The Department of State’s July Visa Bulletin, provides no surprises. As predicted, there is a slowdown as the government approaches these last three months of its fiscal year. Due to heavy demand against the annual 140,000 quota, priority dates in the EB-2 category, which were previously “current,” have now retrogressed to January 1, 2009. EB-2 priority dates for Chinese and Indian nationals have already been unavailable. There is only nominal movement in the EB-3 category. The State Department warned that later this summer, if heavy demand continues, it may become necessary to make all EB-2 visa numbers unavailable prior to September 30, 2012, the end of the fiscal year. EB2
Workers other than India and China, with a Priority date after January 1, 2009 should file their adjustment applications by the end of the month
EB1 - all still current
EB2
All others – retrogress to January 1, 2009
China – Unavailable
India – Unavailable
Mexico – retrogress to January 1, 2009
Philippines – retrogress to January 1, 2009
EB3
All others - advancing approx. 6 weeks to July 22, 2006
China –advancing approx. 6 weeks to September 22, 2005
India –advancing 1 week to September 22, 2002
Mexico – advancing approx. 6 weeks to July 22, 2006
Philippines – advancing approx. 2 weeks to June 8, 2006
