March 2015 Visa Bulletin: EB2 India Movement Exceeds Predictions

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued the March 2015 Visa Bulletin, as reported to MurthyDotCom readers in our February 9th NewsFlash. Notable in this latest visa bulletin is the advancement in the employment-based, second preference (EB2) category for India to January 1, 2007, which is better than predicted.

Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2)

The EB2 category remains current for all countries of chargeability, except India and China. The EB2 cutoff date for India advances for the second consecutive month. The new cutoff date, effective March 1, 2015, moves forward by one year and four months, to January 1, 2007. Meanwhile, the EB2 cutoff date for China advances by just under six months, to September 1, 2010.

The EB2 advancement for India in the March 2015 Visa Bulletin exceeds predictions given by the DOS following the release of the February 2015 Visa Bulletin. In February, the DOS estimated that EB2 India would move ahead by four to six weeks per month until May 2015. In most years, the cutoff date for EB2 India advances rapidly toward the final quarter of the fiscal year. So, this unexpected movement is welcome news. But, as noted in the MurthyDotCom NewsBrief, Analysis, Predictions, and Trends on February 2015 Visa Bulletin (19.Jan.2015), the DOS does not expect the cutoff date for EB2 India to move past the summer of 2009. For the time being, there is no indication that this has changed.

Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3)

The EB3 worldwide category is quite favorable, with a new cutoff date of June 1, 2014. This is an advancement of five months. The same cutoff date applies to Mexico and the Philippines. EB3 China moves by over a month, to October 22, 2011. The highly backlogged EB3 category for India advances only to January 1, 2004.

Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3) Other Workers

The cutoff dates for the EB3 other workers category match the cutoff dates in the general EB3 category, with one exception. The cutoff date for EB3 other workers for China remains unchanged, at August 15, 2005.

Conclusion

The March 2015 Visa Bulletin reflects that EB2 India is advancing more favorably than predicted. At the very least, this provides some relief to people who have been waiting years to become permanent residents of the United States. The March visa bulletin does not include any additional predictions, but more information may be provided in the near future. When any additional details are released, the information will be posted on MurthyDotCom.

 

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