Significant Benefits to Green Card applicants:
Updates to the Visa Bulletin and how it could affect you!

Applicants applying for US permanent residency (“green card”) can potentially benefit from the new procedures implemented by the US Department of State on October 1, 2015.

Starting October 1st, the Department of State, in conjunction with the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), has revised the procedures for determining immigrant visa availability for applicants applying for US permanent residency. The improved system is intended to lessen the negative impact of lengthy backlogs for many employment-based and family-based green card categories.

Previously, the Visa Bulletin contained only one date determining when the final green card application could be filed. The new Visa Bulletin provides two dates: (1) an “application final action” date (similar to visa bulletins in the past) and (2) a new “date for filing visa applications” date. In short, this new system creates a completely new timeline, allowing applicants to file their Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (if currently in the US) or an application for an immigrant visa (if currently outside of the US), at an earlier date than previously permitted.

Although this new procedure will not necessarily result in a more expedient green card application process, it will enable certain applicants and their family members to obtain the benefits of employment and travel authorization much earlier than before, while they wait for the final processing of their green cards.

For additional details on this new framework and how it personally affects your case, please contact RBL Partners.

Additional information is also available at the following site: http://www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo

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