The March 2022 visa bulletin is out and there is much to be jubilant about. But with a bit of precaution. The U.S. State Department took slightly longer to release the vise bulletin this time compare to the same month in previous years. The only visa category that had some movement is the EB-2 visa’s Final Action cutoff date for Indian nationals which advanced by four months to May 1, 2013. 

But before we go into the advancements and other movements, here’s a look at which priority dates haven’t been impacted by the next visa bulletin.

The Final Action Dates for employment-based visas:

• EB-2: China remains on March 1, 2019. 
• EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: China remains on March 22, 2018, and India remains on January 15, 2012. 
• EB-3 Other Workers:  India remains on January 15, 2012.

The Dates for Filing for employment-based visas:

The March Dates for Filing remain unchanged from last month for-

• EB-1, 
• EB-2 and 
• EB-3 Professional/Skilled Workers

The priority dates, overall don’t look very different from last month. EB-2 India advanced by almost six months to January 1, 2013 and led the way for any and all movement within the visa bulletin for February 2022. Here’s a detailed look at what it looks like from last month.

Adjustment of Status

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has determined that they will be using the Dates for Filing chart to accept employment-based adjustment of status applications. Individuals are eligible to adjust status to lawful permanent resident if their priority date is earlier than the Dates for Filing cutoff date for their preference category and nationality.

March 2022 Visa Bulletin Dates for Filing

EB-1: All filing dates remain current.

EB-2: China: April 1, 2019

India: September 1, 2013

All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers:

China: April 1, 2018

India: January 22, 2012

All other countries: Current

EB-3 Other Workers:

China: July 1, 2015

India: January 22, 2012

All other countries: Current

EB-5 Non-Regional Center:

All countries: Current (while the EB-5 non-regional center program remains current for Chinese nationals, cutoff dates could be reinstated for this group by April 2022)

EB-5 Regional Center:

China: December 15, 2015

All other countries: Current

March 2022 Visa Bulletin Final Action Dates

• EB-1: All countries remain current.
• EB-2: China stays at March 1, 2019. India advances four months to May 1, 2013. All other countries remain current.
• EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: China remains on March 22, 2018, and India remains on January 15, 2012. All other countries remain current.
• EB-3 Other Workers: China advances one month to May 1, 2012, and India stays at January 15, 2012. All other countries remain current.
• EB-5 Non-Regional: All countries are current.

Consular Backlogs Continue

Processing backlogs coupled with reduced consular operations due to COVID-19 public health measures continue to limit the issuance of immigrant visas by U.S. consulates abroad. While several applications are moving forward rapidly, there is some anticipated delays as most consulates are still at reduced capacity as they try to work through previous backlogs. Those previously refused under the IV ban should await further instruction from the U.S. consulate that handled their application.