The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released its July 2012 Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin sets forth per country priority dates that regulate the ability of an individual to file an adjustment of status application or consular process at a U.S. Embassy. Foreign nationals can file the adjustment application if their priority dates are prior to the cutoff dates specified by the DOS in the Visa Bulletin.
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released its July 2012 Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin sets forth per country priority dates that regulate the ability of an individual to file an adjustment of status application or consular process at a U.S. Embassy. Foreign nationals can file the adjustment application if their priority dates are prior to the cutoff dates specified by the DOS in the Visa Bulletin.
What does the July 2012 Visa Bulletin say?
Employment-Based Category Two (EB-2):
China and India remain Unavailable
All Other Chargeability Areas, Mexico and Philippines retrogressed from Current to 01Jan2009
Employment-Based Category Three (EB-3):
All Other Chargeability Areas – advanced 5 weeks
China – advanced 6 weeks
India – advanced 1 week
Mexico – advanced 6 weeks
Philippines – advanced 2 weeks
The biggest news is EB-2, where All Other Chargeability Areas retrogressed significantly after having been ‘current’ for so long. This may follow the China/India trend, which went from such retrogression to ‘Unavailable’ in just a few months. We’ll keep you posted.
Visa availability and cutoff dates are determined on a monthly basis by DOS based on anticipated demand. These dates can move forward, backward or remain unchanged. Employers and employees should monitor the monthly Visa Bulletins so they can properly plan their immigration cases.
For more information, or if you have any questions regarding the Visa Bulletin, please feel free to contact us.