January 2013 Visa Bulletin

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin for January 2013 is now available. The cutoff date movement is consistent with earlier predictions. The cutoff date for the employment-based, second preference (EB2) category for India is unchanged. The January 2013 Visa Bulletin is summarized here for the benefit of our readers.

Summary of Visa Bulletin

Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1)

This category remains current for all countries of chargeability.

Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2)

This category is current for all countries of chargeability except India and China. India continues to face severe retrogression, with an unchanged cutoff date of September 1, 2004. The cutoff date for China advances to December 8, 2007. This advancement of China’s cutoff dates, and the continued stagnation of India’s cutoff date, is consistent with earlier DOS predictions.

Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3)

The EB3 cutoff date for the category of all countries of chargeability except those listed, as well as Mexico, advances by over a month to a new cutoff date of February 1, 2007. The cutoff date for the Philippines is unchanged at August 15, 2006. China continues to have the greatest amount of movement. China’s cutoff date moved to September 22, 2006. India moved forward by one week, to a cutoff date of November 8, 2002.

Other Workers’ Category

The EB3 other workers’ cutoff dates continue to match the general EB3 cutoff dates, with the exception of China. The EB3 other workers’ category cutoff date for China is unchanged at July 1, 2003.

Employment-Based, Fourth (EB4) and Fifth (EB5) Preferences

These categories continue to be current for all countries of chargeability. The DOS predicts the need for a cutoff date for China in EB5 during the later part of fiscal year 2013.

Conclusion

The January 2013 Visa Bulletin does not contain any predictions for future cutoff date movement. The cutoff dates in this visa bulletin are consistent with prior DOS predictions. Readers can rely on the Murthy Law Firm to share valuable information on visa bulletin updates and predictions.

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