The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released its October 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 October 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 October 2012 Visa Bulletin look like?
|
Employment- Based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA |
MEXICO |
PHILIPPINES |
|
1st |
C |
C |
C |
C |
C |
|
2nd |
01JAN12 |
15JUL07 |
01SEP04 |
01JAN12 |
01JAN12 |
|
3rd |
22OCT06 |
08FEB06 |
15OCT02 |
22OCT06 |
01AUG06 |
|
Other Workers |
22OCT06 |
22JUN03 |
15OCT02 |
22OCT06 |
01AUG06 |
|
4th |
C |
C |
C |
C |
C |
|
Certain Religious Workers |
U |
U |
U |
U |
U |
|
5th Targeted Employment Areas/ Regional Centers |
C |
C |
C |
C |
C |
|
5th Pilot Programs |
U |
U |
U |
U |
U |
The bad news is that EB-2 India is backlogged to 2004. That means there is only a two-year difference between the EB-2 and EB-3 categories for Indian nationals.
The EB-2 ‘all other chargeability’ category is expected to become ‘current’ in November. We will monitor this closely.
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.