US Visa Bulletin December Update: Important Deadlines and Indian Relief

The U.S. Department of State has released the December Visa Bulletin, outlining key deadlines for immigrant visa applicants. The bulletin provides two crucial timelines—Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications—indicating when candidates should submit documents to the National Visa Center (NVC), based on submissions received by November 3.

Applicants filing for Adjustment of Status through USCIS must refer to Final Action Dates unless otherwise noted by USCIS. This month brings some relief for Indian nationals under employment-based categories.

In the EB-1 category for Indian applicants, the Final Action Date has moved forward by a month to March 15, 2022. For EB-2 applicants, it has advanced by 1 month and 14 days to May 15, 2013. EB-3 applicants see a movement of 1 month, shifting the cut-off to September 22, 2013.

However, there are no changes in the Filing Dates. The EB-1 category remains at April 15, 2023. EB-2 continues at December 1, 2013, and EB-3 remains at August 15, 2014. The EB-5 Unreserved category still shows a Filing Date of April 1, 2022.

Immigrants with pending Adjustment of Status cases should monitor the Final Action Dates, as their applications will not be processed until their priority date becomes current. Applicants whose priority date is earlier than the stated application date can now collect and send required documents to the NVC upon receiving instructions.

In oversubscribed categories, the application date marks the priority date of the first applicant who cannot yet submit documents. When a category is marked “current,” all applicants may file regardless of their priority dates.

US Visa Bulletin, Final Action Dates, EB-2 India, USCIS, Immigrant Visa