The Department ofState’s Visa Bulletin guru, Charlie Oppenheim, hosts monthlymeetings with the American Immigration lawyers Association. Charlie Oppenheim is the Department of State’s Chief of the Control and Reporting Division. He is the officerwho is responsible for producing the Visa Bulletin each month. This month’s Check In With Charliefeatured predictions about EB2 and EB3 in most of the popular categories for readersof this Blog. Here are some highlights:
Philippine EB3 – Charlie offered someof his most optimistic predictions for this category. He expects that this category will initially moveabout three weeks per Bulletin, but that it should speed through 2011 and 2012,likely finishing the fiscal year into 2013. This is consistent with internal MU Law analysis which sees thiscategory progressing into 2013 by the Summer of 2017.
India EB2 and EB3 – The DOS expectsthat EB2 will move at a three to four month rate. Those in this category are cautioned that2007 was a very unusual year in immigration because of the VisaGate scandal in 2007. Therefore wemay see inconsistent progressions until the date moves comfortably beyondmid-2007.
The EB3 categorywill move much slower. Charlie says justone week per Bulletin.
Worldwide EB-2 and EB-3 – EB-2 willremain current for the foreseeable future. Charlie cautions that demand is increasing in this category. It may be necessary to implement a cut-offdate sometime in the Spring of 2017. Worldwide EB-3 will continue to see a slight retrogression.