September 2013 Visa Bulletin: Significant Priority Date Advancements for Most Backlogged EB Categories; F-2A Will Remain Current
According to the State Department’s September Visa Bulletin, priority date cut-offs will advance dramatically for most backlogged employment-based immigrant visa categories next month. The family-based F-2A for spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents will remain current.
EB-2 India will advance five and one-half months, to June 15, 2008. EB-2 China will remain at August 8, 2008.
The EB-3 subcategory for professional and skilled workers will advance eight months for India, to September 22, 2003, and 18 months for China and most other countries, to July 1, 2010. EB-3 Philippines will advance just under six weeks, to December 1, 2006.
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| September 2013 Visa Bulletin, Employment Based Categories |
September 2013 Priority Date Cut-Offs
In September 2013, EB immigrant visa priority date cut-offs will be:
EB-1
Current for all countries.
EB-2
China: August 8, 2008
India: June 15, 2008
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: July 1, 2010
India: September 22, 2003
Philippines: December 1, 2006
All other countries: July 1, 2010
EB-3 Other Workers
China: June 15, 2004
India: September 22, 2003
Philippines: December 1, 2006
All other countries: July 1, 2010
EB-5
Current for all countries and subcategories.
Impact of the EB-2 and EB-3 Advancements
The State Department is advancing EB-2 and EB-3 cut-off dates substantially next month to maximize usage of EB green card numbers before the end of the fiscal year.
The EB-2 India cut-off date will advance much more than previously expected because unused immigrant visas in the EB-1 and EB-2 worldwide categories will be applied. The State Department anticipates that there will be high demand for the newly available India numbers.
EB-3 cut-off dates will move forward more than anticipated because previous advancements have not generated the demand expected by the State Department.
According to the State Department, there is unlikely to be any further advancement in the EB categories in the next few months. If there is high demand, priority dates could be retrogressed in FY 2014.
See the entire bulletin here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_6050.html
Sources: Fragomen.com and Department of State
