Immigration Lawyers Blog

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5640.html. The most significant movement can be seen in the employment-based 2nd preference category (EB-2), i.e. members of professions holding advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability, for India and China. The EB-2 category for India and China has jumped from January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010.

The employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China (Jan. 1, 2010); EB-3 is at February 22, 2006 for all countries, except for India (Aug. 15, 2002) and China (Dec. 1, 2004); EB-3 other workers is at February 22, 2006 for all countries, except India (Aug. 15, 2002), China (April 22, 2003); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at June 8, 2009 for F2A (spouses and children under 21 of lawful permanent residents) and the longest queue for F4 Philippines (brothers and sisters of U.S. Citizens) of Nov. 1, 1988.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5630.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China (Jan. 1, 2009); EB-3 is at February 1, 2006 for all countries, except for India (Aug. 8, 2002) and China (Oct. 15, 2004); EB-3 other workers is at February 1, 2006 for all countries, except India (Aug. 1, 2002), China (April 22, 2003); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at April 22, 2009 for F2A (spouses and children under 21 of lawful permanent residents) and the longest queue for F4 Philippines (brothers and sisters of U.S. Citizens) of Oct. 8, 1988.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5603.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China (Mar. 15, 2008); EB-3 is at January 15, 2006 for all countries, except for India (Aug. 1, 2002) and China (Sept. 8, 2004); EB-3 other workers is at January 1, 2006 for all countries, except India (July 22, 2002), China (April 22, 2003); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at March 22, 2009 for F2A (spouses and children under 21 of lawful permanent residents) and the longest queue for F4 Philippines (brothers and sisters of U.S. Citizens) of September 8, 1988.

The new visa bulletin for September 2011 is out at this link: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5542.html.

Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China (April 2007); EB-3 is at November 2005 for all countries, except for India (June 2002) and China (July 2004); EB-3 other workers is at August 2005 for all countries, except India (June 2002) and China (April 2003); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current.

Family based petitions remain backlogged, with the most recent date at December 2008.

The new visa bulletin for August 2011 is out at this link: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5518.html.

Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China (April 2007); EB-3 is at November 2005 for all countries, except for India (June 2002) and China (July 2004); EB-3 other workers is at May 2005 for all countries, except India (June 2002) and China (April 2003); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current.

Family based petitions remain backlogged, with the most recent date at July 2008.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5489.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China (Mar. 2007); EB-3 is at October 2005 for all countries, except for India (May 2002), China (July 2004), and Mexico (July 2005); EB-3 other workers is at November 2004 for all countries, except India (May 2002), China (April 2003); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at March 2008.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5452.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China (Oct. 2006); EB-3 is at September 2005 for all countries, except for India (April 2002), China (May 2004), and Mexico (Dec. 2004); EB-3 other workers is at November 2003 for all countries, except India (April 2002), China (April 2003); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at August 2007.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5424.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India (July 2006) and China (Aug. 2006); EB-3 is at August 2005 for all countries, except for India (April 2002), China (April 2004), and Mexico (Sept. 2004); EB-3 other workers is at September 2003 for all countries, except India (April 2002), China (April 2003); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at June 2007.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5368.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India (May 2006) and China (July 2006); EB-3 is at July 2005 for all countries, except for India (April 2002), China (Mar. 2004), and Mexico (May 2004); EB-3 other workers is at July 2003 for all countries, except India (April 2002), China (April 2003); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at April 2007.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5337.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India (May 2006) and China (July 2006); EB-3 is at July 2005 for all countries, except for India (Mar. 2002), China (Jan. 2004), and Mexico (Jan. 2004); EB-3 other workers is at June 2003 for all countries, except India (Mar. 2002), China (April 2003), and Mexico (May 2003); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at January 2007.

On February 11, 2011, USCIS announced that it will begin issuing a new card that serves as evidence of both employment and travel authorization. Applicants filing an Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, and an Application for Travel Document, Form I-131, concurrently with or after filing Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Form I-485, may receive this new card. The combined employment authorization and advance parole will allow an adjustment of status applicant to have valid work authorization and return to the U.S. after traveling abroad while their case is pending. Instead of carrying a separate Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and a paper Advance Parole, applicants will now be able to present a single card that is more secure and durable than the previous paper Advance Parole document. The new card will look similar to the current Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and include additional language stating, “Serves as I-512 Advance Parole.” The new card can serve as a List A document for Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. In certain instances, USCIS will continue to issue separate EAD and Advance Parole documents.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5228.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India (May 2006) and China (July 2006); EB-3 is at April 2005 for all countries, except for India (Feb. 2002), China (Jan. 2004), and Mexico (July 2003); EB-3 other workers is at May 2003 for all countries, except India (Feb. 2002) and China (April 2003); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at January 2008.

The January 2011 Visa Bulletin shows significant retrogression of family-based categories with priority dates falling back as much as one to three years. The 1st preference category (unmarried children of U.S. citizens) shows an increased wait from 5 years to 6 years. The 2A preference category (spouses and children of legal permanent residents) suffers the largest setback with an increase from 4 months to 3 years, while the 2B preference category (unmarried adult children of legal permanent residents) experiences an increase from 5 1/2 to 8 years. The 3rd preference category (married children of U.S. citizens) shows an increase from 8 1/2 years to 10 years. The 4th preference category (brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens) was the only family-based category unaffected by the retrogression, remaining at a 9 year wait.

Employment-based categories did not experience any retrogression and are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India (May 2006) and China (June 2006); EB-3 is at Mar. 2005 for all countries, except for India (Feb. 2002), China (Dec. 2003), and Mexico (April 2003); EB-3 other workers is at April 2003 for all countries, except India (Feb. 2002); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current.

To view the January 2011 visa bulletin, see http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5212.html

The National Visa Center has compiled an annual report, showing the number of immigrant visa applicants on the waiting list in the various family and employment-based preference categories as of November 1, 2010. For the full report, see http://travel.state.gov/pdf/WaitingListItem.pdf

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5197.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India (May 2006) and China (June 2006); EB-3 is at Feb. 2005 for all countries, except for India (Jan. 2002), China (Dec. 2003), and Mexico (July 2002); EB-3 other workers is at April 2003 for all countries, except India (Jan. 2002)and Mexico (July 2002); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at August 2010.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5172.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India (May 2006) and China (June 2006); EB-3 is at Jan. 2005 for all countries, except for India (Jan. 2002), China (Nov. 2003), and Mexico (May 2001); EB-3 other workers is at April 2003 for all countries, except India (Jan. 2002)and Mexico (May 2001); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at June 2010.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5145.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China which are at May 2006; EB-3 is at Jan. 2005 for all countries, except for India (Jan. 2002), China (Nov. 2003), and Mexico (April 2001); EB-3 other workers is at March 2003 for all countries, except India (Jan. 2002)and Mexico (April 2001); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at April 2010.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5113.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China which are at May 2006; EB-3 is at Dec. 2004 for all countries, except for India (Jan. 2002), China (Oct. 2003), and Mexico (currently unavailable); EB-3 other workers is at March 2003 for all countries, except India (Jan. 2002)and Mexico (currently unavailable); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at Jan. 2010.

Please be advised that the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) has been experiencing delays in the processing of I-765 EADs and I-131 Advance Paroles. Therefore, we recommend that EAD and AP renewals be filed 4 months prior to the expiration date, the earliest date USCIS will accept renewal applications. For EAD applications that have been pending for more than 90 days, an interim EAD card can be issued. Please contact our office for assistance with expedite procedures for your pending I-765 or I-131 application if your current work authorization is about to expire or if you have an emergent need to travel.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5019.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China (China is 11/22/2005 and India is 10/01/2005); EB-3 is at 2001 (India) or 2003 (all other countries); EB-3 Mexico is currently unavailable; EB-3 other workers are at 2001; EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at 2008.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4879.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China (China is 11/22/2005 and India is 02/01/2005); EB-3 is at 2001 (India) or 2003 (all other countries); EB-3 Mexico is currently unavailable; EB-3 other workers are at 2001; EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at 2008.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4805.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current; EB-2 remains current, except for India and China (China is 09/22/2005 and India is 02/01/2005); EB-3 is at 2001 (India) or 2003 (all other countries); EB-3 Mexico is currently unavailable; EB-3 other workers are at 2001; EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at 2006.

The Department of Homeland Security recently issued a report stating that 1,130,818 individuals became lawful permanent residents (i.e. "green card" holders) of the U.S. in 2009. 59% of those green card holders already resided in the U.S. when their green card was approved. Approximately 2/3's of the individuals received their green card through family (through either a U.S. citizen or green card holder). Of the 1,130,818 green card applicants, the majority were born in either China, Mexico or the Philippines.

The USCIS has announced that it is temporarily holding certain adjustment of status applications until the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) new vaccination criteria becomes effective on December 14, 2009. The USCIS will resume the processing of these applications beginning December 14, 2009 using the new criteria, which remove the HPV and zoster vaccines.