Another EB-2 India Significant (but Slowing) Forward Movement
This month’s Visa Bulletin brings another significant forward movement in EB-2 India of five and a half months which is a bit less than last two months’ forward movements of about eight months. , EB-2 India has by about three years over the last few months so this is certain a good sign. EB-2 India applicants with a priority date earlier than October 1, 2008 can now move forward with their applications (or expect approvals if they have already filed their I-485 applications). However, it should be noted that the rate of forward movement is slowing down, suggesting that the Department of State may be trying to account for increasing demand in new filings and approvals in EB-2 India.
Check-in with DOS’s Charlie Oppenheim: May 14, 2015
Worldwide EB-2. The demand in this category has exploded, far exceeding the historical pattern of the previous five months. There was an 80% increase in demand from February to March, and demand increased more than 100% in April as compared to February. The Visa Office had no advance notice that this demand would materialize, or whether it will be sustained. Despite this unanticipated surge in worldwide EB-2 demand, it is expected that this category will remain current.
While the increase in demand will not impact worldwide EB-2 applications, it will negatively impact EB-2 India in that fewer unused worldwide numbers are likely to be available for EB-2 India. Earlier in the year, Charlie expected that he would be able to advance EB-2 India to July or August 2009 by the end of the fiscal year. That may not be possible now, given the uptick in worldwide usage.
EB-2 and EB-3 China. Demand in EB-2 China has been low and may result in numbers falling down to EB-3 China. In recent months, the China EB-2 cut-off date has been advanced by almost three years. It is hoped that this will spur demand, although it is unclear whether cases can be processed by the end of the fiscal year. Earlier when the cut-off date for China EB-3 was advanced due to insufficient number use, it prompted EB-2s to downgrade to EB-3. Charlie has no visibility as to upgrades or downgrades as no data is available until final action occurs. He continues to watch EB-2 and EB-3 demand very closely.
EB-5 China. The cut-off date of May 1, 2013 that was imposed last month will remain for June. Charlie continues to watch demand for EB-5 China and has no additional predictions for the category at this time. Applicants continue to become documentarily qualified and the level of demand in May was within his targeted projections for June number use. There is huge demand in terms of petitions pending final action at USCIS as well as approved petitions which are already at the NVC. It must be remembered that not all cases with a priority date earlier than May 1, 2013 have been processed to conclusion.
Philippines EB-3 and “Other Worker” Categories. Heavy demand in these categories persists and further corrective action may be necessary before the end of the fiscal year. Like the dramatic increase in worldwide EB-2 demand, the use of more than 2,000 numbers during a two month period was totally unexpected based on USCIS demand from the past year.
Mexico FB-4. This category had a larger number of applicants with early priority dates who were documentarily qualified which prompted Charlie to retrogress this category slightly to March 1, 1997.
Questions:
QUESTION 1: What are your thoughts about the interplay between priority date movement and the validity of medical examinations? In categories that tend to advance and retrogress with some frequency (i.e., EB-2 India), it appears that when the cut-off dates are advanced, it takes USCIS 2 to 3 months to get to a particular case, then it issues an RFE for a new medical examination, then the dates retrogress