The priority date for Indian nationals in the EB-2 (employment-based second preference) visa category for India will move forward significantly by approximately four years from Nov. 15, 2004 to Sept. 1, 2008, according to the July 2014 Visa Bulletin.

This past April, Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division at the U.S. Department of State had predicted the sharp advance of EB-2 India in addressing members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). The category will make use of unused visa numbers for the rest of the fiscal year.

In other categories, EB-2 China will move forward less than two months, from May 22, 2009 to July 1, 2009. There is also a substantial advancement in the EB-3 category for workers from the Philippines. The priority date cut-off for Philippines will jump forward one year to Jan. 1, 2009 (from Jan. 1, 2008). The EB-3 category for India will advance approximately two weeks to Nov. 1, 2003. The EB-3 category will remain unchanged for other countries. The EB-1 category for all countries will remain current.

Summary of July 2014 Visa Bulletin priority date cut-offs:

EB-1
Current across all countries

EB-2
China: July 1, 2009
India: Sept. 1, 2008
All other countries: Current

EB-3
China: Oct. 1, 2006
India: Nov. 1, 2003
Mexico: April 1, 2011
Philippines: Jan. 1, 2009
All other countries: April 1, 2011

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