EB-3 Cut-off Dates Advance in December

The December 2013 Visa Bulletin shows that the worldwide employment-based third preference (EB-3) cut-off date will advance by one year from October 1, 2010 in November to October 1, 2011. The Philippines third preference cut-off date will move by three weeks to January 8, 2007.

India’s employment-based second preference will retrogress from June 15, 2008 to November 15, 2004 while its third preference will move back from September 23, 2003 to September 1, 2003. This is the result of the dramatic increase in applicant’s demand for visa numbers in the past few months.

The employment-based second preference (EB-2) will remain current for all countries except China and India. All the other employment preferences will remain current for all countries.

The family-based preferences (F-1 to F-4) will move slowly. The worldwide preference cut-off dates are as follows: F-1 – November 15, 2006; F-2A – September 8, 2013; F-2B – May 1, 2006; F-3 – March 8, 2003 and F-4 – September 8, 2001.

The Philippines cut-off dates are: F-1 – July 1, 2001; F-2A – September 8, 2013; F-2B – March 22, 2003; F-3 – January 22, 1993 and F-4 – June 1, 1990.

Because of the annual numerical limitation of visa numbers, cut-off dates are established for oversubscribed categories. If an applicant’s priority date is before the cut-off date stated in the monthly visa bulletin, a visa number is immediately available. If the priority date comes on or after the cut-off date, the applicant needs to wait until the priority date becomes current.

The family-based 1st preference category (F-1) refers to unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, while the F-2A preference refers to spouses and children (less than 21 years old) of permanent residents.

The F-2B preference category refers to unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or older) of lawful permanent residents. The F-3 preference refers to married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. The F-4 preference pertains to brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.

Beneficiaries of employment-based and family-based preferences who have priority dates earlier than the aforementioned cut-off dates and are currently in the U.S., must file their adjustment application in order to get certain interim immigration benefits such as employment authorization and travel permit. Those with pending adjustment applications will be allowed to remain in the U.S. and work here until the adjudication of their adjustment applications.

Eligible to file for adjustment of status are those lawfully present in the United States or those who are beneficiaries under Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. To be covered under Section 245(i), an alien must be the beneficiary of an immigrant visa petition or labor certification properly filed on or before April 30, 2001. If the visa petition or labor certification was filed after January 14, 1998, the alien must prove that he/she was in the U.S. on December 21, 2000.

Among the documents required to file for adjustment of status, in addition to Form I-485 and related forms, are the applicant’s photographs, medical examination report, affidavit of support, copy of passport and I-94, copy of birth certificate, and if applicable, copy of the applicant’s marriage certificate and official proof of termination of any prior marriage.