Expiration of two employment categories
Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR): Pursuant to Section 102 of Division I, Title I of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), the non-minister special immigrant program expires on September 30, 2021. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight September 29, 2021. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of September 29, 2021, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight September 29, 2021.
The final action date for this category has been listed as “Unavailable” for October.
If there is legislative action extending this category for FY-2022, the final action date would immediately become “Current” for October for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, which would be subject to a March 15, 2019 final action date, and Mexico, which would be subject to a March 1, 2020 final action date.
Employment Fifth Preference I5 and R5 Regional Center Visa Categories (I5 and R5):
Division O, Title 1, Section 104 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 extended the immigrant investor pilot program until June 30, 2021. No I5 or R5 visas may be issued overseas or final action taken on adjustment of status cases after June 30, 2021.
The final action dates for the I5 and R5 categories have been listed as “Unavailable” for October.
If there is legislative action extending this category for October, the final action dates would immediately become “Current” for October for all countries except China-mainland born I5 and R5, which would be subject to a November 22, 2015 final action date.
E. 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