By: Gladys Gervacio

The United States State Department has released its July 2021 Visa Bulletin which features advancements in cutoff dates across employment-based visa categories. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will use the Final Action Dates chart to accept applications for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident.

final action cutoff dates for employment-based green cards

• EB-1: All countries remain current, including India and China.
• EB-2: China advances seven months to December 1, 2017. India advances six months to June 1, 2011. All other countries remain current.
• EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: China advances four months to January 1, 2019. India advances 14 months to January 1, 2013. All other countries remain current.
• EB-3 Other Workers: China advances another two months to December 1, 2009. India advances January 1, 2013. All other countries remain current.
• EB-4: El-Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras advance to December 1, 2018. Mexico advances three months to February 1, 2020. All other countries remain current.
• EB-4 Certain Religious Workers: El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras advance to December 1, 2018, and Mexico advances to February 1, 2020. All others remain current.
• EB-5 Non-Regional (C5, T5): China advances seven weeks to November 8, 2015, while Vietnam advances almost two years to April 1, 2020. All other countries remain current. The Regional Center program is due to expire on June 30, 2021, unless Congress renews the program. If the program is reauthorized, its final action dates will match those of Non-Regional Center visas.

rescission of the immigrant visa ban

President Joe Biden’s revocation of Trump’s immigrant visa ban has not yet made a significant impact on the issuance of immigrant visas at US consulates abroad. Visa application backlogs and reduced operations due to COVID-19 continue to cause delays for prospective immigrant visa applicants outside of the United States.

Expiration of the EB-5 Regional center program

If Congress does not renew the EB-5 Regional Center program before its expiration date of June 30, 2021, USCIS will discontinue issuing visas and adjustment of status applications under the EB-5 category after the close of business on June 30. There are bills pending in Congress to reauthorize the Regional Center program, but it is not yet clear whether they will be passed.

conclusion

For any case-specific questions or for assistance adjusting to permanent resident status, contact your trusted Chugh, LLP immigration professional.