The Department of State released its October Visa Bulletin today. On a positive note, the EB-2 category for Chinese nationals has made a five week gain, from October 8, 2009 to November 15, 2009; and the EB-3 category for skilled workers/professionals for Chinese nationals has jumped five months, from November 1, 2008 to April 1, 2009. The EB-3 category will advance six months for nationals of “all other countries” from April 1, 2011 to October 1, 2011; whereas it will only move forward a week for Indian nationals from November 8, 2003 to November 15, 2003. Elsewhere, the EB-2 category for Indian nationals remains at May 1, 2009 and, unfortunately, this category is likely to retrogress over the next several months because of a spike in demand. This is grim reading for Indian nationals who account for a large percentage of highly-skilled workers seeking permanent residence in the United States. Indeed, based on current retrogression dates for Indians in the EB-3 category, priority dates are moving forward one week every month, which translates to a wait time of more than forty years.
Employment Based Category |
All Other Countries |
China |
India |
Mexico |
Philippines |
EB-1 |
Current |
Current |
Current |
Current |
Current |
EB-2 |
Current |
10/08/2009 |
05/01/2009 |
Current |
Current |
EB-3 Skilled Workers/Professionals |
04/01/2011 |
11/01/2008 |
11/08/2003 |
04/01/2011 |
04/01/2011 |
EB-3 Other Workers |
04/01/2011 |
07/22/2005 |
11/08/2003 |
04/01/2011 |
04/01/2011 |