The April 2015 visa bulletin was published on March 11, 2015, and all of the major developments with cut-off date movement, along with our analysis, are summarized below:
EB-3 and EB-2 China. The big news this time is that starting April 1, 2015, EB-3 China will no longer be a more advantageous category than EB-2 China. EB-3 is retrogressing all the way back to January 1, 2011. This is in response to high demand and a large number of “downgrade” requests that were filed earlier in the fiscal year when EB-3 was more than 13 months ahead of EB-2.
EB-2 China will advance seven months to April 1, 2011, from September 1, 2010. The Department of State reports that more forward movement in this category is possible depending on how much demand is generated by the April 2011 cut-off date in April 2015.
EB-5 China. The Department of State reports that this category, which is current for now, will retrogress no later than June 2015.
EB-2 India. The cut-off date for EB-2 India is advancing another eight months, from January 1, 2007, to September 1, 2007. The Department of State reports that movement will continue for two or more months before slowing in late summer.
EB-3 India. In behind the scenes liaison meetings between the Department of State and the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division confirms that only Congressional action is likely to relieve the long wait list for EB-3 India. For April 2015, this category moved only one week, from January 1, 2004, to January 8, 2004.
EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico and the Philippines. The EB-3 cut-off dates for Worldwide, Mexico, and Philippines are advancing from June 1, 2014, to October 1, 2014. This means the EB-2 category continues to promise no advantage over EB-3 in terms of processing time. Government processing times are so long (eight to twelve months) that the priority date wait list is not the biggest obstacle, rather processing times are. And significant progress in the EB-3 category is expected to continue, with another big leap predicted by the Department of State for the May 2015 visa bulletin.
Family-Based Categories. FB-1: The first family-based category, for unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, moved one week forward to November 1, 1994) for Mexico, but for worldwide, China, and India, stayed exactly the same at August 1, 2007. The Philippines stayed still at February 1, 2005.
FB-2A: 2A, for spouses and minor children of permanent residents, moved five weeks forward for worldwide, China, India, and the Philippines, from June 22, 2013, to August 1, 2013. 2A moved six weeks for Mexico, from May 22, 2013, to July 8, 2013.
FB-2B: The category for adult unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents moved six weeks forward for worldwide, China and India, from July 8, 2008, to August 22, 2008. Mexico 2B moved four weeks to February 1, 1995. Philippines 2B moved just one week to April 1, 2004.
FB-3: Adult married children of U.S. citizens in the FB-3 category moved at the glacial pace of one week for everyone (except Mexico which moved five weeks). Worldwide, China, and India moved to February 8, 2004, while Mexico went to April 1, 1994. Philippines FB-3 moved to August 8, 1993.
FB-4: Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens are still waiting the longest on average to immigrate. Worldwide, China and India moved four weeks to June 15, 2002. Mexico moved five weeks to July 8, 1997, and Philippines two weeks to September 8, 1991.