June 2017 Visa Bulletin Check-in: Predictions for EB3 India

Last night, Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), was the featured speaker at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) D.C. Chapter meeting. During his talk, he provided some updated predictions regarding the employment-based, third preference (EB3) category for people born in India.

EB3 India: Some Advancement Expected in Near Future

Between October 2016, which was the first month of the current fiscal year, and May 2017, the cutoff date in the final action (FA) chart for EB3 India moved forward a total of a measly 24 days. So, the advancement in the June 2017 Visa Bulletin of about seven weeks, to a new cutoff date of May 15, 2005, was rapid movement, by comparison.

Mr. Oppenheim expects this movement to accelerate a bit in the near future. For the July 2017 Visa Bulletin, he hopes to advance EB3 India to a new cutoff date of October 15, 2005. Moreover, if all goes according to plan, he believes he will be able to advance the cutoff date to March 2006 by the end of the fiscal year.

These are Predictions – Not Guarantees

It is important to note that these are Mr. Oppenheim’s current predictions. Circumstances could change that would prevent even this relatively modest advancement from occurring. And, of course, even if this forward progress occurs, it still will leave the vast majority of beneficiaries under the EB3 India banner with a long, long wait ahead of them.

 

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Disclaimer: The information provided here is of a general nature and may not apply to any specific or particular circumstance. It is not to be construed as legal advice nor presumed indefinitely up to date.