Visa Bulletin Expectations and Predictions for the Remainder of the Fiscal Year – EB-2 India Forward Movement Expected

After the July 2013 Visa Bulletin was issued a few days ago, many of our clients and readers are anxious to get a sense of  what we should expect for the remainder of the 2013 Fiscal Year (ends on September 30, 2013).    As a result,  we would like to share the Department of State (the agency determining the Visa Bulletin cutoff dates) expectations for movement of visa numbers over the next few months and specifically, for August and September 2013.   Please note that these are short-term predictions and depending on the number of applications as a result of the next months or two’s visa numbers, the rate of cutoff date movement may change.

Expectations for Employment-based Categories for August-September 2013

EB-1.   This category is expected to remain current throughout the rest of the fiscal year.

EB-2 Rest of World (ROW).  This category is expected to remain current throughout the fiscal year; unlike last year when there was a cutoff date introduced in the summer.

EB-2 India.   Some forward movement expected.   At this time it appears that the availability of “otherwise unused” Employment Second preference numbers will allow for movement of this cut-off date in August and/or September. We do not know what kind of forward movement is expected.   It is expected that such movement will generate heavy new applicant demand, primarily by those who are upgrading their status from the Employment Third preference category.  A sustained level of heavy demand could impact the cut-off date at some point during fiscal year 2014.

EB-2 China.   Up to two months at a time possible.

EB-3 Rest of World (ROW).    No additional movement expected until October. This cut-off date has advanced 18 months during the past three months.  Such rapid movement can be expected to generate a significant amount of new demand, with the impact not being felt for three to five months. Therefore, the cut-off date will be held until it can be determined what level of demand is to be expected, and whether it is likely to be sustained.

EB-3 China.  No additional movement expected until October.

EB-3 India.  Up to three weeks at a time.

EB-3 Mexico.  No additional movement expected until October.

EB-3 Philippines.   Up to two weeks at a time.

Conclusion

It is good news to see that some forward movement in EB-2 India is expected over the next two months, although we do not know by how much the cutoff dates in this category are expected to advance.    Many of our EB-2 India clients and readers are eagerly awaiting some movement in this category and it appears that there will be some such movement coming next month.

Those EB-2 India applicants who will become current with this anticipated movement should be able to file or interfile their existing I-485s to a new I-140, if applicable, and hopefully get the benefit of AC21 portability rules. If our office can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.   We also invite you to subscribe to our free weekly immigration newsletter to receive timely updates on this and related topics.  Finally, if you already haven’t, please consider our Visa Bulletin Predictions tool which provides personalized predictions and charts helping you understand when a particular priority date may become current and what are the movement patterns.