VISA BULLETIN MARCH 2018: ANALYSIS AND PREDICTIONS

The Department of State has just issued the March 2018 Visa Bulletin.  This is the sixth Visa Bulletin of Fiscal Year 2018.  This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

March 2018 Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these dates may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment.

EB  Class	All Other	CHINA	INDIA	MEXICO	PHIL'PNES
EB-1	C	C	C	C	C
EB-2	C	01DEC13	15DEC08	C	C
EB-3	C	15NOV14	01JAN07	C	01MAY16

Table B: Dates for Filing -- The DOS may work on applications with these dates. But the Visa cannot be approved until the date is current per Table A.

EB  Class	All Other	CHINA	INDIA	MEXICO	PHIL'PNES
EB-1	C	C	C	C	C
EB-2	C	01FEB13	08FEB09	C	C
EB-3	C	01JAN16	01JAN08	C	01OCT16

MU Law Analysis (all references are to Table A unless noted)

All Other:  The EB-2 has been current for many years.  The EB-3 is also current and is expected to remain current for the foreseeable future.

China (mainland-born):  Both China EB-2 and EB-3 favorably progressed, each by two months in Table A.  The China EB-3 remains more favorable than Chinese EB-2.  The odd situation of China EB-3 progressing faster than China EB-2 will remain to be the case for the foreseeable future.  A note at the end of the February Visa Bulletin says that both China EB-2 and  EB-3 should move several months in the near future.

India:  Both India EB-2 and EB-3 progressed.  EB-2 only progressed by one week.  EB-3 moved ahead by 4 weeks.  A note at the end of the February Visa Bulletin says that India EB-3 should move 1-3 months in the near future.

Mexico: Mirrors All Other in analysis.

Philippines: The Philippine EB-3 date moved two months, which is its best movement in FY2018. This may reflect the fact that I-485 processing times may slow because of the new I-485 EB interview requirement.  If EB I-485 interview times slow, it will cause the DOS to free up more visas for Consular Processing petitions.  This is also reflected in the fact that EB-3 Table B moved three months.  A note at the end of the February Visa Bulletin says that we should expect one month movements in EB-3. MU is slightly more optimistic than this projection.