April 2015 Visa Bulletin: Significant Retrogression for EB-3 China; Advancement for EB-2 India and China
March 11, 2015

According to the State Department’s April Visa Bulletin, EB-2 India will advance by eight months, to September 1, 2007, and EB-2 China will advance by seven months, to April 1, 2011.
The EB-3 subcategory for professionals and skilled workers will retrogress by nine months for China, to January 1, 2011, due to a surge in demand in recent months. If demand abates, this cut-off date could advance. EB-3 will advance by four months for most other countries, to October 1, 2014, though India will advance by just one week, to January 8, 2004.
The State Department estimates that a cut-off date will be imposed for EB-5 China by June of this year.
April 2015 Priority Date Cut-Offs
In April 2015, EB immigrant visa priority date cut-offs will be:
EB-1
Current for all countries.
EB-2
China: April 1, 2011
India: September 1, 2007
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: January 1, 2011
India: January 8, 2004
All other countries: October 1, 2014
EB-3 Other Workers
China: August 15, 2005
India: January 8, 2004
All other countries: October 1, 2014
EB-5
Current for all countries and subcategories.
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