November Visa Bulletin: Major Retrogression for India EB-2; Nine Month Advancement for China EB-3

October 20, 2014

The November Visa Bulletin has been released by the Department of State. Every single Family-Based category will advance at least 1 week, with most categories advancing between two weeks and one month. In the Employment-Based categories, there is over a four year retrogression for EB2 India from May 1, 2009 to February 15, 2005.   China EB2 advanced three weeks and China EB3 will have a significant advancement from April 1, 2009 until January 1, 2010. The complete visa bulletin charts for Family-Based and Employment-Based Preference Categories as well as the Department of State’s predictions for visa availability in the coming months are below.

Family-	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	08JUN07	08JUN07	08JUN07	08JUL94	01NOV04
F2A	01MAR13	01MAR13	01MAR13	22SEP12	01MAR13
F2B	01JAN08	01JAN08	01JAN08	08SEP94	01JAN04
F3	08DEC03	08DEC03	08DEC03	01NOV93	08JUN93
F4	08FEB02	08FEB02	08FEB02	15FEB97	01MAY91

Employment	All  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA – mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	C	C	C	C
2nd	C	08DEC09	15FEB05	C	C
3rd	01JUN12	01JAN10	22NOV03	01JUN12	01JUN12
Other Workers	01JUN12	22JUL05	22NOV03	01JUN12	01JUN12
4th	C	C	C	C	C
Certain Religious Workers	C	C	C	C	C
5th Targeted Employment Areas/ Regional Centers and Pilot Programs	C	C	C	C	C

Future Guidance

The Department of State provides the following predictions for forward movement in each category within the next three months:

FAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement)

Worldwide dates:

F1:   Two to three weeks
F2A: Three to five weeks
F2B: Six to eight weeks
F3:   One to three weeks
F4:   Two or four weeks

EMPLOYMENT-based categories (potential monthly movement)

Employment First: Current

Employment Second:

Worldwide: Current
China:        Three to five weeks
India:         No forward movement

Employment Third:

Worldwide: Continued rapid forward movement for the next several months. After such rapid advance of the cut-off date applicant demand for number use, particularly for adjustment of status cases, is expected to increase significantly. Once such demand begins to materialize at a greater rate it will impact this cut-off date situation.

China:       Rapid forward movement. Such movement is likely to result in increased demand which may require “corrective” action possibly as early as February.

India:        Little if any movement
Mexico:      Will remain at the worldwide date
Philippines: Will remain at the worldwide date. Increased demand may require “corrective” action at some point later in the fiscal year.

Employment Fourth: Current

Employment Fifth: Current

 

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TAGS: Department of State, Immigrant Visa, Priority Date, Visa Bulletin