Visa Bulletin

January 15, 2014

DOS Alert – Mexico F2A visa preference category is expected to retrogress

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:

January 10, 2014

Visa Bulletin – February 2014

by Kellie N. Lego

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).

December 13, 2013

Visa Bulletin – January 2014

by Kellie N. Lego

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at 12/8/08; movement in EB3 for Chinese Nationals at 4/1/12; and movement in EB3, WW at 4/1/12; and the F2A category is no longer current, it remains at 9/8/2013, this category is reserved exclusively for Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of green card holders (LPRs).

November 13, 2013

Visa Bulletin – December 2013

by Kellie N. Lego

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).

October 14, 2013

Visa Bulletin – November 2013

by Kellie N. Lego

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).

September 30, 2013

What Happens If the Government Shuts Down? – Updated 9/30/13

by Kellie N. Lego

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has requested information from the federal government agencies involved in the immigration system for updates on their contingency plans in case of a government shutdown. A possible government shutdown could happen as early as October 1, 2013, the beginning of the new fiscal year 2014 (FY2014). AILA has reported that they have not received any updated information at this time. They suggested reviewing the shutdown plans for the last threatened federal government shutdown, which was in 2011.

Below is an excerpt from MVP Law Group’s original blog post on the subject dated (4/8/11).

~—————~

September 26, 2013

Employment-Based Quota Limit Reached for FY2013

by Kellie N. Lego

The State Department has confirmed that employment annual limits have been reached, as is often the case at the end of a fiscal year.

USCIS will continue to process pending adjustment cases, and is able to submit visa number requests for all cases which are being finalized. The State Department will place requests in a “Pending Demand” file.

Eligible cases which have been submitted to the State Department that are within the October cut-off dates will be automatically authorized effective October 1, 2013.

September 11, 2013

Visa Bulletin – October 2013

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the October 2013 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the October 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 9/15/08; no movement in EB3 for Chinese Nationals at 07/01/10; and no movement in EB3, WW at 07/01/10; 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).

August 14, 2013

Visa Bulletin – September 2013

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the September 2013 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the September 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; no movement in EB2 for Chinese Nationals; movement in EB3 for Chinese Nationals at 07/01/10; and movement in EB3, WW at 07/01/10; and the F2A category has gone current, this category is reserved exclusively for Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of green card holders (LPRs).

July 11, 2013

Visa Bulletin – August 2013

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the August 2013 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the August 2013 Visa Bulletin shows EB2 dates for nationals from India at January 2008; no movement in the EB3 WW category; no movement in EB2 for Chinese Nationals; and the F2A category has gone current, this category is reserved exclusively for Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of green card holders (LPRs).