JULY 2019 VISA BULLETIN: ANALYSIS AND PREDICTIONS

The Department of State has just issued the July 2019 Visa Bulletin. This is the tenth Visa Bulletin of Fiscal Year 2019. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin. 

July 2019 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.

Employment- based	All Other	CHINA	INDIA	PHILIPPINES
1st	22APR18	08MAY17	01JAN15	22APR18
2nd	C	01NOV16	24APR09	C
3rd	C	01JAN16	01JUL09	C

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.

Employment- based	All Other	CHINA	INDIA	PHILIPPINES
1st	01SEP18	01OCT17	01OCT17	01SEP18
2nd	C	01FEB17	01JUN09	C
3rd	C	01JUN16	01APR10	C

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

All Other: The EB-1 category stayed still.  We do not see any retrogression in the future for EB2 or EB3, other than the usual retrogression at the end of the Fiscal Year.

China:  China EB-1 moved three months.  China EB-2 moved 3 months, a fifteen-month progression so far in 2019’s calendar months.  EB-3 also moved ahead about three months -- which reflects continued demand in EB-3, likely related to the many EB-3 “downgrades”.  EB-2 remains superior to EB-3.

India: There was very little movement in any of the Indian categories.  EB-1 will almost surely not move in FY 2019.  We do not expect any significant Indian movement this fiscal year.  Longer term, we are slightly more optimistic about India EB-3, which should progress faster than EB-2.

Philippines: The EB-3 is current!  We do not expect any retrogression in the near future.  Great days for Philippine employment-based nationals.

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE ADDS QUESTION REGARDING SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

The US Department of States (DOS) has added a question to both the immigrant visa application (DS-260) and non-immigrant visa application (DS-160) asking for the applicant’s social media information.  Specifically, the form asks which social media platforms the applicant has used in the last five years and provides a dropdown with a list of options.  Once the platform is selected, the form requires the applicant provide his/her username or handle for the social media account.  The US DOS will review any social media the applicant uses to collaborate, share information, and interact with others in an effort to heighten security and further vet applicants for entrance to the US. 

VISA BULLETIN PREDICTIONS: PHILS EB-3 TO BE CURRENT

The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin guru, Charlie Oppenheim, hosts regular meetings with the American Immigration Lawyers Association.  Mr. Oppenheim is the Department of State’s Chief of the Control and Reporting Division. He is the officer who is responsible for producing the Visa Bulletin each month.

In May he presented at the Federal Bar Association – Immigration Law where he outlined his expectations for future Visa Bulletins.

Here are some of his expectations:

Philippines

Philippines EB-3 will become current with the publication of the July Visa Bulletin.  It is expected to remain current well into the next fiscal year.  Philippines EB1 and EB-2 will also remain current.

India

Both EB-2 and EB-3 categories will only have slow progressions for the foreseeable future.  While lower Worldwide EB-2 demand may allow some advancement, it does not appear that this will be the case or EB-3.  EB-1 will also not advance, although EB-1 should return to Feb 2017 with the start of the next fiscal year.

China

China EB-3 should advance into 2016 with the next Visa Bulletin.  China EB-2 will move into late 2016.  The inversion of these dates is no longer likely. 

Worldwide

EB-3 will remain current for the foreseeable future.  EB-2 may have a slight retrogression later in the summer.  The EB-1 date will remain unmoved.