January 2021 Visa Bulletin

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 one week continuing resolution signed into law on December 21, 2020 extended both the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) and Employment Fifth Preference Pilot (I5 and R5) Categories until December 28, 2020. Readers should monitor legislative action regarding the future status of these categories beyond that date.

Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):

If there is further legislative action extending this category, the December dates would continue to be applied, potentially for the remainder of the month. If there is no legislative action extending this category for December and beyond, the category is to be considered to be “Unavailable” immediately.

If there is legislative action extending this category for January, the final action date would immediately become "Current" for January for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, which would be subject to a March 1, 2018 final action date, and for Mexico, which would be subject to a December 1, 2018 final action date.

Employment Fifth Preference Categories (I5 and R5):

If there is further legislative action extending this category, the December dates would continue to be applied, potentially for the remainder of the month. If there is no legislative action extending these categories for December and beyond, the category is to be considered to be “Unavailable” immediately.

If there is legislative action extending this category for January, the final action date would immediately become "Current" for January for all countries except China-mainland born, which would be subject to an August 15, 2015 final action date, and for Vietnam, which would be subject to a September 15, 2017 final action date.