Major EB-2 India/China Regression in September 2015 Visa Bulletin

The Department of State has released the September 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.

Somewhat unexpectedly, the biggest movement is the severe retrogression of the EB-2 priority dates for nationals of India and China. As of September 1, 2015, the priority date in both categories will regress several years to January 1, 2006. State Department officials had previously estimated that the EB-2 priority dates established for August 2015 would hold until October, but that will not be the case. We expect those dates to advance again when the new fiscal year begins in October, but there has been no official projection yet.

Aside from the EB-2 India/China regression, the September 2015 Visa Bulletin continues the slow forward advancement in nearly all other categories. As of September 1, 2015, all of the family-based preference categories advance at least a few weeks with the exception the family-based first (F-1) preference for nationals of Mexico. 

On the employment side, the priority dates in the employment-based third (EB-3) preference for all countries except India, China, and the Philippines remain nearly current at August 15, 2015. EB-3 for India, China, and the Philippines advances over six months to December 22, 2004.

You can view the visa bulletin in its entirety below. Please contact us with any questions.