A Department of State representative has reported to Flynn & Clark's Steve Clark that China's EB-1 category became current in July because demand was less than projected. 1,700 Chinese EB-1 numbers have been used; 2,800 are available for the fiscal year. Overall, China has used 5,600 employment-based numbers with 9,800 available for the year. It is likely that China will not hit the limit overall. Previously U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was clearing out its backlog of employment-based immigrant visa petitions, causing delays. Demand is now lower because approvals seem to have stabilized, the representative noted.
Meanwhile, the representative noted, recent pessimistic comments about future availability of visa numbers were directed at family-based, not employment-based, numbers. Readers should not assume visa availability, however, until the cut-off dates are announced.