Charles Oppenheim, chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division of the U.S. Department of State, held his monthly meeting with AILA to shed light on the data in the recently released August Visa Bulletin. Among the highlights of meeting are the following:
1. China EB-3 Retrogression. The August Visa Bulletin shows that the EB-3 China category will have a cut-off date of June 1, 2004, a retrogression of seven years. One reason for this retrogression is that earlier in the year the EB-3 China category had advanced which generated sufficient demand to bring the overall number within the allowable annual limit. According to Charlie, the good news is that this category will progress forward in the beginning of the new fiscal year to a 2010 or maybe even a 2011 cut-off date.
2. Other EB-3 News. EB-3 Other Worker will retrogress to Jan. 1, 2004 (an additional two-year retrogression from where it is currently). There is a potential that the EB-3 category for China, India and the Philippines will move slightly forward (a few months) in September. EB-3 Worldwide and Mexico, Charlie predicts, will continue to advance in September, but hold steady for a few months at the beginning of the new fiscal year in October 2015.
3. EB-2 China and India. As predicted earlier by Charlie, EB-2 India remained unchanged and is not likely to change until October. EB-2 China moved forward to Dec. 15, 2003, a move of 2 1/2 months. This date is likely to move slightly forward or remain unchanged for September
4. F-2A Worldwide. Due to lack of demand in this category (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents), the cut-off date for F-2A worldwide is advancing and is likely to continue to advance until demand increases. The worldwide August cut-off date for this category is Dec. 15, 2013
‡ Admitted in the District of Columbia and U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Court, not admitted in Virginia, and is limited to federal immigration practice.