Visa Bulletin for October 2015 Released, New System Launched
The Department of State (DOS) has released the Visa Bulletin for October 2015.
This month's bulletin marks the beginning of a new system for notifying applicants of when they may apply for lawful permanent residency (a "green card").
DOS states that moving forward the bulletin will summarize not only "the availability of immigrant numbers for
'Application Final Action Dates' (consistent with prior Visa Bulletins)," but also "'Dates for Filing Applications,' indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center."
DOS notes that unless otherwise indicated in a specific bulletin, "individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the Department of Homeland Security must use the 'Application Final Action Dates' charts [] for determining when they can file such applications."
What does this new policy mean? It means that in the future an applicant
may
be able to apply for a green card earlier than expected. The new category of "Dates for Filing Applications" is therefore something to look out for in each monthly bulletin.
To see the full bulletin for October 2015, please visit: