. For F2A applicants, use the “Final Action Dates”. All employment-based visa applications and applicants filing from outside of the US must use “Dates for Filing”.
Applicants whose priority date, based on their family-based (I-130) or employment-based (PERM/I-140) petition, is before the posted date are eligible to move forward.
Important Changes in the Visa Bulletin April 2022
Family-Based Green Cards
Final Action Dates
A “Final Action Date” is the date when the USCIS/DOS may provide their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.
Key Takeaways:
F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens):
- Mexico has advanced by 3 months and 23 days, bringing the new date to January 1, 2000.
F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents):
- Stays current* for all countries.
F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters, 21 years of age or older, of Permanent Residents):
- Mexico has advanced by 4 months, bringing the new date to January 1, 2001.
F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens):
- Mexico has advanced by 8 months and 9 days, bringing the new date to January 1, 2000.
*Current indicates that applications may be filed regardless of your priority date.
Dates for Filing Applications
“Date for Filing Application” is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to the USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.
Key Takeaways:
F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens):
- Mexico has advanced by 1 month, bringing the new date to May 1, 2001.
F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents):
- All countries including China, India, Mexico, and Philippines are current.
F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters, 21 years of age or older, of Permanent Residents):
- Mexico has advanced by 21 days, bringing the new date to April 22, 2001.
F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens):
- Philippines has advanced by 1 month and 7 days, bringing the new date to November 8, 2003.
F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens):
- India has advanced by 1 month and 21 days, bringing the new date to February 22, 2006.
- Mexico has advanced by 3 months and 21 days, bringing the new date to December 22, 2000.
- Philippines has advanced by 2 months and 21 days, bringing the new date to April 22, 2004.
Employment-Based Green Cards
Final Action Dates
Key Takeaways:
EB-2 (Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability):
- India has advanced by 2 months and 7 days, bringing the new dates to July 8, 2013.
Dates for Filing Applications
Key Takeaways:
EB-2 (Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability):
- India has advanced by 1 year, bringing the new date to September 01, 2014.
If you are applying for an immigrant visa and have a priority date earlier than the application date in the April 2022 Visa Bulletin charts, you may collect and submit the required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center.
EB-4 and EB-5 Updates
Expiration of EB-4 for Certain Religious Workers (SR) has passed its extension date, March 11, 2022. No SR visas may be issued overseas or have final action taken on the adjustment of status cases after midnight March 10, 2022.
The SR category is listed as “Unavailable” for April 2022 for all countries. However, if new legislation is passed for this category, it will become “Current” effective immediately for all countries except for: El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, which will be subject to a May 1, 2017 final action date as well as Mexico, which is subject to an April 1, 2020 final action date.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, which will reform the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program, was signed by President Joe Biden on March 15, 2022. The aspects of this legislation will go into effect 60 days after it is enacted, so more information regarding the reform of EB-5 will be available in visa bulletins released in the coming months. No further information is available at this time.
EB-3 “Other Workers” (EW) Category
EB-3 applications with the preference of “Other Workers” (EW) may be subject to a worldwide final action date as early as June in order to hold the number of uses within the maximum allowed under the Fiscal Year 2022 annual limit. The department will monitor the number of applications using this category and will make adjustments accordingly.
If you’re in the green card waiting process, it is important to keep an eye on each month’s Visa Bulletin to be ready to apply when it’s time. Visa bulletin April 2022 predictions are excellent to follow to be prepared for incoming news, but studying and understanding the bulletins when they are released will be the most helpful for those waiting for their final action date or filing application date to be reached.
For more information regarding specific dates for April 2022, be sure to visit the US State Department’s website or check out our guide for how to read and understand visa bulletins here.