Visa bulletin for December 2021: what changed

8 final action dates moved forward and 0 moved back compared with November 2021.

Source: Visa Bulletin for December 2021 (U.S. Department of State) · Checked October 14, 2026. Always confirm with the official bulletin and USCIS. Independent site. Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, USCIS or any government agency.

Dates are written as in the bulletin (22AUG25 = August 22, 2025). C = current, U = unavailable. ▲ moved forward and ▼ moved back since the previous bulletin; no symbol = no change.

Family-sponsored

For adjustment of status inside the U.S. in December 2021, USCIS says to use the dates for filing and final action dates chart for family-based cases (depending on the category).

Family-sponsored: final action date · December 2021
CategoryAll countriesChina (mainland-born)IndiaMexicoPhilippines
F101DEC1401DEC1401DEC1408MAY9901MAR12
F2ACCCCC
F2B22SEP1522SEP1522SEP1501JUL0022OCT11
F322NOV0822NOV0822NOV0815JUL9708JUN02
F422MAR0722MAR0715SEP0515MAR9922AUG02

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Family-sponsored: date for filing · December 2021
CategoryAll countriesChina (mainland-born)IndiaMexicoPhilippines
F115MAY1615MAY1615MAY1601DEC0022APR15
F2A01SEP2101SEP2101SEP2101SEP2101SEP21
F2B22SEP1622SEP1622SEP1601JAN0101OCT13
F322AUG0922AUG0922AUG0908SEP0001OCT03
F401OCT0701OCT0701JAN0601AUG9901FEB04

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Employment-based

For adjustment of status inside the U.S. in December 2021, USCIS says to use the dates for filing chart for employment-based cases.

Employment-based: final action date · December 2021
CategoryAll countriesChina (mainland-born)El Salvador, Guatemala, HondurasIndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1CCCCCC
EB-2C01JAN19C01MAY12CC
EB-3C22MAR18C15JAN12CC
EB-3 Other WorkersC01MAR12C15JAN12CC
EB-4CC15MAR19C01APR20C
EB-4 Certain Religious WorkersCC15MAR19C01APR20C
EB-5CCCCCC
EB-5 Regional CenterUUUUUU

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Employment-based: date for filing · December 2021
CategoryAll countriesChina (mainland-born)El Salvador, Guatemala, HondurasIndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1CCCCCC
EB-2C01APR19C08JUL13CC
EB-3C01APR18C22JAN12CC
EB-3 Other WorkersC01MAY15C22JAN12CC
EB-4CC15MAY19CCC
EB-4 Certain Religious WorkersCC15MAY19CCC
EB-5CCCCCC
EB-5 Regional CenterC15DEC15CCCC

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What the State Department says

Official notes published with the bulletin, quoted as written. They describe what the State Department expects, not a guarantee.

Expiration of the employment-based fifth preference i5 and r5 regional center visa categories

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 December.

If there is legislative action extending this category for December, the final action dates would immediately become “Current” for December for all countries except China-mainland born I5 and R5, which would be subject to a November 22, 2015 final action date.

Scheduled expiration of employment fourth preference certain religious worker (SR) category

Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):

Pursuant to H.R.5305 - Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act, the non-minister special immigrant program expires on December 3, 2021. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight December 2, 2021. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of December 2, 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 December 2, 2021.

The final action date for this category has been listed as “Current” for December for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, which are subject to specific final action dates for December. If there is no legislative action extending this category for FY-2022, the final action date would immediately become “Unavailable” for December for all countries effective December 3, 2021.

China-mainland born employment-based fifth preference c5 and t5 non-regional center visa categories become “current” for december

These categories have become “Current” for December; however if China-mainland born number use were to materialize at a level which could potentially jeopardize visa availability under the overall FY-2022 Employment-based Fifth preference annual limit it would then be necessary to once again impose a final action date.

G. 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

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