Policy Updates

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2026-03)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2024-04-01 to 2024-10-15 in the 2026-03 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

As a VWP member, South Korea is a primary target for the reciprocal data-sharing agreements outlined in Section 3. EB-2 applicants from South Korea may find that their domestic criminal histories are more transparently and rapidly shared with DHS, increasing the risk of denial for even minor prior offenses.

South Korean nationals are frequent users of the EB-2 category, particularly in STEM fields. The fee increase impacts their ability to quickly secure I-140 approvals, which is often a prerequisite for long-term career planning in the U.S.

The investigation in Minnesota will likely cause a ripple effect across USCIS service centers, leading to longer adjudication timelines for South Korean nationals. Applicants should expect more detailed inquiries regarding their qualifications and the necessity of their roles.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2026-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2024-02-01 to 2024-04-01 in the 2026-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

As a major source of EB-2 applicants in technical fields, South Korean nationals will experience longer processing times as USCIS implements more thorough vetting of professional credentials and affiliations.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-12)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-12-01 to 2024-02-01 in the 2025-12 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

South Korea remains a top country of origin for EB-2 applicants. The fee increase will affect both corporate-sponsored employees and independent NIW petitioners from the region.

South Korean nationals, often filing in the EB-2 category for specialized roles, must navigate the shifting fee requirements for Form I-140. The partial stay on the Asylum Program Fee affects the budgeting for corporate sponsors of South Korean talent.

With high levels of digital banking integration, South Korean applicants are well-positioned for this change. The mandate will likely result in faster receipting of EB-2 petitions once the electronic payment is confirmed.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-10)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-09-01 to 2023-12-01 in the 2025-10 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

The enhanced verification of labor certifications will require South Korean applicants to be more diligent in documenting their job offers. This policy shift aims to reduce fraud but will inevitably lead to longer wait times for legitimate applicants.

South Korean nationals are frequent users of the EB-2 category. The shift toward high-wage prioritization will favor senior executives but may block the path for specialized technical staff essential to South Korean-invested projects in the U.S.

South Korean applicants frequently utilize the EB-2 category for advanced degree professionals. While they do not face the same backlogs as India or China, they will now experience more rigorous verification of their educational credentials by USCIS special agents during the I-140 stage.

The update allows South Korean applicants to leverage digital payment infrastructure, reducing the time between petition submission and fee clearance. This is particularly beneficial for high-skilled workers in fast-moving industries.

South Korean applicants frequently utilize both PERM and NIW pathways. Strict enforcement ensures that labor certification details and professional qualifications are verified, impacting the processing of high-volume EB-2 petitions from this region.

South Korean EB-2 applicants are unlikely to be flagged for 'Anti-Americanism' given the close diplomatic ties between the two nations. The policy represents a nominal change in the adjudication checklist for these applicants.

South Korean applicants, who represent a significant portion of the EB-2 pool, are now better protected against the 'Rest of World' retrogression. This policy provides more certainty for families with children approaching the age of 21.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-08)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-10-15 to 2023-09-01 in the 2025-08 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.

The fee update impacts the significant number of South Korean professionals and researchers applying for EB-2 status. These applicants must now pay higher fees despite the current retrogression in the worldwide EB-2 category.

By clarifying the disclosure of derogatory information, USCIS provides South Korean applicants a better opportunity to maintain their eligibility and address potential grounds for denial.

South Korean applicants, who represent a high volume of EB-2 filings, benefit from the removal of the two-year expiration. This is particularly helpful if USCIS processing backlogs extend beyond the standard timeframe.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-06)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-06-22 to 2023-10-15 in the 2025-06 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-04)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-05-15 to 2023-06-22 in the 2025-04 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-03)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-04-01 to 2023-05-15 in the 2025-03 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

South Korean applicants will experience a more efficient medical examination process for their adjustment of status applications. This policy change removes the need for COVID-19 specific documentation, which can often be a point of confusion during the civil surgeon visit.

South Korean applicants often utilize the EB-2 NIW due to high levels of educational attainment. The updated guidance provides more certainty for these applicants, who generally do not face the same multi-year retrogression as Indian or Chinese nationals.

South Korean nationals utilize the EB-2 category frequently for specialized roles. The updated filing procedures mean that applicants must adjust their submission workflows to avoid administrative rejections during a period of worldwide EB-2 retrogression.

South Korean professionals seeking EB-2 status will have their Jan. 9 appointments rescheduled. This operational delay is consistent across all USCIS field offices and affects the timing of work permit and green card issuance.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2025-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-03-15 to 2023-04-01 in the 2025-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2024-07)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-01-15 to 2023-03-15 in the 2024-07 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2024-04)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-11-22 to 2023-01-15 in the 2024-04 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2024-03)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-11-15 to 2022-11-22 in the 2024-03 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2024-02)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-11-01 to 2022-11-15 in the 2024-02 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2024-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-07-15 to 2022-11-01 in the 2024-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-11)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-07-08 to 2022-07-15 in the 2023-11 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-10)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-07-01 to 2022-07-08 in the 2023-10 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-09)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-04-01 to 2022-07-01 in the 2023-09 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-08)

The Department of State advanced the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-02-15 to 2022-04-01 in the 2023-08 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-05)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-07-01 to 2022-02-15 in the 2023-05 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-2 Rest of World (2023-04)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-11-01 to 2022-07-01 in the 2023-04 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.