USCIS Visa Bulletin Mar 2021 Employment Green Card Dates

Analysis

• USCIS ‘Date of filing‘ chart is closed.
• It possibly means that USCIS has got enough applications to distribute Green cards by end of Sep 2021.
• The chances of re-opening the ‘date of filing’ chart again are extremely low until Oct 2021.

The faster the EB-1 gets current, the greater will be the chances of spillover to EB2. It seems EB-1 will eat up all the Family spillover given the slow movement there.

You can file your i485 application for a green card if your GC priority date is older than these dates for your country of birth.

USCIS Visa Bulletin is used to find your US green card priority date. The dates can move forward and go back each month.

Check the USCIS Visa Bulletin for Family Based Green Cards.

There are two types of chart:

#1 Date of Filing Chart 

If your PD date is current in ‘Date of filing chart’ then you can file:

• Form i-485 for a green card
• Form i765 (for EAD) – Check i-485 EAD approval time.
• Form I-131 (for Advance parole – helps entry and exit from the US). Check the current I-131 approval time.

Your i485 EAD and AP card can be approved but your GC application (i485) stays pending until your PD date gets current in the ‘Final Action’ chart.

This chart shows that USCIS expects a green card number may be available in the near future (like next 8-12 months) for your case and hence invites you to file your green card application.

Note that USCIS decides if you can really use the ‘date of filing’ chart for the current visa bulletin or not every month.

This means:

• PD Date is current in DOF but USCIS disallows: You cannot do anything. Just keep waiting.
• Date is current in DOF and USCIS allows: You can file i485, i765, and i131.

#2 Final Action Date Chart

Your green card can only be approved if the PD date is current in the Final action chart.

This chart means that a green card number is available for USCIS to approve your case.

FAQ

Employment Based Green Card Categories

#1 First preference (EB-1) – priority workers

Foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics are part of EB1-A.

Outstanding professors and researchers are counted in EB1-B.

Certain multinational managers and executives are in EB1-C pool.

Example: Most of L1A workers are eligible for the EB1-C category if they have worked outside the USA as a manager with the same employer.

#2 Second preference (EB-2)

If you are a member of the professions holding advanced degrees or who have exceptional ability (including requests for national interest waivers), then you fall in the EB2 category.

Example: Most H1B workers file their employment-based green cards using EB2.

#3 Third preference (EB-3)

Skilled workers, professionals, or other workers that are not covered in EB1 or EB2 above file their green card in the EB3 category.

Example: An H1B worker with only a bachelor’s degree will qualify for EB3 but can upgrade to EB2 after 5 years of work experience.

Reference: Travel.State.Gov