Visa Bulletin January 2021 Predictions

For official December 2020 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-december-2020.aspx

Please see January 2021 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based categories for all countries):

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	22OCT14	22OCT14	22OCT14	22JAN98	22MAR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	08AUG15	08AUG15	08AUG15	01MAY99	22OCT11
F3	01JUL08	01JUL08	01JUL08	15AUG96	01JUN02
F4	15OCT06	15OCT06	15MAR05	08JUL98	08APR02

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01SEP15	01SEP15	01SEP15	01MAR00	15JAN13
F2A	22AUG20	22AUG20	22AUG20	22AUG20	22AUG20
F2B	08JUN16	08JUN16	08JUN16	22DEC99	22JUN12
F3	01JUL09	01JUL09	01JUL09	22AUG00	08APR03
F4	08OCT07	08OCT07	01DEC05	01MAY99	01DEC02

DHS Proposes to Limit Work Permits for Aliens with Final Orders of Removal

Rule will encourage these aliens to depart the country

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced a proposed rule that would limit discretionary work authorization for aliens who have final orders of removal and who have been temporarily released from DHS custody on an order of supervision (OSUP). The rule would align the issuance of discretionary employment authorization with the administration's priorities to protect U.S. workers and strengthen immigration enforcement.

Orders of supervision allow DHS to place conditions on and monitor aliens with final orders of

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance Regarding Discretionary Factors for Adjustment of Status Applications

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating existing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the exercise of the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security's discretion in adjudications of adjustment of status applications.

This update clarifies existing content by providing a non-exhaustive list of positive and negative factors that may be relevant to whether an adjustment of status applicant warrants a favorable exercise of discretion. It also lists the privileges, rights and responsibilities of lawful permanent residents (LPRs) as a reference for officers to consider when determining whether the grant of LPR

December 2020 Visa Bulletin

For November 2020 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-november-2020.aspx

For analysis of December 2020 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-analysis-december-2020.aspx

December 2020 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from December 1 to December 31 only). Please see below for more details.

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	15SEP14	15SEP14	15SEP14	08JAN98	15DEC11
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	08JUL15	08JUL15	08JUL15	08APR99	01AUG11
F3	15JUN08	15JUN08	15JUN08	01AUG96	15FEB02
F4	22SEP06	22SEP06	08MAR05	22JUN98	01JAN02

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	22JUL15	22JUL15	22JUL15	22FEB00	08OCT12
F2A	01AUG20	01AUG20	01AUG20	01AUG20	01AUG20
F2B	01MAY16	01MAY16	01MAY16	01DEC99	01APR12
F3	01JUN09	01JUN09	01JUN09	15AUG00	22DEC02
F4	15SEP07	15SEP07	22NOV05	22APR99	01SEP02

December 2020 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For December 2020 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-december-2020.aspx

Please see below analysis of December 2020 Visa Bulletin:

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change

December 2020 Visa Bulletin Special Notes

For the official December 2020 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-december-2020.aspx

Apart from posting current dates, State Department has also added special notes to Visa Bulletin mentioned above. Please see full details below:

D. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV

E. SCHEDULED EXPIRATION OF TWO EMPLOYMENT VISA CATEGORIES

The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (P.L. 116-159) extends both the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) and Employment Fifth Preference Pilot (I5 and R5) Categories until December 11, 2020.

Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):

Pursuant to the continuing resolution, the non-minister special immigrant program expires on December 11, 2020. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight December 10, 2020. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a

USCIS Updates Policy Manual Guidance on the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA)

USCIS is clarifying existing guidance on the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) in the USCIS Policy Manual to address:

• Application of the CSPA to derivatives of widows and widowers;
• Guidance for which immigrant petition is used to calculate the CSPA age for adjustment of status applicants; and
• The one-year "sought to acquire" requirement for permanent residence and how applicants may satisfy the requirement.

The Policy Alert is available here:

• Policy Alert: <a data-entity-substitution="media" data-entity-type="media" href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20201113-CSPA.pdf" type="application/pdf; length=240183" dat