August 2021 Visa Bulletin
According to the State Department’s August Visa Bulletin, final action cutoff dates for issuance of an immigrant visa will be as follows:
- EB-1: All countries, including China and India, will remain current.
- EB-2: China will advance by four months to April 1, 2018, and India will remain at June 1, 2011. All other countries will remain current.
- EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers: Cutoff dates for China will advance by one week to January 8, 2019, while India will advance six months to July 1, 2013. All other countries will remain current.
- EB-5: The Non-Regional Center program will be current for all countries except China. China will advance by one week to November 15, 2015. Vietnam will become current in August. The Regional Center program has expired and is listed as unavailable in the Visa Bulletin. If reauthorized, the Regional Center program will mirror the Non-Regional Center final action dates.
In spite of President Biden’s February 24, 2021 order to rescind the Trump-era proclamation that suspended certain immigrant entries, visa application backlogs coupled with reduced consular operations due to COVID-19 public health measures will continue to limit the issuance of immigrant visas by U.S. consulates abroad. Immigrant visa (IV) applicants who are no longer subject to the immigrant ban may see their cases move forward, but should continue to expect delays as most consulates are still at reduced capacity as they try to work through backlogs. Those previously refused under the IV ban should await further instruction from the U.S. consulate that handled their application.
To be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment application in August, employer-sponsored foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed in the Final Actions Dates chart.