Forward Movement In January 2017 Visa Bulletin Could Be Offset By Increased Demand

Perhaps in response to the recent presidential election, the demand for immigrant visas has noticeably surged across most employment-based immigrant visa preference categories. While the final action dates for most preference categories have moved forward, meaning additional numbers of foreign nationals may proceed with applications for immigrant visa processing or adjustment of status, Charles Oppenheim, the Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division at the U.S. Department of State (DOS), forecasts that additional final action cutoff dates are likely be imposed for several of the preference categories that are "current" as of today.

DOS publishes a monthly visa bulletin that contains cutoff dates for filing an adjustment-of-status application based upon a foreign national's country of chargeability and his or her immigrant visa preference category. In order to file an application for immigrant visa processing or to adjust status to permanent residence in an