The Department of State’s December 2014 Visa Bulletin was published late last week. These are the highlights:
EB-2 India stayed exactly the same at February 15, 2005. November’s visa bulletin warned the category is not likely to move for at least several months. EB-2 China progressed from December 8, 2009, to January 1, 2010, and this rate of movement three to five weeks at a time) is expected to continue.
EB-3 Mexico and Philippines continue in lock step with the worldwide category. All three moved forward by five months, from June 1, 2012, to November 1, 2012. The Department of State projects the rapid forward movement will continue for a couple more months and all this movement is expected to generate quite a few permanent residence applications by beneficiaries who have been on the EB-3 wait list. EB-3 is taking only two years total right now.
EB-3 China also moved forward very quickly, from January 1, 2010, to June 1, 2010. The Department of State noted in November that “’corrective’ action” may be required “possibly as early as February.” On the other hand, EB-3 India again moved just one week (to December 1, 2003) and is not expected to progress in the near future.
EB-1, EB-2 (other than India and China), EB-4 and EB-5 are still current.
FB-1: The first family-based category, for unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, moved two weeks forward to June 22, 2007, for worldwide, China, and India. Mexico moved five weeks to August 15, 1994, and the Philippines moved ahead by six weeks to December 15, 2004.
FB-2A: 2A, for spouses and minor children of permanent residents, moved three months for Mexico, from September 22, 2012, to January 1, 2013. The 2A category moved three weeks forward for worldwide, China, India, and the Philippines, from March 1, 2013, to March 22, 2013.
FB-2B: The category for adult unmarried sons and daughters of permanent also moves incrementally, with seven weeks of movement for worldwide, China and India, from January 1, 2008, to February 22, 2008. Mexico 2B moved from September 8, 1994, to October 1, 1994, still much more forward movement than we used to seeing for this category. Philippines 2B again moved just two weeks, to January 15, 2004.
FB-3: Adult married children of U.S. citizens in the FB-3 category moved one week for everyone worldwide, China, and India, to December 15, 2003. Mexico and the Philippines moved two weeks, Mexico to November 15, 2003, and the Philippines to June 22, 1993.
FB-4: The category for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens moved forward by just two weeks, with the exception of the Philippines, which moved one month. Worldwide, China and India are now current for priority dates of before February 22, 2002. Mexico moved to March 1, 1997, and Philippines to June 1, 1991 (23 and ½ years!).