This year's March Visa Bulletin reveals advancements in the Final Action Dates of all employment-based categories except EB-3 India. Notably, the Final Action Date for EB-2 China advanced by five months from March 1, 2012 to August 1, 2012, and EB-3 China from October 1, 2012 to June 1, 2013. While only slight advancements are seen in the Final Action Dates of all family-sponsored categories except F1 Philippines, and F2B and F4 Mexico, which remained stagnant, USCIS information on family-sponsored cases that in March, family-sponsored applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart, rather than the Final Action Dates chart, to determine when to file an adjustment of status application.

The U.S. Department of State has released the February 2016 Visa Bulletin. EB-2 India has moved from February 1, 2008 to August 1, 2008.

USCIS Issued When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: December 2015 to help readers determine if it is time to file their I-485 Application to Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident (green card application). Earlier this year, the Department of State began issuing the monthly visa bulletin in a USCIS on new visa bulletin format with "Final Action Dates" and "Dates for Filing Applications."

The Department of State has released the April 2015 visa bulletin. Notably, EB-3 Rest-of-World has moved up to October 1, 2014.

The Department of State issued the February 2015 Visa Bulletin. EB-3 has advanced in all categories, particularly EB-3 Rest-of-World, China, Mexico and the Philippines. EB-2 China and EB-2 India have also advanced.

Charlie Oppenheim of the U.S. Department of State Visa Office indicated to members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) that the National Visa Center (NVC) is requesting payment of NVC fees 8-12 months in advance of the date that an applicant's priority date is expected to become current.

The U.S. Department of State released the May 2014 Visa Bulletin. F-2A remains stuck at September 8, 2013 for most areas of the world, with Mexico slightly behind on April 15, 2012. In the Employment-based context, EB-3 and Other Workers for the Philippines has moved up a few months to November 1, 2007, and the EB-3 and Other Workers categories remain at October 1, 2012 for people of all other nationalities. EB-3 China remains ahead of EB-2 China. EB-2 India has moved up one month to November 15, 2004.

Yesterday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicated in correspondence to stakeholders that it will reopen "all I-601A waiver applications that were denied prior to January 24, 2014, solely because of a prior criminal offense, in order to determine whether there is reason to believe the prior criminal offense might render the applicant inadmissible."