The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the August 2022 Visa Bulletin.1 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has also confirmed that in August 2022, it will accept employment-based Forms I-485, Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, under the Final Action Dates chart of the Visa Bulletin.2
WHY THIS MATTERS
Each month, the DOS releases a Visa Bulletin indicating the availability of statutorily limited visas for prospective immigrants.3 The cut-off dates reflected in the Visa Bulletin, coupled with USCIS’ confirmation of which chart will apply, dictate eligibility to file a Form I-485 application in each month. In addition, the Final Action Dates chart in the applicable Visa Bulletin determines whether a pending Form I-485 or immigrant visa application may be approved.
If an applicant falls into a category for which an immigrant visa number is not current (i.e., authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants), then an immigrant visa number may only be issued if the applicant has a priority date that is earlier than the applicable Final Action Date cut-off.
Employment-Based Preference Category Cut-Off Dates
USCIS has announced that in August 2022, it will allow applicants to submit I-485 applications based on the Final Action Dates chart.
Notably, the employment-based Final Action Dates chart of the August 2022 Visa Bulletin does not reflect any forward movement for EB-2 China or India.
The Final Action Dates for next month are as follows:
EB-1: All countries of chargeability will remain current.
EB-2: All countries of chargeability except China and India will remain current. China’s cut-off date will remain at April 1, 2019, and India’s cut-off date will remain at December 1, 2014.
EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: All countries of chargeability except China and India remain current. China’s cut-off date will advance one month to April 22, 2018, and India’s cut-off date will also advance one month to February 15, 2012.
EB-3 Other Workers: All countries of chargeability except China and India will have a cut-off date of May 8, 2019. China’s cut-off date will remain at June 1, 2012, and India’s cut-off date will advance one month to February 15, 2012.
EB-4: All countries, except El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, will remain current. The cut-off for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras will remain at November 8, 2017, and Mexico’s cut-off date will remain at April 1, 2020.
On March 15, 2022, the non-minister special immigrant program under the EB-4 category was extended through September 30, 2022. The law allows these workers to immigrate or adjust status to permanent resident by that date. The Final Action Dates for individuals applying under this category are immediately current for all countries, except El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, which would be subject to the same Final Action Dates that apply for other EB-4 applicants chargeable to these countries.4
EB-5: Final Action Date will be current for all set aside sub-categories (i.e., rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure), regardless of the country of chargeability. The Final Action Date will also be current in unreserved subcategories – including C5, T5, I5, and R5 – for all countries, except for China. The EB-5 China cut-off for intending immigrants in an unreserved sub-category will remain at November 22, 2015.
FOOTNOTES
1 U.S. Department of State website.
2 See the “Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin” page on the USCIS website.
3 For our prior coverage of the July 2022 Visa Bulletin, read GMS Flash Alert 2022-117, June 17, 2022.
4 See USCIS, “Special Immigrant Religious Workers.“
* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labor law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Canada.
CONTACTS
Connect with us
- Find office locations kpmg.findOfficeLocations
- kpmg.emailUs
- Social media @ KPMG kpmg.socialMedia
Stay up to date with what matters to you
Gain access to personalized content based on your interests by signing up today
GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.
We respectfully acknowledge that KPMG offices across Turtle Island (North America) are located on the traditional, treaty, and unceded territories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
© 2024 KPMG LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.
For more detail about the structure of the KPMG global organization please visit https://kpmg.com/governance.