The Department of State has provided the following information on the recent advancement of priority dates for family sponsored green card cases, as well as the slow advancement of priority dates for employment sponsored green card cases.
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WHAT ARE THE PROJECTIONS FOR CUT-OFF DATE MOVEMENT IN THE FAMILY PREFERENCES?
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WHY DID MOST EMPLOYMENT CUT-OFFS REMAIN UNCHANGED IN RECENT MONTHS?
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WILL THERE BE ANY ADDITIONAL CUT-OFF DATES FOR FOREIGN STATES IN THE EMPLOYMENT FIRST OR SECOND PREFERENCE CATEGORIES?
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WHAT ARE THE PROJECTIONS FOR CUT-OFF DATE MOVEMENT IN THE EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCES FOR THE REMAINDER OF FY-2010?
WHAT ARE THE PROJECTIONS FOR CUT-OFF DATE MOVEMENT IN THE FAMILY PREFERENCES?
The advancement of the priority dates in most categories continues to be greater than has been expected and we anticipate better than usual movement to continue for at least the next few months. The causes of the accelerated movement are attributed to fewer applicants proceeding with final action on their cases at consular posts abroad and the low volume of adjustment cases filed with the CIS. Once large numbers of applicants begin to have their cases approved, cut-off date movements will slow down or stop. It is possible that some categories of immigrant visas will retrogress.
WHY DID MOST EMPLOYMENT CUT-OFFS REMAIN UNCHANGED IN RECENT MONTHS?
Many of the categories were "unavailable" at the end of fiscal-year (FY) 2009 and this generated excessive demand when the new fiscal year began in October and November. In addition, the CIS offices have been efficient in processing cases and quickly exhausted the visa quota numbers that were available. Some forward movement has begun for January 2010 as we enter the second quarter of the fiscal year.
WILL THERE BE ANY ADDITIONAL CUT-OFF DATES FOR FOREIGN STATES IN THE EMPLOYMENT FIRST OR SECOND PREFERENCE CATEGORIES?
At this time it is unlikely that there will be any cut-off dates in the Employment First preferences. It also appears unlikely that it will be necessary to establish a cut-off date other than those already in effect for the Second preference category. Cut-off dates apply to the China and India Second preference categories due to heavy demand, and each has the potential to become "unavailable" should demand cause the annual limit for that category to be reached.
WHAT ARE THE PROJECTIONS FOR CUT-OFF DATE MOVEMENT IN THE EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCES FOR THE REMAINDER OF FY-2010?
Based on current indications of demand, the best case scenarios for cut-off dates which will be reached by the end of FY-2010 are as follows:
- Employment Second:
- China: July through October 2005 (if certain numbers were unused in other categories then October through December 2005)
- India: February through early March 2005 (if certain numbers were unused in other categories then October through December 2005) - Employment Third:
- Worldwide: April through August 2005
- China: June through September 2003
- India: January through February 2002
- Mexico: January through June 2004
- Philippines: April through August 2005
Please be advised that the above date ranges are only estimates which are subject to fluctuations in demand during the coming months. The actual future cut-off dates cannot be guaranteed, and it is possible that some annual limits could be reached prior to the end of the fiscal year.
