Articles Posted in Visa Bulletin

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has confirmed with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) that they have stopped authorizing visa numbers for the EB-3 preference category for nationals of China as of 05/09/14. The reason for stopping is that the EB-3 China cutoff date retrogressed from 10/01/2012 in the May 2014 Visa Bulletin, to 10/01/2006 in the June 2014 Visa Bulletin. Retrogression typically occurs toward the end of the fiscal year as visa issuance approaches the annual category, or per-country limitations. Sometimes a priority date that meets the cut-off date one month will not meet the cut-off date the next month. When the new fiscal year begins on October 1, a new supply of visas is made available and usually, but not always, returns the dates to where they were before retrogression.

Any of the cases that USCIS has already requested a visa number for, but have not been authorized by the DOS (i.e., assigned an available visa number) will be considered pending until the priority date becomes current. These pending cases will be automatically authorized when the China EB-3 cut-off date advances beyond the applicant’s priority date. At that point, USCIS will be able to adjudicate the case.

The DOS Visa Bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant visas on a monthly basis.

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the June 2014 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the June 2014 Visa Bulletin shows the EB2 date for nationals from India remains at 11/15/04; movement in EB3 date for nationals from India at 10/15/03; movement in EB2 for Chinese Nationals at 5/22/09; EB3 for Chinese Nationals retrogressed from 10/1/12 to 10/1/06; and EB3 for WW retrogressed from 10/1/12 to 4/1/11.

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the May 2014 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the May 2014 Visa Bulletin shows the EB2 date for nationals from India remains at 11/15/04; movement in EB3 date for nationals from India at 10/1/03; movement in EB2 for Chinese Nationals at 4/15/09; EB3 for Chinese Nationals remains at 10/1/12; and EB3 for WW remains at 10/1/12; and the F2A category remains at 9/8/13,except Mexico at 4/15/12. The F2A category is reserved exclusively for Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of green card holders (LPRs).

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the April 2014 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the April 2014 Visa Bulletin shows the EB2 date for nationals from India remains at 11/15/04; EB3 date for nationals from India remains at 9/15/03; movement in EB2 for Chinese Nationals at 3/8/09; movement in EB3 for Chinese Nationals at 10/1/12; and movement in EB3 for WW at 10/1/12; and the F2A category remains at 9/8/13,except Mexico at 4/15/12. The F2A category is reserved exclusively for Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of green card holders (LPRs).

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the March 2014 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the March 2014 Visa Bulletin shows the EB2 date for nationals from India remains at 11/15/04; EB3 date for nationals from India moved slightly from 9/1/03 to 9/15/03; movement in EB2 for Chinese Nationals at 2/15/09; movement in EB3 for Chinese Nationals at 9/1/12; and movement in EB3 for WW at 9/1/12; and the F2A category remains at 9/8/13,except Mexico at 4/15/12. Mexico F-2A retrogressed from 9/1/13 to 4/15/12 due to heavy demand. The F2A category is reserved exclusively for Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of green card holders (LPRs).

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Department of State Liaison Committee has posted that the U.S. Department of State (DOS) informed them that the Mexican F2A* visa preference category is expected to retrogress in the spring of FY2014. Visa retrogression means that the cut-off dates that govern visa availability moves backwards in time and are not available. They also warned that if the return rate for that visa category decreases anymore, the retrogression may come sooner than spring of FY2014. The return rate in this case means Visas numbers not used and returned for availability, so if the return rate decreases – there are fewer Visas available. DOS also anticipates that the F2A worldwide visa preference category will retrogress by the last quarter of FY2014. DOS will start including visa retrogression predictions in future visa bulletins.

*(F2A) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

Source of Information:

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the February 2014 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the February 2014 Visa Bulletin shows the EB2 date for nationals from India remains at 11/15/04; EB3 date for nationals from India remains at 9/1/03; movement in EB2 for Chinese Nationals at 1/8/09; movement in EB3 for Chinese Nationals at 6/1/12; and movement in EB3 for WW at 6/1/12; and the F2A category remains at 9/8/13 (except Mexico at 9/1/13), this category is reserved exclusively for Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of green card holders (LPRs).

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the January 2014 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the January 2014 Visa Bulletin shows the EB2 date for nationals from India remains at 11/15/04; EB3 date for nationals from India remains at 9/1/03; movement in EB2 for Chinese Nationals at 12/8/08; movement in EB3 for Chinese Nationals at 4/1/12; and movement in EB3, WW at 4/1/12; and the F2A category is no longer current, it remains at 9/8/2013, this category is reserved exclusively for Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of green card holders (LPRs).

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the December 2013 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the December 2013 Visa Bulletin shows the EB2 date for nationals from India retrogressed from 6/15/08 to 11/15/04; EB3 date for nationals from India retrogressed from 9/22/03 to 9/1/03; movement in EB2 for Chinese Nationals at 11/8/08; movement in EB3 for Chinese Nationals at 10/01/11; and movement in EB3, WW at 10/1/11; and the F2A category is no longer current, it remains at 9/8/2013, this category is reserved exclusively for Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of green card holders (LPRs).

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the November 2013 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the November 2013 Visa Bulletin shows the EB2 date for nationals from India at 6/15/08; EB3 date for nationals from India at 9/22/03; movement in EB2 for Chinese Nationals at 10/8/08; movement in EB3 for Chinese Nationals at 10/01/10; and movement in EB3, WW at 10/1/10; and the F2A category is no longer current, it remains at 9/8/2013, this category is reserved exclusively for Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of green card holders (LPRs).