Jul 26

Written by: The VISANOW Legal Team
7/26/2011 3:36 PM 

The August 2011 Visa Bulletin shows continued progress in both employment-based and family-based categories, and no signs of retrogression.

On the employment-based side, the EB-1 category remains current for all countries. In the EB-2 category, Mexico, the Philippines, and all other countries remain current. Major progress is once again seen for EB-2 China and EB-2 India as both moved forward by five weeks to April 15, 2007. This is welcome news as EB-2 China and EB-2 India have now seen a combined forward movement of more than six months since the June 2011 Visa Bulletin.

In the EB-3 category, the rest of the world and the Philippines moved forward by three weeks to November 1, 2005, China moved forward by one week to July 8, 2004, and India moved forward by one month to June 1, 2002. EB-3 Mexico once again shows a major change as the priority date moved forward by six months to November 1, 2005. In the other workers category, the priority date for all other countries, Mexico, and the Philippines progressed forward by more than five months to May 1, 2005, it remained unchanged again for China, and moved forward by one month for India to June 1, 2002.

All other employment-based categories remain current.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legend
• C = current as there is no waiting period necessary to file for permanent residency
• U = unavailable as visa supply has been exhausted for the remainder of fiscal year, or legislation creating the category has expired
• Date indicated = cut-off date that indicates a backlog; if the priority date (date the labor certification or I-140 was filed, depending on the type of case) is BEFORE the date listed, one may apply for permanent residency
Employment-Based Preferences
• First: Priority Workers
• Second:  Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability
• Third:  Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
• Fourth:  Certain Special Immigrants
• Fifth:  Employment Creation

Family-Based Visa Bulletin for July 2011

On the family-based side, the FB-1 priority dates remained the same: May 1, 2004 for all other countries, China, and India; March 8, 1993 for Mexico; and April 15, 1996 for the Philippines. The FB-2A category moved forward by four months to March 22, 2008 for the rest of the world, China, India, and the Philippines, while FB-2A Mexico moved forward by more than three months to June 1, 2008.

In the FB-2B category, the priority date for the rest of the world, China, and India remained unchanged at July 1, 2003, while Mexico moved forward by just one week to October 1, 1992, and the Philippines moved forward by more than two months to December 1, 2000. The FB-3 priority date progressed forward by five weeks to August 22, 2001 for the rest of the world, China, and India, while the Philippines moved forward by one week to April 1, 1992, and Mexico once again remained unchanged. The FB-4 category shows progress as the rest of the world, China, and India moved forward by one month to April 8, 2000, Mexico moved forward by one week to March 8, 1996, and the Philippines remained unchanged at May 15, 1988.  

To see the complete version of the August 2011 Visa Bulletin, please visit the Department of State’s website (http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5518.html).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Legend
• C = current as there is no waiting period necessary to file for permanent residency
• U = unavailable as visa supply has been exhausted for the remainder of fiscal year, or legislation creating the category has expired
• Date indicated = cut-off date that indicates a backlog; if the priority date (date the I-130 was filed) is BEFORE the date listed, one may apply for permanent residency
Family-Based Preferences
• First: Unmarried sons and daughters (i.e., children over 21 years of age) of U.S. citizens
• 2A:  Spouses and children (i.e., unmarried children under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents
• 2B:  Unmarried sons and daughters (i.e., children over 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents
• Third:  Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
• Fourth:  Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens