Today the Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin for August 2013 came out. As predicted by our office two weeks ago (Click the link), the bulletin contains advancement in the cutoff date in the employment-based, second preference (EB-2) category for those born in India. The EB-2 India cutoff date, effective August 2013, advanced to January 1, 2008. This is good news due to the severely retrogressed September 1, 2004 cut-off date during the months of June and July.

 

As a reminder, I-485 applicants can also avail themselves to the cross-chargeability provision based on their spouse’s country of birth. This would allow the applicants and derivatives to be able to use the earlier cutoff date based on their spouse’s country of birth.

 

Also, as predicted, the family-based, second preference "A" (FB-2A) category for spouses and children of lawful permanent residents (green card holders), will become current regardless of country of birth, effective August, 2013. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our office.

 

August Visa Bulletin

 

Family-Sponsored	All Charge-ability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01SEP06	01SEP06	01SEP06	01SEP93	01JAN01
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01DEC05	01DEC05	01DEC05	01FEB94	22DEC02
F3	08DEC02	08DEC02	08DEC02	01MAY93	01DEC92
F4	22JUN01	22JUN01	22JUN01	22SEP96	08JAN90

 

Employment- Based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	C	C	C	C
2nd	C	08AUG08	01JAN08	C	C
3rd	01JAN09	01JAN09	22JAN03	01JAN09	22OCT06
Other Workers	01JAN09	22MAR04	22JAN03	01JAN09	22OCT06
4th	C	C	C	C	C
Certain Religious Workers	C	C	C	C	C
5th Targeted Employment Areas/ Regional Centers and Pilot Programs	C	C	C	C	C