The Department of State has just released the July 2012 Visa Bulletin.
In the June Visa Bulletin, the Department of State made the India and China EB-2 categories unavailable (indicated by a “U”, in the chart below), as had been expected for some time. Now, the DOS has made the All Other and Philippine EB-2 categories retrogressed to January 1, 2009. Plainly the Department of State and the USCIS are having troubling anticipating demand for visa numbers, which is leading to these enormous swings in visa dates.
| July 2012 Visa Bulletin | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Countries | China | India | Philippines | |
| EB-2 | 01JAN09 | U | U | 01JAN09 |
| EB-3 | 22JUL06 | 22SEP05 | 22SEP02 | 08JUN06 |
So what will happen in future months to EB-2. MU Law believes that the EB-2 will continue to be retrogressed until October 1, 2012. The August or September 2012 Visa Bulletin likely will become unavailable at some point, although it should be temporarily.
Come October 2012, MU Law expects that All Other EB-2 (including the Philippines) will become Current, or nearly Current. October 1, 2012 is the start of the next US Fiscal Year and more immigrant visas are available for processing. The NVC may continue to process EB-2 petitions in the later summer, anticipating more favorable dates in the fall.
If you have an immigrant visa interview through June 30, you should continue to attend that interview, and you will be given a visa provided that you qualify and pass the interview process.