The Department of State’s March Visa Bulletin announced only a few modest changes in employment-based visa processing. Most significantly, the EB-3 subcategory for professionals and skilled workers will advance by six months for “All Other Countries,” with priority dates moving up from Jan. 1, 2014, to June 1, 2014. This brings adjudications under this subcategory just shy of eight months of being current.

Additionally, Indian nationals seeking classification under the EB-2 preference category will rejoice at the 16-month advancement announced for March, moving from Sept. 1, 2005, up to Jan., 1, 2007. Even with this considerable jump, the government is still virtually experiencing a “delay” of eight years. Priority dates for Chinese nationals under EB-2, in comparison, only advanced six months to Sept. 1, 2010.

Processing of petitions under the EB-5 immigrant investor program continue to be current for the time being, however, the possibility of visa retrogression for Chinese nationals remains a looming specter.