A.  FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); “C” means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and “U” means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.)

Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
EL SALVADOR
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES VIETNAM
1st 01MAY16 01JAN12 01MAY16 01JAN12 01MAY16 01MAY16 01MAY16
2nd C 01MAR15 C 15MAR09 C C C
3rd C 01JUL14 C 01JAN09 C 01JUN17 C
Other Workers C 01MAY07 C 01JAN09 C 01JUN17 C
4th C C 08FEB16 08FEB16 08FEB16 C C
Certain Religious Workers C C 08FEB16 08FEB16 08FEB16 C C
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
C 01AUG14 C C C C 01AUG14
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
C 01AUG14 C C C C 01AUG14

*Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category:  Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. Since the EW cut-off date reached November 19, 1997 during Fiscal Year 2001, the reduction in the EW annual limit to 5,000 began in Fiscal Year 2002.

Read Full Visa Bulletin August 2018