AUGUST 2005: ALL CURRENT for EB2, EB1 for all
D. EMPLOYMENT VISA AVAILABILITY FOR THE REMAINDER OF FY-2005
Demand for numbers by CIS Offices for adjustment of status cases remains very high. As the end of the fiscal year approaches, it might be necessary to establish an Employment Second preference cut-off date for September to keep visa issuances within the annual numerical limits set by law. If required, such a cut-off date is likely to be limited to the China-mainland born and India chargeability areas
SEPTEMBER 2005 : Still current for EB2, EB1 for all
D. EMPLOYMENT VISA AVAILABILITY DURING FY-2006
The backlog reduction efforts of both Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Department of Labor continue to result in very heavy demand for Employment-based numbers. It is anticipated that the amount of such cases will be sufficient to use all available numbers in many categories. As a result cut-off dates in the Employment Third preferency category will apply to the China, India, and Philippines chargeabilities beginning in October, and it is possible that Mexico may be added to this list. In addition, it is anticipated that heavy demand will require the establishment of a Third preference cut-off date on a Worldwide basis by December.
The amount of Employment demand for applicants from China and India is also likely to result in the oversubcription of the Employment First and Second preference categories for those chargeability areas. The establishment of such cut-off dates is expected to occur no later than December.
The level of demand in the Employment categories is expected to be far in excess of the annual limits, and once established, cut-off date meovements are likely to be slow.
OCTOBER 2005:
E. EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE VISA AVAILABILTIY
Item D in the Visa Bulletin (number 85) announcing the September cut-off dates provided information regarding the prospects of visa availability during the early months of FY-2006. Many categories have become oversubscribed for October, and cut-off dates established due to continued heavy demand for numbers by CIS for adjustment of status cases. Forward movement of the cut-off dates in these categories is likely to be limited.
JULY 2006:
F. IMMIGRANT VISA AVAILABILITY DURING THE REMAINDER OF FY-2006
Readers are reminded that during the summer months, with immigrant visa number use approaching the annual limits for the year, the supply of numbers remaining for use is limited. Thus, cut-off date advances could slow or stop, and monthly allocations decrease. Additional retrogression of cut-off dates such as those experienced for July are possible. Readers should not assume visa availability until the cut-off dates are announced.
Based on the above statements from DOS and based on the July 2006 bulletin statement from DOS we should read and predict our future.