November Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India to retrogress by 4 years; considerable advancement of EB-3 China and Worldwide

The priority date for Indian nationals in the employment-based second preference (EB-2) category will retrogress by more than 4 years, according to the U.S. State Department’s November 2014 Visa Bulletin. The priority date for EB-2 India will move back to Feb. 15, 2005 next month, from the current priority date of May 1, 2009. The retrogression had been predicted by immigration practitioners and State Department officials. EB-2 China will advance less than one month from Nov. 15, 2009 to Dec. 8, 2009. All other countries will remain current in the EB-2 category.

All countries will advance forward in the employment-based third preference (EB-3) category for professionals and skilled workers. Priority dates for EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico and Philippines will move forward by eight months from Oct. 1, 2011 to June 1, 2012. There will also be significant movement for EB-3 China as it will jump forward nine months from April 1, 2009 to Jan. 1, 2010. EB-3 China will once again be ahead of EB-2 China. EB-3 India will advance only marginally by one week to Nov. 22, 2003.

The EB-1 category will remain current across all countries.

Summary of November 2014 Visa Bulletin:

EB-1
Current across all countries

EB-2
China: Dec. 8, 2009
India: Feb. 15, 2005
All other countries: Current

EB-3
China: Jan. 1, 2010
India: Nov. 22, 2003
Mexico: June 1, 2012
Philippines: June 1, 2012
All other countries: June 1, 2012

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