December 2013 Visa Bulletin Predictions

Charles Oppenheim, Chief of Immigrant Visa Control and the Reporting Division, has given December 2013 Visa Predictions. Mr. Charles Oppenheim is in charge of the visa number assignments each month and year. The main prediction reported entails December 2013 to show a regression of India’s EB-2 cutoff dates. Though, the Department of State has not yet stated the exact date, it is expected to vary from the end of 2004 to early 2005. This digression will most likely stay until May or June 2014. The December 2013 Visa Prediction bases the delay of India’s EB-2 to the large amount of pending I-485, EB-2, and EB-3 cases. The Visa Office has to delay new filings and wait until the USCIS and Department of State can authorize all pending cases.

Predictions-Family Based:

• FB-1: The rest of the world is anticipated to move forward 3-5 weeks.
• FB-2A: The FB-2A category is likely to remain current. Mexico is predicted to regress in the future.
• FB-2B: The FB-2B category is proposed to advance about 3-5 weeks.
• FB-3: The FB-3 category should move 3-5 weeks ahead.
• FB-4: The FB-4 category foresees advancement of 2-3 weeks.

Predictions-Employment Based:

• EB-1 will remain current.
• EB-2: EB-2 for the rest of the world is predicted to remain current. A cutoff may be introduced by Mr. Oppenheim based on the amount of demand. China continues to advance forward by 3-5 weeks.
• EB-3: India’s EB-3 is predicted to remain constant and show slight retrogression. There are too many EB-3 applicants awaiting visa numbers. Many EB-3 applicants have started to consider filing for EB-2. The rest of the world EB-3 is expected to advance ahead by a year within the next couple of months.  The EB-3 for the Philippines and China are likely to move ahead by two weeks.
• EB-5: The demand for EB-5 is increasing. China showed a 15% increase in the recent fiscal year. A cutoff date for China is expected to be given closer to the summer.

Summary: December 2013 Visa Predictions

Many EB-2 India applicants will receive some disappointment with the December 2013 Visa Prediction, especially because the cutoff date was so close to “current” at the beginning of the year. Though, for many EB-2 applicants from China and India, they were able to take advantage of the “current” status earlier this year. The majority of those applicants filed the I-485 applications and are capable of receiving new employment. As mentioned previously, a large amount of applicants from India are changing their applications from the EB-3 to the EB-2. Due to the longer wait times as indicated in the December 2013 Visa Prediction, former EB-3 applicants are now qualified for the EB-2 which incurs shorter waiting periods.

Our immigration lawyers thoroughly under the outcomes of the December 2013 Visa Prediction. Our lawyers are experienced in assisting with both employment based and family based visas. If you would like assistance with your case, please contact our Miami attorneys. If you are a candidate who wishes to file for a EB-2 from a pending EB-3 petition due to the long wait times, our lawyers are capable of verifying your qualifications and EB-2 requirements.