The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process, or if already pending, when the final step can be adjudicated.
Below is a summary of the December Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month. The December Visa Bulletin includes a warning that all employment-based second and third preference categories for all countries could retrogress in January.
China: EB-1 leaps forward three and a half months to May 15, 2017; EB-2 moves ahead three months to June 22, 2015; and EB-3 remains stalled at November 1, 2015
India: EB-1 remains stalled at January 1, 2015; EB-2 creeps forward two days May 15, 2009; and EB-3 freezes at January 1, 2009
Philippines: EB-1 advances 44 days to July 15, 2018; EB-2 remains current; and EB-3 moves forward one month to March 1, 2018
All Other Countries: EB-1 jumps ahead 44 days to July 15, 2018; EB-2 and EB-3 remain current
NOTE: USCIS has not yet announced if it will accept I-485 applications in December based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart.