May 2018 Visa Bulletin Analysis

May's visa bulletin is out and confirms that EB-1 did not change across the board.  India and China are expected to remain backlogged, at minimum, through late summer based on commentary from the Department of State. The only notable progress in EB-1 and EB-2 was for EB-2 China which moved forward by one month to 01SEP14.  Last month it had advanced 33 weeks.  Vietnam was added to the chart this month because of the imposition of dates for EB-5 immigrant investors.

While Family-Based priority dates continue an incrementally forward progression, it's not clear whether Chart B will be implemented as in recent months, given the overall slowing of the date advancement.  **Updated** Chart B, Dates for Filing chart, is in use for May.

Employment-Based Movement

EB-1 is retrogressed more than six years for India and China.  Dates for both countries are set at 01JAN12.  Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines remain current.

EB-2 Worldwide remains current.  China advanced one month to 01SEP14. India remains at 22DEC08.

EB-3 Remains current Worldwide. After a large jump last month, China  remains at 01JUN15.  India continued its move forward, advancing another 2 months to 01MAY08. 

Family-Based Movement

F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of US Citizens) Worldwide, China, and India remain at 08APR11, unlike recent months of forward advancement.  Mexico again moved forward six weeks to 15NOV96.  The Philippines advanced, but a much reduced pace from last month, to 22JAN06.  This suggests that we may have reached parity in the F1 category for the remainder of the fiscal year.

F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents) moved forward roughly one month for all countries.  Worldwide, India, China, and the Philippines are all at 01JUN16 and Mexico is at 22APR16.

F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of US Citizens) continued advancing steadily to 01FEB06 for Worldwide, China, and India.  This category has seen good advancement in recent months and the trend continues at a three-week pace.  Mexico, though a tremendous backlog, did advance nearly two months to 01SEP95. The Philippines has the greatest backlog and advanced only one week to 01APR95.

F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult US Citizens) for Worldwide and China moved ahead by two weeks to 01OCT04, which is a slightly slower pace than last year.  India moved two weeks  forward to 01MAR04.