June Visa Bulletin Shows Grim News for Chinese EB-3 Nationals, Retrogression in Other Areas
May 7, 2014 | Tags: EB-1 | EB-2 | EB-3
As we reported in April, the Department of State's June Visa Bulletin, released today, follows true to predictions that the government will slam the window shut for EB-2 Chinese who changed their classifications to EB-3 to shave a few years off the long visa retrogression queues. Numbers retrogress for other categories, as well, as we approach the last few months of the government's fiscal year.
EB-1
- All still "CURRENT"
EB-2
- All others — Still "CURRENT"
- China — Advances four weeks to May 22, 2009
- India —Standstill remains, at November 15, 2004
- Mexico — Still "CURRENT"
- Philippines — Still "CURRENT"
EB-3
- All others — Retrogresses 6 months to April 1, 2011
- China — Retrogresses 6 years to October 1, 2006
- India — Advances 1 month to October 15, 2003
- Mexico — Retrogresses 6 months to April 1, 2011
- Philippines — Advances 2 months to January 1, 2008
May 31 becomes the cut off day for many Chinese nationals who rushed to change classifications from China EB-2 to EB-3 to take advantage of the fleeting lesser waiting period for China EB-3 during the last few months. If USCIS doesn't adjudicate the pending AOS cases by May 31, adjustment of status cases will remain in limbo until visa numbers move sufficiently forward in either the EB-2 or EB-3 categories so that the government may resume processing those cases.
The only silver lining is that all pending AOS applicants will remain eligible for continued work authorization (EADs) and Advance Paroles (APs) for the duration of these cases. It never hurts to contact your elected representatives to prompt the Service Centers to show heart and efficiency, and adjudicate long pending cases by May 31. Anecdotal reports suggest that the Texas Service Center is moving slightly more quickly than the four months at the Nebraska Service Center.
