The Department of State has released the June 2015 Visa Bulletin, a monthly report detailing the current cutoff dates for the filing or approval of green card applications in the various U.S. permanent visa categories. A person who is otherwise eligible to apply for or be granted a green card in the U.S., must have a current priority date as specified in the Visa Bulletin. The June 2015 Visa Bulletin shows continued forward movement in nearly all categories, but last month’s warning for nationals of the Philippines came to pass as the family-based first (FB-1) preference and the employment-based third (EB-3) preference each retrogressed significantly as described below. As of June 1, 2015, the priority date in the employment-based second (EB-2) preference category for Chinese nationals will advance one year to June 1, 2013, while the priority date in the EB-2 category for Indian nationals will advance nearly six months to October 1, 2008. The priority dates in the employment-based third (EB-3) preference for all countries except India, China, and the Philippines will advance six weeks to February 15, 2015, and remain nearly current. EB-3 India again advanced only one week to January 22, 2004. The good news continues for nationals of China as the EB-3 priority date advanced again to September 1, 2011. The bad news continues in June for nationals of the Philippines. The EB-3 priority date for the Philippines will move backward again over two years to January 1, 2005, and the notes to the bulletin indicate that there could be further regression in the coming months. In addition, the FB-1 priority date for nationals of the Philippines will retrogress nearly five years to March 1, 2000. As has been the case for several months, most family-based preference categories will advance at least a few weeks, although, somewhat unexpectedly, the priority date in the family-based fourth (FB-4) preference for Mexican nationals will move backward slightly to March 1, 1997. You can view the visa bulletin in its entirety below. Please contact us with any questions. The Department of State has released the May 2015 Visa Bulletin, a monthly report detailing the current cutoff dates for the filing or approval of green card applications in the various U.S. permanent visa categories. A person who is otherwise eligible to apply for or be granted a green card in the U.S., must have a current priority date as specified in the Visa Bulletin. The May 2015 Visa Bulletin shows continued forward movement in all but two categories, and a warning for nationals of the Philippines. As of May 1, 2015, the priority date in the employment-based second (EB-2) preference category for Chinese nationals will advance 14 months to June 1, 2012, while the priority date in the EB-2 category for Indian nationals will advance over seven months to April 15, 2008. The priority dates in the employment-based third (EB-3) preference for all countries except India, China, and the Philippines advanced three months to January 1, 2015, and are nearly current. EB-3 India again advanced only one week to January 15, 2004. There is a reversal of April’s bad news for nationals of China as the EB-3 priority date advanced again to May 1, 2011. The bad news in May is for nationals of the Philippines and for Chinese investors. The EB-3 priority date for the Philippines moved backward over seven years to July 1, 2007, due to heavy demand following previous rapid advancements. This retrogression was anticipated, but came sooner than expected. Meanwhile, as expected, the priority dates in the EB-5 immigrant investor category retrogressed to May 1, 2013. As has been the case for several months, most family-based preference categories will advance at least a few weeks. Looking ahead, in a discussion with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the State Department’s Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, Charles Oppenheim, indicated that EB-3 Philippines could advance slowly after the May retrogression, but the family-based first preference (FB-1) category for the Philippines will likely retrogress in June or July. Mr. Oppenheim also indicated that the advancement in the EB-2 category for Indian nationals would slow down during the summer months and could possibly stop in August or September. You can view the visa bulletin in its entirety below. Please contact us with any questions. The Department of State has released the April 2015 Visa Bulletin, a monthly report detailing the current cutoff dates for the filing or approval of green card applications in the various U.S. permanent visa categories. A person who is otherwise eligible to apply for or be granted a green card in the U.S., must have a current priority date as specified in the Visa Bulletin. The April 2015 Visa Bulletin shows continued forward movement, especially for nationals of India and China. As of April 1, 2015, the priority date in the employment-based second (EB-2) preference category for Chinese nationals will advance seven months to April 1, 2011, while the priority date in the EB-2 category for Indian nationals will advance eight months to September 1, 2007. Similarly, the priority dates in the employment-based third (EB-3) preference advanced four months to October 1, 2014, except for EB-3 India, which advanced one week to January 8, 2004. There is a bit of bad news for nationals of China as the EB-3 priority date moved backward to January 1, 2011, due to continued heavy demand. Finally, most family-based preference categories will advance at least a few weeks. You can view the visa bulletin in its entirety below. Please contact us with any questions. The Department of State has released the March 2015 Visa Bulletin, a monthly report detailing the current cutoff dates for the filing or approval of green card applications in the various U.S. permanent visa categories. A person who is otherwise eligible to apply for or be granted a green card in the U.S., must have a current priority date as specified in the Visa Bulletin. The March 2015 Visa Bulletin offers good news on all fronts, especially for nationals of India and China. As of March 1, 2015, the priority date in the employment-based second (EB-2) preference category for Chinese nationals will advance six months to September 1, 2010, while the priority date in the EB-2 category for Indian nationals will advance 16 months to January 1, 2007. Otherwise, the priority dates continue their steady advancement as the employment-based third (EB-3) preference and all family-based preference categories will advance at least a few weeks. You can view the visa bulletin in its entirety below. Please contact us with any questions. |
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