September 27, 2017
The Department of State (DOS) has published the Visa Bulletin for October 2017, the first visa bulletin for the 2018 fiscal year. USCIS has indicated that employment-based applicants should use the Final Action Dates chart (shown blow) to determine when they may file adjustment of status applications.
As expected, the Final Action Dates show forward movement for most employment-based categories. In the employment-based, third preference (EB-3) category, the Philippines moved ahead by one month (from November 1, 2015 to December 1, 2015), so that anyone in that category with a December 1, 2015 priority date or earlier is now eligible to submit an adjustment of status (Form I-485) application with USCIS. Please note that, for employment-based cases, the priority date is the date on which USICS accepted an individual’s I-140 petition for processing.