2. Employment-Based Cut-off Date Changes Over Last Month’s Visa Bulletin
Preference Category | Chargeability | Change From Last Month’s Visa Bulletin |
EB-1 | Current Across All Chargeability Areas |
EB-2 | All Chargeability Areas | Current |
China | Advances 7 months |
India | Advances 9 months |
Mexico | Current |
Philippines | Current |
EB-3 | All Chargeability Areas | Advances 4 months |
China | Retrogresses 9 ¾ months |
India | Advances 1 week |
Mexico | Advances 4 months |
Philippines | Advances 4 months |
3. Relevant U.S. State Department Commentary
VISA AVAILABILITY - CHINA-mainland born
Employment Third Preference: The cut-off date for this category was advanced very rapidly during the past seven months, in an attempt to generate demand to ensure that all numbers under the annual limit could be made available. Item E in the November 2014 Visa Bulletin notified readers that this rapid movement could require "corrective" action as early as February, once demand began to materialize.
Continued heavy demand by applicants with very early priority dates has required a retrogression of this cut-off date for the month of April, to hold number use within the annual numerical limit. Potential forward movement of this cut-off date during the remainder of the fiscal year is dependent on the amount of demand received for applicants with very early priority dates.
Employment Fifth Preference: Item D of the February Visa Bulletin advised readers that the expected increase in demand would require the establishment of a cut-off date during the summer to hold number use within the annual numerical limit. The establishment of that date can be expected no later than June