The New Dual Chart System: October 2015 Visa Bulletin

For the past several decades, the State Department’s monthly published Visa Bulletin has announced “cut off” dates to determine where immigrant visa applicants were in the various quota queues applicable to family, employment-based and Diversity-based immigrant visa categories. On September 9, 2015, the US Department of State announced a new system for determining eligibility to file for permanent residency.

As of October 1st, in an effort to maximize immigrant visa usage in a fiscal year, the Department of State has established a system where there are two different dates to track. “Application Final Action Dates” (AFADs) are essentially the cut off dates that have always appeared in the Visa Bulletin. “Dates for Filing Applications” (DFAs) are the dates applicants proceeding with consular processing of green cards should be notified to begin gathering documents for submission to the National Visa Center.

The new system applies to the family and employment-based green card categories. The Diversity Visa cut off system is not changed and one chart remains applicable in that category.

The DFAs are anywhere from several months to several years later than the AFADs. Here are the differences on the October Bulletin.

USICS is Not Accepting Applications for the New DACA, old DACA from 2012 still in Effect

Implementation of the new DACA and DAPA programs has been temporarily suspended. On February 17, a federal court judge decided the President’s programs were illegal. However, the existing DACA process and renewals of DACA are not affected by the recent court action.

On November 20, 2014, President Obama announced that he will be taking executive action on immigration due to inaction by congress. Two areas where individuals will see relief are an expansion of the current Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and a new policy of Deferred Action for parents of children who are U.S. Citizens (USC) or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR). 

Expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA):

Individuals meeting the following criteria will be considered for deferred action if they: