March 2014 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Cut-Off Dates Move Ahead for Most Countries; Modest Advancement for EB-2 China; Significant Retrogression for F-2A Mexico
February 10, 2014
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According to the State Department’s March Visa Bulletin, the EB-3 subcategory for professionals and skilled workers will advance by three months for most countries, to September 1, 2012, India by two weeks to September 15, 2003, and the Philippines by two weeks to May 1, 2007.
The EB-3 other worker subcategory for China and Mexico will advance by three months, to September 1, 2012 and the Philippines by two weeks, to May 1, 2007. EB-3 India will advance by two weeks to September 15, 2003.
The priority date cut-off for EB-2 China will advance by five weeks to February 15, 2009 next month, but EB-2 India will remain at November 15, 2004.
In the family-based F-2A category for the spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents, the cutoff date will remain at September 8, 2013 for all countries except for Mexico, which will retrogress by approximately one year and four months to April 15, 2012.
March 2014 Priority Date Cut-Offs
In March 2014, EB immigrant visa priority date cut-offs will be:
EB-1
Current for all countries.
EB-2
China: February 15, 2009
India: November 15, 2004
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: September 1, 2012
India: September 15, 2003
Philippines: May 1, 2007
All other countries: September 1, 2012
EB-3 Other Workers
China: September 1, 2012
India: September 15, 2003
Philippines: May 1, 2007
All other countries: September 1, 2012
EB-5
Current for all countries and subcategories.
Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Availability in the Coming Months
The State Department projects that the priority date cut-off for EB-2 China will advance by three to five weeks per month over the next several months, but there will be no advancement for EB-2 India in the near term.
Several months of significant advancement in EB-3 cut-off dates for China, Mexico and most other countries is expected to generate increased demand. As such, cut-off dates for these countries are expected to see little forward movement in the coming months. If demand increases significantly, there could be some retrogression. Little to no advancement is expected for EB-3 India, but EB-3 Philippines is expected to advance three to six weeks per month.
EB-5 is expected to remain current for all countries in the near term.
The EB-3 other worker subcategory for China and Mexico will advance by three months, to September 1, 2012 and the Philippines by two weeks, to May 1, 2007. EB-3 India will advance by two weeks to September 15, 2003.
The priority date cut-off for EB-2 China will advance by five weeks to February 15, 2009 next month, but EB-2 India will remain at November 15, 2004.
In the family-based F-2A category for the spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents, the cutoff date will remain at September 8, 2013 for all countries except for Mexico, which will retrogress by approximately one year and four months to April 15, 2012.
March 2014 Priority Date Cut-Offs
In March 2014, EB immigrant visa priority date cut-offs will be:
EB-1
Current for all countries.
EB-2
China: February 15, 2009
India: November 15, 2004
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: September 1, 2012
India: September 15, 2003
Philippines: May 1, 2007
All other countries: September 1, 2012
EB-3 Other Workers
China: September 1, 2012
India: September 15, 2003
Philippines: May 1, 2007
All other countries: September 1, 2012
EB-5
Current for all countries and subcategories.
Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Availability in the Coming Months
The State Department projects that the priority date cut-off for EB-2 China will advance by three to five weeks per month over the next several months, but there will be no advancement for EB-2 India in the near term.
Several months of significant advancement in EB-3 cut-off dates for China, Mexico and most other countries is expected to generate increased demand. As such, cut-off dates for these countries are expected to see little forward movement in the coming months. If demand increases significantly, there could be some retrogression. Little to no advancement is expected for EB-3 India, but EB-3 Philippines is expected to advance three to six weeks per month.
EB-5 is expected to remain current for all countries in the near term.
