All countries will advance forward in the employment-based third preference (EB-3) category for professionals and skilled workers, according to the State Department’s December Visa Bulletin. Priority dates for EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico and Philippines will move forward by five months from June 1, 2012 to Nov. 1, 2012. Dates will likewise jump five months for EB-3 China, from Jan. 1, 2010 to June 1, 2010. EB-3 India will advance only marginally from Nov. 22, 2003 to Dec. 1, 2003.

The priority date for Chinese nationals in the employment-based second preference (EB-2) category will advance by three weeks. The date will move forward from Dec. 8, 2009 to Jan. 1, 2010. EB-2 India will remain set at Feb. 15, 2005, after retrogressing by more than 4 years last month. All other countries will remain current in the EB-2 category.

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

Category China India Mexico Philippines All Other Areas
EB-1 Current Current Current Current Current
EB-2 01-JAN-10 15-FEB-05 Current Current Current
EB-3 01-JUN-10 01-DEC-03 01-NOV-12 01-NOV-12 01-NOV-12
Other Workers 22-JUL-05 01-DEC-03 01-NOV-12 01-NOV-12 01-NOV-12

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