The November 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), show slight forward movement in the employment-based second and third category cutoff dates, except for the religious workers category which has become unavailable. EB2 remains current for all countries, except for India and China, which have moved forward by about two months each. India’s cutoff date is now June 1, 2003 and China is at June 1, 2004. EB3 category, which opened to severely retrogressed cutoff dates in the first visa bulletin of the new fiscal year i.e. October 2008, is showing some forward movement. The November Visa Bulletin will come into effect from November 1, 2008.

• EB-1 (Priority Workers)
• EB-2 (Advanced Degrees Holders or Persons of Exceptional Ability)
• EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)
• EB-4 (Special Immigrants)
• EB-5 (Immigrant Investors)

• F – 1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 2A (Spouses & Children)
• F – 2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters)
• F – 3 (Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens)

Predictions

The November 2008 Visa Bulletin, makes no commitment in its future prediction. Rather, it is indicated that the cut off dates can continue to move either forward if demand remains steady but can start to retrogress at the slightest hint of increase in demand.

The October 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), spells good news for all EB-3 Skilled and Unskilled Workers from around the world except for India and China. The EB-3 category has been labeled “unavailable” for a couple of moths. While we had earlier predicted that October will ease the situation for all, it seems that Indian and China will have to contend with severe retrogressed dates for now. It is also rumored that the EB-2 numbers for India and China EB-2 is most likely to become unavailable midway through September 2008. The October Visa Bulletin will come into effect from October 1, 2008.

Employment Based Categories

• EB-1 (Priority Workers)
• EB-2 (Advanced Degrees Holders or Persons of Exceptional Ability)
• · EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)
• · EB-4 (Special Immigrants)
• · EB-5 (Immigrant Investors)

Family Based Categories

• F – 1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 2A (Spouses & Children)
• · F – 2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters)
• F – 3 (Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens)

Predictions – Employment based numbers likely to face the axe

While F-2A numbers for Mexico will become available this October, the bulletin predicts heavy retrogression in the first quarter of the coming FY at least.

The employment based categories, specially EB-2 and EB-3 are probably going to retrogress or become unavailable for certain countries in the near future. According to the Bulletin, this will happen because many of these categories have move forward rapidly in FY-2008, resulting in near depletion of numbers and long backlogs of prior cases. So, it is being predicted that very little forward movement will be seen across the employment based categories, It is estimated that the FY-2009 Employment-based annual limit will be very close to the 140,000 minimum.

The September 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), shows that the EB-2 Cutoff dates for Indian and Mexico, has moved another few months forward. The rest of the employment based categories remain the same as last month. Mexico’s F-2A numbers and EB-3 continue to be unavailable. The September Visa Bulletin will come into effect from September 1, 2008.

Employment Based Categories

• EB-1 (Priority Workers)
• EB-2 (Advanced Degrees Holders or Persons of Exceptional Ability)
• · EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)
• · EB-4 (Special Immigrants)
• · EB-5 (Immigrant Investors)

Family Based Categories

• F – 1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 2A (Spouses & Children)
• · F – 2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters)
• F – 3 (Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens)

Predictions

As predicted last month, the Mexico F2A and EB-3 cut-off dates remain “unavailable” as their annual limits have been reached for this fiscal year. However, contrary to the indications earlier, these categories may not revert back to their early dates on the start of the new fiscal year in October. Owing to heavy demand in these categories, retrogression in cut-off dates is being predicted.

The August Visa Bulletin also carries the family and employment preference limits for FY-2008 as follows – Worldwide Family-sponsored preference limit:  226,000; worldwide Employment-based preference limit:  162,704

The July 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), shows a significant advance in the EB-2 Cutoff dates for Indian and Mexico, 1st from July 2004 to 1st June 2006. On the downside the cut off dates for the unskilled category has become unavailable. Mexico’s F-2A numbers continue to be unavailable as well. The August Visa Bulletin will come into effect from August 1, 2008.

Employment Based Categories

• EB-1 (Priority Workers)
• EB-2 (Advanced Degrees Holders or Persons of Exceptional Ability)
• · EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)
• · EB-4 (Special Immigrants)
• · EB-5 (Immigrant Investors)

Family Based Categories

• F – 1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 2A (Spouses & Children)
• · F – 2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters)
• F – 3 (Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens)

Predictions

The EB-3 ‘Other Worker’ category is going to remain “unavailable” for the remainder of FY-2008 and the cut-off date will start from 1^st January 2003 in the next fiscal year starting October 2008.

The July 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), finally shows EB-3 numbers unavailable over for this fiscal year and will most probably remain so till October. Also, F-2A Numbers for Mexico has also become unavailable this July. The July Visa Bulletin will come into effect from July 1, 2008.

Employment Based Categories

• EB-1 (Priority Workers)
• EB-2 (Advanced Degrees Holders or Persons of Exceptional Ability)
• · EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)
• · EB-4 (Special Immigrants)
• · EB-5 (Immigrant Investors)

Family Based Categories

• F – 1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 2A (Spouses & Children)
• · F – 2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters)
• F – 3 (Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens)

Predictions

The Mexico F-2A category will probably remain “unavailable” through the end of the fiscal year and become available in October 2008, with the cut-off date returning to 01/MAY/02.

The June 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) indicates that EB-3 numbers are almost over for this fiscal year and the numbers will probably be retrogressed starting July, till September 2008. The June Visa Bulletin will come into effect from June 1, 2008.

Employment Based Categories

• EB-1 (Priority Workers) ·        EB-2 (Advanced Degrees Holders or Persons of Exceptional Ability) · EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)· EB-4 (Special Immigrants)· EB-5 (Immigrant Investors)

Family Based Categories

• F – 1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens) ·
• F – 2A (Spouses & Children)
• F – 2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters)
• F – 3 (Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens)

Predictions

High demand for numbers in the Mexico F2A category is likely to lead to retrogression in cut-off dates beginning this July. In addition, the EB-3 category is also nearing its annual limit and the cut off dates are likely to be retrogressed too in July. The category will normalize in October 2008 again.

The May 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), sows considerable forward movement in almost all employment based categories across the countries. The May Visa Bulletin will come into effect from May 1, 2008.

Employment Based Categories

• EB-1 (Priority Workers)
• EB-2 (Advanced Degrees Holders or Persons of Exceptional Ability)
• EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)
• EB-4 (Special Immigrants)
• EB-5 (Immigrant Investors)

Family Based Categories

F – 1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 2A (Spouses & Children)
• F – 2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters)
• F – 3 (Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens)

Predictions
In family based categories, due to heavy demand in the Mexico F2A category, it’s likely that the dates will be severely retrogresses by June 2008.
We also see forward movement in many of the employment based categories in May. The bulletin explains this as due to an effort by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to maximize the use of numbers still available. Consequently, once USCIS finds the application exceeding the numbers, the numbers are mostly likely to retrogress, it will probably not happen before the last quarter of this fiscal year i.e.  August 2008.

The April 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), finally shed a few rays of sunshine on the EB-2 applicants from India as the category became available albeit with a cut-off date around 2003. The EB2 cutoff dates for China have again moved forward. Continuing its forward trend from the March Bulletin, EB-3 dates have moved forward by a few months for all countries. Even the unskilled visa category shows forward movement after a long time. The April Visa Bulletin will come into effect from April 1, 2008.

Employment Based Categories

• EB-1 (Priority Workers)
• EB-2 (Advanced Degrees Holders or Persons of Exceptional Ability)
• · EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)
• · EB-4 (Special Immigrants)
• · EB-5 (Immigrant Investors)

Family Based Categories

• F – 1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 2A (Spouses & Children)
• · F – 2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters)
• F – 3 (Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens)

Predictions

According to the Bulletin, EB-2 numbers have been made available for India this April as the DOS felt that the current demand for visa slots has comparatively slowed down. Consequently, it all depends on how many applications are made in April, as to whether the category will remain available the coming months.

The March 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), continues the bad news for EB-2 applicants from India as the category remains stubbornly Unavailable for the second consecutive month. The EB2 cutoff date for China has move forward almost by 12 months. In another massive forward movement, EB-3 dates for worldwide category jumped more then two years to January 2005. The March Visa Bulletin will come into effect from March 1, 2008.

Employment Based Categories

Family Based Categories

• F – 1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 2A (Spouses & Children)
• F – 2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters)
• F – 3 (Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens)
  

Predictions

The March 2008 Visa Bulletin indicate that many cut-off dates for most of the Employment based categories have been moved forward, mostly to speed up the processing of the allocated visa numbers for this categories. Consequently, if CIS gets an influx of applications, we will again see less movement in the cut-off dates.

The March 2008 Visa Bulletin indicate that many cut-off dates for most of the Employment based categories have been moved forward, mostly to speed up the processing of the allocated visa numbers for this categories. Consequently, if CIS gets an influx of applications, we will again see less movement in the cut-off dates.

The February 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), has finally marked EB-2 U (Unavailable) for Indians for this month. The EB2 cutoff date for China shows no movement. The February Visa Bulletin will come into effect from February 1, 2008.

Employment Based Categories

• EB-1 (Priority Workers)
• EB-2 (Advanced Degrees Holders or Persons of Exceptional Ability)
• EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)
• EB-4 (Special Immigrants)
• EB-5 (Immigrant Investors)

Family Based Categories

• F – 1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 2A (Spouses & Children)
• F – 2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters)
• F – 3 (Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
• F – 4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens)
  
• Predictions

There are no clear predictions in this visa bulletin, but the numbers indicate EB-2 will most likely remain Unavailable next month also or be available but severely retrogressed.