USCIS Sets the August 2020 Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-to-file-your-adjustment-of-status-application-for-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-54

Pasricha & Patel

For the August 2020 Visa Bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State, the USCIS has decided to continue to follow the previous months’ filing procedure and set that for family-sponsored filings, filers should once again follow the Dates for Filing Chart for the August 2020 Visa Bulletin.

And just like in previous months, because the F2A category remains ‘Current’ on the Final Action Dates Chart for Family-sponsored preference cases, this means that applicants in the F2A category (spouses and children of permanent residents) may continue to use the Final Action Dates chart for August 2020, and this applies to all nationalities.

Furthermore, just like in the last few months, the USCIS continues to permit all filers in the employment-based preference filings should follow the Final Action Dates for employment-based preference cases for the August 2020 visa bulletin. By continuing this trend, the assumption is that the visa number usage in the employment-based preference filings continue to be strong, and the USCIS wants to hold the line on the EB-preference case numbers for a while more.

And just like in the July 2020 visa bulletin, there continues to be dramatic and notable movements in the employment-based visa categories, particularly in the EB-1 India, and China visa category.

For example, in the EB-1 visa category, India will advance by almost 9months – from May 8, 2017 to February 8, 2018. Meanwhile, China will also dramatically advance by almost 6 months – from August 22, 2017 to February 8, 2018.

Interestingly, in the EB-2 visa category, EB-2 India remains the same date: July 8, 2009. However, EB-2 China will move ahead from November 8, 2015 to January 15, 2016, by more than 2 months jump ahead.

And in the EB-3 visa category, India moves from June 1, 2009 to October 1, 2009, while EB-3 China jumps from June 22, 2016 to February 15, 2017, a dramatic jump of almost 8 months.

Due to the fluid nature of the visa number movement in these months, and coupled by the uncertainties posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we do advise readers to refer back to our site regularly for any updates and new developments about the monthly visa bulletin.

Should you have any further questions about the different visa preference categories and filing procedures, please do not hesitate to contact our office to schedule a consultation to discuss your concerns further.