The State department has published the Jan 2019 visa bulletin on the status of EB-5 visas. EB-5 is capped to 10,000 on annual basis which includes all family members. The total visas granted 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers
The Annual Report of Immigrant Visa Applicants as of November 1, 2018 show the a total of 39,000 (87% are chinese) are on EB-5 waiting list. Hong Kong and South Korea have the fastest processing and have less percentage waiting. Over 500 applications from India and excess of 1500 from Vietnam also on waiting.
EB-5 has been extended until Dec 21 and could also be extended into 2019 without any changes to investment minimums. The final action dates for EB-5 still remains at Unauthorized.
1. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
- “C” means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and
- “U” means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES | VIETNAM |
| 1st | 01OCT17 | 15DEC16 | 01OCT17 | 15DEC16 | 01OCT17 | 01OCT17 | 01OCT17 |
| 2nd | C | 01AUG15 | C | 01APR09 | C | C | C |
| 3rd | C | 08JUN15 | C | 01MAR09 | C | 22JUN17 | C |
| Other Workers | C | 01JUL07 | C | 01MAR09 | C | 22JUN17 | C |
| 4th | C | C | 22FEB16 | C | 15APR17 | C | C |
| Certain Religious Workers | U | U | U | U | U | U | U |
| 5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) |
C | 01SEP14 | C | C | C | C | 01JUN16 |
| 5th Regional Center (I5 and R5) |
U | U | U | U | U | U | U |
2. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS
The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | 01JUN18 | 01OCT17 | 01JUN18 | 01OCT17 | 01JUN18 | 01JUN18 |
| 2nd | C | 08SEP15 | C | 22MAY09 | C | C |
| 3rd | C | 01JAN16 | C | 01APR10 | C | 01AUG17 |
| Other Workers | C | 01JUN08 | C | 01APR10 | C | 01AUG17 |
| 4th | C | C | 01MAY16 | C | C | C |
| Certain Religious Workers | C | C | 01MAY16 | C | C | C |
| 5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) |
C | 01OCT14 | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Regional Center (I5 and R5) |
C | 01OCT14 | C | C | C | C |
