2008 June Visa Bulletin Update

EB1 China, India, Mexico, Philippines, ROW-C
EB2 India- 01 APR 04, China, Mexico, Philippines, ROW-C
EB3
China- 01 MAR 06,
India- 01 NOV 01

2008 May Visa Bulletin Update

EB1 China, India, Mexico, Philippines, ROW-C
EB2 China- 01 JAN 04, India- 01 JAN 04, Mexico, Philippines, ROW-C
EB3
China- 22 MAR 03,
India- 01 NOV 01,
Mexico- 01 JUL 02,
Philippines- 01 MAR 06,
ROW- 01 MAR 06

2008 April Visa Bulletin Update

EB1 China, India, Mexico, Philippines-C
EB2 China- 01 DEC 03, India- 01 DEC 03, Mexico, Philippines-C
EB3 China- 08 FEB 03, India- 01 OCT 01, Mexico, Philippines-C

2008 MARCH Visa Bulletin Update

EB1 China, India, Mexico, Philippines-C
EB2 China- 01 DEC 03, India-U, Mexico, Philippines-C
EB3 China- 01 DEC 02, India- 01 AUG 01, Mexico- 01 MAY 01, Philippines- 01 JAN 05

The cut-off date movement for March in several Employment categories has been greater than those experienced in recent months. Advancement of the cut-off dates at this time should prevent a situation later in the fiscal year where there are large amounts of numbers available but not enough time to use them. If the expected increase in CIS number use materializes, future cut-off date movements could slow or stop.

2008 FEBRUARY Visa Bulletin Update

EB1 China, India, Mexico, Philippines-C
EB2 China-01 JAN 03, India-U, Mexico, Philippines-C
EB3 China-15 NOV 01, India-08 MAY 01, Mexico-22 APR 01, Philippines-01 NOV 02

Despite two retrogressions of the India Employment Second preference cut-off date, demand for numbers by CIS Offices for adjustment of status cases has remained extremely high in recent months. As a result the annual limit for the India Employment Second preference category has been reached, and the category has become “unavailable” effective immediately.

2008 January Visa Bulletin Update

EB1 : CHINA, INDIA, MEXICO, PHILIPPINES-C
EB2 : CHINA-01JAN03, INDIA-01JAN00, MEXICO, PHILIPPINES-C
EB3 : CHINA-01NOV01, INDIA-01MAY01, MEXICO-22APR01, PHILIPPINES-15OCT02

EB2 further retrogress becasue of continued heavy applicant demand for numbers by CIS for adjustment of status cases despite the retrogression which occurred for December. It is likely that the annual limit for this category will be reached within the next few months, at which time the category would become “unavailable” for the remainder of fiscal year 2008.

December Visa Bulletin Update

EB1 : CHINA, INDIA, MEXICO, PHILIPPINES-C
EB2 : CHINA-01JAN03, INDIA-01JAN02, MEXICO, PHILIPPINES-C
EB3 : CHINA-15OCT01, INDIA-01MAY01, MEXICO-22APR01, PHILIPPINES-01SEP02

EB2
Second: Demand during October and the first week of November has already used over 38 percent of the annual limit. It is hoped that the December retrogressions will return monthly number use within the target range. If not, further retrogressions cannot be ruled out.

EB3
Slow forward movement should be possible while demand patterns are established

Courtesy: USCIS

November Visa Bulletin Update

EB1 : CHINA, INDIA, MEXICO, PHILIPPINES-C
EB2 : CHINA-01JAN06, INDIA-01APR04, MEXICO, PHILIPPINES-C
EB3 : CHINA-01SEP01, INDIA,MEXICO-22APR01, PHILIPPINES-01AUG02

There has been no forward movement of the Employment cut-off dates for November.
The reason for this is that it is still too early to see what impact the movement of the cut-off dates toward the end of FY-2007 may have on demand. Depending on the rate of demand being received from Citizenship and Immigration Services offices for adjustment of status cases, some forward movement of dates may be possible for December

October Visa Bulletin Update -- EB3 -- 22APR01

INDIA: EB-1=C, EB-2=04/01/04, EB-3=22APR01

October 2007 Visa Bulletin Prediction

AILA has just released the following predictions
Based on the discussion with Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of Immigrant Visa Control and Reporting, DOS

EB-1 (All Countries): Closely match to September 2007 VB
EB-2 (All Countries): Closely match to September 2007 VB
EB-3 (All Countries): Similar to January 2007 VB

January Visa Bulletin:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_3100.html

EB-3EW (All Countries): 10/01/2001
EB-4: N/A
EB-5: C

300,000 July 2007 Applications Reportedly Received

According to the New York Times, the USCIS received more than 300,000 applications. The report indicates that the agency has received about 300,000 applications July 1, accoridng to the USCIS sources, but at the time of the news media's contact yesterday, the USCIS was still receiving applications for employment visas. Consequently, the total tally of applications received in the last six weeks was yet to be made available.

Reportedly the USCIS was swamped by the applications it had already received, which was more than double the annual limit of 140,000 employment visas.

The number turns out to be somewhat lighter than this website anticipated, but considering the annual quota of 140,000, it will take number of years for these cases to leave the green card processing pipeline unless the Congress passes a legislation reforming the employment-based immigration system.

September Visa Bulletin Update -- EB3 -- U

ROW: EB-1=01/01/07, EB-2=01/01/07, EB-3=08/01/02
CHINA: EB-1=01/01/07, EB-2=01/01/06, EB-3=U
INDIA: EB-1=01/01/07, EB-2=04/01/04, EB-3=U
MEXICO: EB-1=01/01/07, EB-2=01/01/07, EB-3=U
PHILIPPINES: EB-1=01/01/07, EB-2=01/01/07, EB-3=08/01/02

Immigration Updates -- October VB Prediction (Unconfirmed)

PREDICTIONS FOR OCTOBER 2007 PRIORITY DATES
FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED IMMIGRANT VISAS - GOOD NEWS!
By Jan M. Pederson

Washington, D.C., Aug. 2, 2007: Government sources have advised us that we can expect more good news when the new pool of visa numbers is released for the fiscal year which begins on October 1, 2007. The priority date information listed is to be taken as educated predictions, not carved in stone. Expect the following:

1. Worldwide, other than India and China, EB1, EB2, EB4 and EB5 immigrant visa categories will be current as of October 1, 2007. It may be necessary to retrogress them later in 2007 or 2008.

2. EB1 for India and China will likely be current in October, 2007.

3. EB2 for India and China will likely have a cut-off date in October 2007 close to the cut-off dates for January 2007, which were: India - January 8, 2003; China -April 22, 2005.

4. EB3 cut-off dates for October 2007 also will likely have a cut-off date close to the cut-off dates for January 2007, which were: Worldwide (other than India and China) -August 1, 2002; India -May 8, 2001; China - April 22, 2005.

Please note that these are predictions subject to change depending on the number of cases approved by USCIS during the next two months.

Other "Visa Gate" Factoids:

1. During fiscal year 2007 (October 1, 2006 through July 2007) USCIS processed over 18,000 EB3 cases for persons born in India and of that number, 8,000 were processed during June 2007 and 7,000 were processed during July 2007. This represents five years worth of allocated visa numbers. The annual limit for India is 2,800 per year in the EB3 category.

2. When the Visa Bulletin indicates that visas numbers are unavailable for an employment based category and country, H-1B applicants who have reached the six year limit in H-1B status may obtain three-year extensions under AC 21. This means if the Visa Bulletin reflects "U", the per-country limit has been reached.

3. The unofficial reports are that the Texas Service Center received approximately 40,000 I-485 applications during the first day or two in July and the Nebraska Service Center received approximately 35,000 I-485 applications during the same period of time.

4. During the first eight months of fiscal year 2007 (October 2006 through May 2007) USCIS requested 66,600 EB visa numbers. During June and July 2007 USCIS requested 66,800 numbers.

We will provide you with updates as they become available and Jan Pederson will provide a Web seminar to discuss "Visa Gate" and related issues later this month.

COPYRIGHT 2007 JAN M. PEDERSON, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Suite 601, 2001 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-4910
Tel: 202.785.1960 - Fax: 202.785.3815
www.usvisainfo.com


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