May 2006 Visa Bulletin : Most EB Categories Move Forward
Posted Apr 14, 2006
©MurthyDotCom
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the May 2006 Visa Bulletin on April 7, 2006. [The most recent Visa Bulletin processing times are always available on MurthyDotCom.] All categories that were previously "current" remain current. The pattern of significant forward movement in the EB1 and EB2 preference categories for India and China continues. EB3 is stagnant, with the exception of India and Mexico. EB3 "other workers" retrogressed further, as explained below.
©MurthyDotCom
The dates in this Visa Bulletin become available May 1, 2006. Therefore, those individuals whose priority dates will become current during May, if otherwise eligible, can proceed with their I-485 filings in May 2006.
©MurthyDotCom
EB1
©MurthyDotCom
All countries except China and India remained current in the Employment-Based, First Preference category (EB1). India's cutoff date moved forward by six months, to July 1, 2005. China's cutoff date also moved forward by six months, to July 1, 2004. Thus, the positive trend of movement in six-month increments in EB1, for both India and China, continues for the month of May 2006.
©MurthyDotCom
EB2
©MurthyDotCom
Movement in the Employment-Based, Second Preference category (EB2) is similar to EB1. Only China and India have cutoff dates in EB2. All other countries, therefore, are current in EB2. India's cutoff date in EB2 moved forward by six months, to January 1, 2003. This is good news for many MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers. China's cutoff date moved forward by a full year, to January 1, 2004. The Visa Bulletin indicated that the dates for China and India were advanced in EB1 and EB2 to generate demand for immigrant visa numbers. If such demand materializes, the dates will not continue to move forward at the current rate.
©MurthyDotCom
EB3
©MurthyDotCom
The Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3) category continues to have cutoff dates for every country of chargeability. The only exception is for the Schedule A cases for nurses and physical therapists. As during April 2006, there was no progress in the cutoff dates for the "worldwide" category, or for China and the Philippines. These cutoffs remain at May 1, 2001. India and Mexico saw little forward movement. India's cutoff date moved forward by a month, to March 1, 2001. Mexico moved forward by a few days, to April 15, 2001.
©MurthyDotCom
Schedule A Workers
©MurthyDotCom
Schedule A Workers remain current.
©MurthyDotCom
Other Workers
©MurthyDotCom
The Other Worker category retrogressed by one year, to October 1, 2000, for all countries of chargeability. The reason for this, as explained in the Visa Bulletin, is that heavy demand has brought this category for semi-skilled and unskilled workers close to its annual limit, creating further retrogressions starting in May 2006. Those eligible to file now, before the cutoff dates start in May 2006, may file the I-485s during April 2006 and take advantage of the benefit afforded by the employment card (EAD), allowing one to work legally in the U.S.