The State Department has released their data for visa availability for adjustment of status applicants as well as consular processing applicants for April 2021. The monthly visa bulletin provided by the DOS should help immigrants both in the U.S. and abroad to know when they will be able to file visa documentation with the NVC or with the USCIS, depending on their case.
Family-Based Immigration
In the family-based category, the first chart on the Bulletin is for those who are seeking a final action date for an already filed application. This means that the applicant will need to wait until their date is “Current” or refer to the dates in the chart to see where they stand in the queue.
For April 2021, the F2A category remains current. Applicants who have filed for a green card in this category should have a current final action date. In both February and March 2021, this category was also “Current”.
In all countries listed by the DOS, there is a fairly long queue for F1 applicants. Mexico, again, has the longest queue, with those who applied for a green card in February 1998, now at the front of the line. In addition, Chinese (mainland) and Indian applicants who applied in October 2014 are now at the front of the line in the same category.
In the F2B category, all country applicants except for Mexico and the Philippines have a final action date of August 8th, 2015. Mexican applicants in this category have the longest queue, with a final action date for those who applied in July 1999. Applicants from the Philippines have a final action date in September 2011.
In the F3 category, all country applicants except for those from Mexico and the Philippines have a final action date of August 8th, 2008. Mexican applicants in this category have the longest queue, with a final action date for those who applied in October 1996. As per Filipino applicants at the front of the line, there is a final action date of April 2002.
In the F4 category, all chargeability areas and applicants from China (mainland) have a final action date of November 1st, 2006. For Indian applicants, the final action date is April 8th, 2005. Mexican applicants are in the longest queue, with a final action date in this category of July 1998. In addition, applicants from the Philippines have a final action date of April 8th, 2002 in this category.
Dates for Filing reflects applicants who will be checking the Visa Bulletin as they wait to file visa documentation with the NVC. Additionally, if the USCIS received your petition earlier than the date for filing listed on the Bulletin, you may be eligible to file. You can find your priority date on the I-797 form mailed by USCIS approving your I-130 petition.
Under the Dates for filing category, F2A applicants have the least wait times with all foreign applicants, all of which are in March of 2021.
F1 applicants in all chargeability countries, and China (mainland), and India, have a date for filing that reflects September, 15th, 2015. Applicants from Mexico have the longest queue in this category, with a date for filing of March, 2000. Filipino applicants have a September, 2013 date for filing.
F2B, F3 and F4 applicants have a date for filing that reflects at least any application filed before June of 2016. Please check the Bulletin link above for more information on these categories.
Employment Based Immigration
The final action dates in the employment-based immigration categories are as follows:
All chargeability area applicants (except for China (mainland), Central Am., India, Mexico, Philippines, and Vietnam have a “Current” final action date in all categories listed.
Applicants from China (mainland) have a “Current” final action date in the 1st employment category, as well as the 4th, and Certain Religious Workers. Applicants from China remain oversubscribed in the 2nd, 3rd, Other Workers, and Immigrant Investors category.
Applicants from Central America have a “Current” final action date in every category, except for Certain Special Immigrants (4th) and Religious Workers.
Applicants from India have a “Current” final action date in the 1st, 4th, Religious Workers, and Immigrant Investors categories. For those Indian applicants who are in the 2nd, 3rd, or Other Workers categories, your queue is oversubscribed and you should refer to the date on the Bulletin.
Applicants from Mexico have a “Current” final action date in all of the employment categories except for Certain Special Immigrants and Religious Workers.
Filipino applicants have a “Current” final action date in every employment category per the April Bulletin.
Vietnamese applicants have a “Current” final action date in every employment category this month, except for Immigrant Investors.
The dates for filing in the employment-based immigration categories are as follows:
All chargeability area applicants have a “Current” date for filing.
Applicants from China (mainland) have a “Current” date for filing in the 1st, 4th, and Religious Workers categories. The 2nd, 3rd, Other Workers, and Immigrant Investor categories are oversubscribed.
Applicants from Central Am. have a “Current” date for filing in every category except for Certain Special Immigrants (4th) and Religious Workers.
Applicants from India have a “Current” date for filing in the 1st, 4th, Religious Workers, and Immigrant investor categories. 2nd, 3rd, and Other Workers remain oversubscribed.
Applicants from Mexico and the Philippines both have “Current” dates for filing in every employment-based category.
