May 2014 Visa Bulletin: Family 2A may retrogress

In May, family-based immigration advances moderately for the 1st preference category. Most significantly, F-1 Philippines advances three (3) months to 02/01/2002.  F2A (spouses and children of permanent residents) remains unchanged for all countries including China and India.  Unfortunately, the State Department expects that F2A cut-off dates will actually retrogress within the next few months because the demand has continued to increase dramatically for this visa category.

On the employment side, EB-2 China advances five (5) weeks to 04/15/2009 while India remains stuck at 11/15/2004. Significantly, EB-3 Philippines moves forward by more than three (3) months to 11/01/2007.   EB-3 India moves forward slowly by two (2) weeks to 10/01/2003.  The sluggishness of India's priority dates will likely continue until the next the fiscal year begins.

FAMILY	Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	03/08/07	03/08/07	03/08/07	11/15/93	02/01/02
F2A	09/08/13	09/08/13	09/08/13	04/15/12	09/08/13
F2B	02/01/07	02/01/07	02/01/07	05/15/93	06/22/03
F3	09/01/03	09/01/03	09/01/03	07/01/93	03/01/93
F4	12/08/01	12/08/01	12/08/01	12/01/96	11/01/90

1st: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,000 per year).

2A: The 2 "A" preference is for Spouses and Children (under 21 & unmarried) of LPR's.

2B: The 2 "B" Preference is for Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 or older) of LPR's.

3rd: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens.(about 23,000 per year)

4th: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens.(about 65,000 per year)

EMPLOYMENT	Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB1	C	C	C	C	C
EB2	C	04/15/09	11/15/04	C	C
EB3	10/01/12	10/01/12	10/01/03	10/01/12	11/01/07
Other Workers	10/01/12	10/01/12	10/01/03	10/01/12	11/01/07
EB4	C	C	C	C	C
EB5	C	C	C	C	C

1st: Priority Workers (Extraordinary ability aliens, multinational companies executives/managers, outstanding prof./researchers)

2nd: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability.

3rd: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers (Unskilled.)

4th: "Special Immigrants" (Religious & others)

5th: Employment Creation (Investors)