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Last Updated On: September 29, 2023 | Published On: September 14, 2017
As more and more people have petitioned for green cards across the globe, a whole host of new opportunities are created in the U.S. for foreign nationals from all walks of life. For those waiting for their green card to become current, these visa bulletins are incredibly valuable. If this is you, then keep reading to see where your new date stands in the October 2017 visa bulletin.
As you may already know, October 1st marks the beginning of the 2018 fiscal year for the USCIS. Recently, there have been some discouraging movements across almost all of the visa categories. However, as predicted in previous bulletins, many dates have reset or otherwise jumped forward with the start of this new fiscal year.
If you are unaware of the family immigrant visa categories, here is a quick rundown. There are four preference levels for these kinds of green cards and each preference level is divided into five different geographic areas of chargeability: China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and all other unnamed countries (called the general category).
Let’s see how the dates have moved in the October 2017 visa bulletin for family-based green cards.
The F1 green card is for the children and dependents of U.S. citizens.
The second preference is separated into two subcategories, which are divided according to the beneficiary’s relationship to the sponsor. Overall, this preference level is for the children and spouses of green card holders (or lawful permanent residents).
F2A – this subcategory is for the spouses of green card holders and their unmarried children younger than 21 years of age.
F2B – this subcategory is for the unmarried children of green card holders who are 21 years old or older.
The F3 green card is meant for the married children of U.S. citizens.
The last preference level, the F4 green card, is reserved for the brothers and sisters (or siblings) of U.S. citizens.
Take a look at the chart for family-based green cards from the October 2017 visa bulletin.
Similar to the family-based green cards, the employment-based immigrant visas are also divided into several preference levels and chargeability areas. However, these preference levels are separated according to the qualifications and occupation of the beneficiary. While there are five total chargeability areas, we will only focus on the first three.
There are six main chargeability areas that are considered here: China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Central America (Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala), and the general category.
Take a look at the employment-based dates according to the visa bulletin for October 2017.
This first and most prestigious level of employment-based immigrant visa is the EB-1, reserved for foreign nationals who have extraordinary achievements in their fields, outstanding researchers and professors, as well as the executives and managers of multinational companies.
The EB-2, the most common employment-based green card, is meant for those that have advanced degrees, exceptional ability in their fields, and those that qualify for a National Interest Waiver.
The last preference level that we will cover in this visa bulletin is the EB-3, which is designated for professionals (bachelors degree holders), skilled workers (2+ years of experience), and unskilled laborers.
To get a visual idea of the movement, take a look at this chart taken from the October 2017 visa bulletin.
Now that the new fiscal year has come, we see plenty of movement in areas that were stagnating over the past several months. In some cases, the final action date has moved forward several years. However, it still seems as though some of the family based green cards are still oversubscribed as a few of the dates have not moved at all.
The next several months may see more predictable patterns of movement after this expected leap forward for many of the dates. However, the new executive administration may be laying plans for an expedited green card process. We may be able to see some positive changes in these priority dates in the future.
In the ever-changing world of immigration law, it pays to be current on the updates. To make sure that you don’t miss a thing, you can subscribe to the newsletter released by the Department of State. By sending an email with the message “Subscribe Visa Bulletin” to [email protected], you can receive the latest info like the October 2017 visa bulletin.
Getting a green card may be the most involved process you go through during your immigration journey. Because of all the complicated dates, fees, interviews, and forms, it can be easy to find yourself in the pitfalls that often come to those that attempt to apply on their own. That’s why it’s always best to hire an immigration attorney.
Here at SGM Law Group, we handle every step of the green card process from choosing the best green card for you to filing the petition and dealing with any unexpected legal obstacles. To get in touch with one of our attorneys, you can fill out this contact form and schedule your consultation today.
See last month’s September 2017 visa bulletin here.
