The Department of State (“DOS”) released the March 2014 Visa Bulletin, which continues to show forward movement for Worldwide and Chinese EB-3 employment-based categories. Specifically, the Worldwide category has moved 4.5 years over the last year which is a welcomed development. Continued forward EB-3 Worldwide movement is not expected in the next few months and retrogression is likely. Unfortunately, for Indian nationals there was only a very slight movement forward of 2 weeks for the EB-3 category and no movement for EB-2 from the February 2014 to March 2014 Visa Bulletin.

In the next few months, EB-3 China and Mexico will likely continue to match the Worldwide dates. No forward movement is estimated for EB-3 India, and EB-3 Philippines is projected to have slight movement forward of 3-6 weeks. EB-3 Worldwide, China, and Mexico applicants with a current priority date should consider filing their Adjustment of Status applicants now as EB-3 priority dates may retrogress in the next few months.

For the EB-2 category, the Department of State continues to predict no forward movement for India EB-2, slight movement of 3-5 weeks for EB-2 China, and Worldwide will remain current. EB-1 is also expected to remain current.

We will continue to monitor Visa Bulletin movement on this blog and will provide updates when the April Visa Bulletin is released (in approximately 3 weeks).