The January 2014 Visa Bulletin brings good news to the third employment-based visa preference applicants, as the EB-3 preference category moves forward by six (6) months for most countries including China. However, EB-3 India remains unchanged at 09/01/2003. EB-3 Philippines moves forward by five (5) weeks. The six-month jump brings the cut-off date for most countries in EB-3 to 04/01/2012, compared to 10/01/2011 in last month's visa bulletin. Based on this development, Chinese applicants should consider filing an EB-3 visa petition even if they have already submitted an EB-2 petition. On the family side, there are some moderate advancements in the 1st (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens) and F-2B (unmarried adult sons and daughters of lawful residents) preference categories. There are no changes in the F-3 and F-4 preference categories. For the fourth month, the cut-off date for F-2A remains unchanged at 09/08/13 for all countries.
FAMILY
Other Countries
China
India
Mexico
Philippines
F1
12/08/06
12/08/06
12/08/06
09/22/93
07/01/01
F2A
09/08/13
09/08/13
09/08/13
09/01/13
09/08/13
F2B
06/01/06
06/01/06
06/01/06
04/01/94
05/01/03
F3
04/15/03
04/15/03
04/15/03
06/01/93
02/01/93
F4
10/01/01
10/01/01
10/01/01
11/01/96
07/01/90
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)