Visa Bulletin

The U.S. Department of State has released the February 2012 Visa Bulletin which may be found at http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5640.html.  The Bulletin shows forward movement of one year in the EB-2 categories for India and China and slight forward movement for all EB-3 categories.

Additional Notes on Visa Numbers

Applicants with an approved immigrant petition (I-140) can apply for adjustment of status once the visa number reaches their "priority date" (the date on which their labor certification was received by the Department of Labor).

The monthly progress of visa numbers is highly unpredictable.  They can, and do move forward or backward, and therefore cannot be used to estimate one's waiting time.

The EB-1 (employment based immigrant first preference) category includes "outstanding researchers”," multinational executives and managers”, and "extraordinary ability" persons.

The EB-2 category includes persons whose jobs require an advanced degree or its equivalent and "exceptional ability" or “National Interest Waiver” persons.

The EB-3 category includes “skilled worker”, “professional”, and “other worker” persons.

January 2012

The U.S. Department of State has released the January 2012 Visa Bulletin which may be found at http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5630.html.  The Bulletin shows forward movement of approximately ten months in the EB-2 categories for India and China and slight forward movement for all EB-3 categories.

Additional Notes on Visa Numbers

Applicants with an approved immigrant petition (I-140) can apply for adjustment of status once the visa number reaches their "priority date" (the date on which their labor certification was received by the Department of Labor).

The monthly progress of visa numbers is highly unpredictable.  They can, and do move forward or backward, and therefore cannot be used to estimate one's waiting time.

The EB-1 (employment based immigrant first preference) category includes "outstanding researchers”, "multinational executives and managers”, and "extraordinary ability" persons.

The EB-2 category includes persons whose jobs require an advanced degree or its equivalent and "exceptional ability" or “National Interest Waiver” persons.

The EB-3 category includes “skilled worker”, “professional”, and “other worker” persons.