Friday, March 13, 2020 - Today during the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program: Public Engagement, Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, at Department of State (DOS) predicted that due to limited visa usage at the consulates and a lower than anticipated number of pending cases of India chargeability at the National Visa Center (NVC), India could become current on Visa Bulletin: Chart A - Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases as early as this Summer. India is already current on Visa Bulletin: Chart B -Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications.
This means that any Indian born petitioners with an approved I-526 may assemble and submit required documents to NVC, following receipt of notification. But, that is only the first step. Next a visa needs to be available to you. If your priority date (likely, the date you filed I-526) is earlier than October 22, 2018, visas are currently authorized for issuance; You can get a visa! If your priority date is earlier than January 1, 2019, a visa will be available in April 2020. A visa is anticipated to be available to all approved Indian born petitioners regardless of priority date as early as this summer.
Priority Date When Visas Could be Authorized for Issuance
October 22, 2018 Now
January 1, 2019 April
All Dates Summer
The processing time for Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur (I-526) at Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO) is currently 33 months (June 2017) to 50 months (January 2016). So, visas should be available to most petitioners who have an approved I-526 now. India could retrogress again, so those with Indian chargeability and an approved I-526 should consult their attorney about obtaining a visa as soon as one becomes available.