Visa Bulletin Analysis: January 2015

The Visa Bulletin for January 2015has been released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the changes are in line with what we expected. There are changes in the employment-based third preference category (EB-3) as well as some minor advances in the family-based category.  In regards to EB-2, China moves ahead one month while India holds steady at February 15, 2005.

Employment-Based Category Changes

• EB-1: Current for all countries across the board.
• EB-2: In this category, all countries are current except for China. Second preference category for China moves ahead one month to the new date of February 1, 2010. While EB2 India remains unchanged at February 15, 2005 following the major retrogression we saw a few months back. The odds are that this will not move prior to this summer.

EB3 Category Changes

Some relief in the employment-based third preference category (EB-3). India moves ahead by a couple of weeks to December 15, 2003 while China moves ahead nine months to March 1, 2011. The remaining countries, Mexico, Philippines and all remaining countries of chargeability, advance seven months to June 1, 2013.  The fact that EB-3 China has moved forward is great news for many applicants eligible for I-485 filing. Contact our office to receive information on filing your I-485 or gathering the documents necessary .

“Other Workers”

China remains the same date at July 22, 2005. India advances a few weeks from December 1st to December 15, 2003. The remaining countries, Mexico, Philippines and all remaining countries of chargeability, advance seven months to June 1, 2013.

EB-4: Continues to remain current.

Certain Religious Workers: Continues to remain current.

EB-5: Continues to remain current.

Family-Based Category

Some minor changes in the family-based category.

FB-1: China and India advance a few weeks to July 8, 2007. Mexico moves forward one month to September 15, 1994 while Philippines slides one week forward to December 22, 2004.

FB-2A: Move ahead three weeks to April 15, 2014 for China, Philippines, and India. We also see an advance to February 22, 2013 for Mexico.

EB-2 India Retrogression?

As previously mentioned, EB-2 India remains planted at February 15, 2005 and we don’t anticipate any movement in the coming few months until possibly summer 2015.

Priority Dates

Individuals whose priority dates are current as of this new bulletin may be applicable to process I-485 Adjustment of Status applications. Contact our immigration attorneys to find out how we can take advantage of these time sensitive opportunities.

Our office will keep you updated on bulletin news and other developments as they occur Our immigration attorneys can assist you in any step of the application process to stay on top of the current priority date and file on your behalf. We specialize in employment-based cases but are more than capable of addressing your other immigration needs.