USCIS to Halt Approving EB I-485s Until October 1
September 15, 2011
The Department of State issued a cable on September 15, 2011 instructing USCIS offices to temporarily halt approvals for all I-485 Adjustment of Status employment-based preference categories for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 (ending September 30, 2011) because the visa quota has been met. Beginning October 1, 2001 new visa numbers will become available and processing can resume for adjustment of status cases with priority dates that are current according to the October Visa Bulletin. Although the September Visa Bulletin projected availability of visa numbers throughout the month, numbers ran out sooner because USCIS approved an extremely large amount of adjustment applications in early August.
Note, however, that the USCIS will continue to accept I-485s from applicants with a current priority date, although none will be approved until after October 1.
Family based I-485s are not affected.
