Uscis retrogression 2018. •It is usually temp...
Uscis retrogression 2018. •It is usually temporary, but recovery can take years. Visa retrogression generally occurs when the annual limit for a category or country has been exhausted or is expected to run out soon. Get real-time updates on visa availability and filing dates. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart below may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center March 2026 makes EB-2 “Current” on Dates for Filing for ROW, Mexico, and the Philippines—learn who can file I-485 now and why retrogression matters. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in These reports provide data on various aspects of USCIS operations. The EB-1B petition consists of Form I-140 and supporting documents to show that the alien beneficiary meets EB1 Outstanding Researcher or Professor criteria. More recently, the changes involving the visa bulletin retrogression for the EB-4 visa category are forcing religious workers to depart the United States before a visa becomes available to adjust their status. State Department has just released the July 2018 Visa Bulletin which is the tenth Visa Bulletin for the FY2018 fiscal year. 30, 2025. Learn key filing dates and implications. Department of State moves visa priority dates backward, delaying green card applications. the F2A category. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) defines a child as a person who is both unmarried and under 21 years old. The question is whether this approval is appropriate or not. July 2018 Visa Bulletin – EB-3 China Retrogression; EB2/3 India Advance Notably The U. 2 This pathway is part of a broader permanent immigration system established by federal law—as A retrogression is also likely for the EB1 category for both India and China in the June 2023 visa bulletin. Jul 31, 2018 · USCIS has just released the visa bulletin for August 2018 which provides for visa availability retrogression in the EB-1 category for worldwide applicants. We are dedicated to using as many available employment-based visas as possible in FY 2025, which ends on Sept. Beginning in May, 2023, USCIS intends to implement visa retrogression for those international applicants seeking employment-based green card sponsorship across all countries. In order to adjust status to that of legal permanent resident, an immigrant visa must be available to the applicant both at the time of filing and at the time of adjudication. GT will monitor USCIS announcement and provide an update as soon as this information is released for May of 2018. If you are 18 years of age or older, you must always carry your Employment Authorization Congress sets limits on the number of immigrant visas that can be issued each year. Get AI-powered April 2026 visa bulletin predictions. Understand the Visa Bulletin: our comprehensive Visa Bulletin explanation demystifies green card processing, priority dates, and retrogression. The visa bulletin determines when adjustment applications can be submitted. S. visa retrogression impacts high-skilled workers — especially from India & China — and discover smart legal strategies to manage delays, protect status, and plan your green card journey. Section 203 (b) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Employment-based immigrant visas as follows: EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES First: Priority Workers: 28. When the new fiscal year starts on October 1 of each year, the cut-off dates tend to progress to the pre-retrogression dates as a new supply of visas is available for the year. March 2026 Visa Bulletin brings significant forward movement across several employment-based categories compared to February 2026. 9 million filings in FY 2023, clearing over 10 million pending cases and reducing backlogs by 15 percent. This is due to increased demand in this category for the ROW countries. Based on continued increased demand, USCIS is utilizing the Immigration and Nationality Act to implement final action dates for the EB-1 visas effective immediately. Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28. Although EB-1 Visa retrogression can delay green card processing by moving priority dates backward, creating uncertainty for applicants. Retrogression can happen at any time and can vary from month to month. However, importantly, USCIS has not allowed reliance on Chart B for the purpose of filing of adjustment of status applications in the employment-based categories this fiscal year. Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Anne Walsh and Mike Hammond explain what visa retrogression means for employees and employers, and potential government solutions. The U. When religious workers wish to obtain their Green Card and become lawful permanent residents, the primary path available is through their employment. If an alien applies for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status as a child but turns 21 before being approved for LPR status (also known as getting a Green Card), that alien can no longer be considered a child for immigration purposes. Track Visa Bulletin February 2026 priority dates for all family and employment categories. When the new fiscal year begins on Oct. The first step is for their employer to file the I-360 petition with USCIS, which classifies the religious worker as a “special immigrant religious worker” who is eligible to adjust their status to lawful permanent resident. While we hope this visa retrogression is temporary, Medliant reminds international USRN applicants that we will continue NCLE The EB1 Outstanding Researcher or Professor immigrant visa classification (EB1B, EB-1B, EB1-OR) is the employment-based first preference immigration. Stay informed! Chart B is included within the monthly Visa Bulletin. Navigate visa retrogression: understand how demand affects immigrant visa availability and your path to status, ensuring informed decisions. Visa retrogression is an unpredictable phenomenon that is based on a number of factors, such as the number of visas issued in a given year and the demand for visas from specific countries. Dec 26, 2025 · The Hard Truth •Retrogression means the cutoff date moved backward to an earlier date. If there are enough green cards, you use the “Dates for Filing Applications” list. We issue a variety of secure identity documents that may establish your identity, immigration status in the United States, authorization to work, or authorization to travel. This bulletin informs immigrant visa applicants if they are qualified to submit the necessary documentation and application. This site provides applicants the ability to see an estimate of the time to completion from submission of USCIS forms based on its adjudication location and subtype. S Anne Walsh and Mike Hammond explain what visa retrogression means for employees and employers, and potential government solutions. Also, significant forward movement for EB-3 India + EB-2/EB-3 China. Retrogression Warning The March 2026 bulletin explicitly states: “As additional immigrant visa demand materializes, or administration actions are amended, retrogression may be necessary later in the fiscal year. The teleconference featured an interview with two U. employer intending to employ a professor or researcher who is outstanding in an January 2026 Visa Bulletin shows EB-5 progress for China with 31-day advancement and India's 761-day leap. By Greenberg Traurig, LLP on November 21, 2018 Posted in China, Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Business Plan, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Investment, I-526, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, USCIS, Vietnamese 5. 1 LPRs can live and work permanently in the United States and can become U. The revised process will better align with procedures DOS uses for foreign nationals who seek to become U. Aug 10, 2018 · Released every month, the USCIS releases a visa bulletin. While we hope this visa retrogression is temporary, Medliant reminds international USRN applicants that we will continue NCLE December 2024 Visa Bulletin update covering EB category movement, priority dates, and how changes impact I-485 and DS-260 applicants. The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. The key operational takeaways from the USCIS guidance are as follows. This is why USCIS urges applicants to maintain a current address with the agency. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shared employer facing instructions on how to complete the Form I-9 and submit E-Verify queries for certain Haiti TPS recipients. Immigrant Visas should become available again at the beginning of the next fiscal year on October 1, 2018. How often does retrogression happen in the Visa Bulletin? Retrogression in the Visa Bulletin may occur frequently or infrequently depending on various factors, including demand for visas, available visa numbers and processing time. Department of State has officially released the February 2026 Visa Bulletin, providing immigrant visa availability information for the month. In the current scenario, 60,744 immigrant visas have already been issued in the F2A category as on Apr-23 (out of the 87,934 annual limit) and with a caseload of 380k+ F2A petitioners, it seems retrogression is there to stay. USCIS, in coordination with Department of State (DOS), is revising the procedures for determining visa availability for applicants waiting to file for employment-based or family-sponsored preference adjustment of status. ) and immigration enforcement (deportations). For the month of August, the EB-1 final action dates retrogress for all countries excluding China and India. 30,600 40,000 Learn what retrogression is and how it affects your visa or green card application process. Find out how to time your visa. Despite this, visa retrogression creates significant hurdles for foreign nationals looking to immigrate to the US. On March 15, 2011, the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (Ombudsman’s Office) hosted a public teleconference on Family-Based Visa Retrogression. citizens through the naturalization process. Introduction Each year, the United States grants lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, or green cards, to 140,000 employment-based (EB) immigrants and their family members. How does USCIS process Visa Retrogression cases? Retrogression occurs when demand for EB-5 visas in a particular country exceeds the annual visa quota. Otherwise, we will indicate on this page that you must use the Final Action Dates chart to determine when you may file your adjustment of status application. Learn how U. 8. How does the visa number retrogression affect me if I have not yet applied for a green card? You are only affected by the current retrogression if you are from mainland China, India, or the Philippines and wish obtain your green card through adjustment of status at USCIS (or consular processing at a U. In the past several years, forced departures were due to USCIS processing delays and problematic policies. By Greenberg Traurig, LLP on November 21, 2018 Posted in China, Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Business Plan, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Investment, I-526, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, USCIS, Vietnamese What Happens When USCIS Still Approves the I-485 Even When a Visa is No Longer Available? In some cases, even though retrogression has occurred resulting in a visa no longer being available, USCIS may still approve the I-485 application. •USCIS does this to stop the flood of new applications. Foster anticipated that this retrogression would be temporary, lasting until the beginning of the next fiscal year on October 1, 2018. USCIS approves the petition, thus making April 1, 2024 Manuel's Priority Date. 5. The retrogression was attributed to a high demand overall for immigrant visas. The Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin which lists the cut-off dates that govern visa availability. Department of State (DOS) officials, Charlie Oppenheim of the Visa Office (VO), and Andrew Hayden of the National Visa Center (NVC), while USCIS officials listened in For the September 2018 Visa Bulletin, Foster reported worldwide retrogression for all chargeability areas for the EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, and Other Workers categories. permanent residents by applying for immigrant visas at U. The 2018 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics is a collection of tables about lawful immigration (green cards, etc. 2 days ago · If USCIS determines there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, we will state on this page that you may use the Dates for Filing chart. On April 1, 2018, EB-1 China and India will retrogress to January 1, 2012. While the Sadly, with no fault of USCIS, this has come at a cost of family-based immigration, esp. Jul 18, 2018 · USCIS acknowledged continued increasing demand for EB-1 visas in its July 2018 visa bulletin. As noted in our November 2021 Visa Bulletin post, significant retrogression related to the EB-3 category occurred. This primarily impacts those who are planning to file an Adjustment of Status application in August and September or have a pending The employment-based (EB) annual limit for fiscal year (FY) 2025 will be higher than was typical before the pandemic, though lower than in FY 2021-2024. However, if a particular immigrant visa Any retrogression of the above mentioned preferences would be temporary and in October, the first month of fiscal year 2019, the final action dates would be returned to those established for August. Retrogression can impact an individual at different times in the overall process. Check the February Visa Bulletin now to see if your priority date is current and you can start your green card application process. ” B. Visa retrogression occurs when the U. If an AOS applicant has been interviewed at the field office, what happens if the visa retrogresses before final adjudication? USCIS processed a record-high 10. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) looks at these lists to decide when you can send in your green card application. . April 2018 Visa Bulletin brings retrogression and cutoff date for EB-1 India and China. Learn what causes retrogression, how it impacts your case, and steps you can take to manage delays effectively. The first thing Manuel does next is to check the State Department's Visa Bulletin, a list showing "cutoff dates," or which Priority Dates are "current," meaning that their holders are now entitled to visas. This USCIS Responds with I-9 and E-Verify Guidance but Limited Detail Against that backdrop, U. USCIS Responses to Questions from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) 1. When visa retrogression comes into play, USCIS may require applicants to provide updated application materials when their priority dates finally become current. This affects employment-based and family-sponsored visa applicants, especially from high-demand countries like India and China. •It happens when demand exceeds the annual supply of visas. These documents include your personal information, such as your full legal name, date of birth, country of birth, sex, and A-Number. Our analysis engine forecasts movements for EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories based on 13+ years of data. Retrogression refers to the situation where previously current dates on the quota bulletin go backwards and become unavailable. Applicants with paused applications must wait for their priority dates to become current again, extending overall wait times significantly. 1, a new supply of visa numbers becomes available. In addition, certain tables list the USCIS office responsible for the adjudication. The most notable advancements are found in the EB-2 category for the "Rest of World" (ROW) and India, as well as positive movement for both India and China in the EB-1 category. 6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences. Jul 16, 2018 · According to the State Department August Visa Bulletin, the Employment Based First Preference Category (EB-1) Final Action Dates for “Priority Workers” will retrogress for the month of August 2018. consulate) based on an EB-3 petition. c54bx, s1bfy, fribm, r8ar9f, bgxd, jjgu, 19hyp, xh23s, fyx8w, 3ukv,