The Visa Bulletin

Anyone knows where the national stakeholders’ meeting notes for April 29th are? This is the meeting where visa number and other relevant things are discussed each month.

Hi all,

That’s my first post here. I have been reading your interesting and useful comments.

I have a PD October 2007 for EB3.

I just don’t get how some of you filed concurrently I-140 and I-485 for EB3 considering the I-485 instructions:

“If you wish to concurrently file your Form I-485 and FormI-140 an immigrant visa number must be immediatelyavailable at the time of filing.”

Thanks.

NM:

The people who have filed concurrently are the ones who were ready to file their I-485 during July 2007 (see visa bulletin for July 2007 where all categories pretty much in all chargeability areas were “C”). Many people with pre-approved I-140’s or just approved labor (extremely lucky) were able to file. In your case, you need to wait until the visa bulletin shows a date later than your priority date or becomes “C” then you can apply for I-485 either concurrently if you haven’t filed the I-140 yet or just by itself if you already filed the I-140. Hope this helps. Good luck!

All our hopes & prayers is for June 2008 EB3 Visa Bulletin to be current because our PERM application has been filed. Please do help us pray for it. Thanks.

NM and CADude:

CA Dude is right. I’ll just add that a lot of us were able to file years ago right before the backlog. I filed my I-485 in 2004 (EB3 ROW) concurrently with my I-140 which was approved that year. Since then there hasn’t been available visa except for last july. That wasn’t long enough for those of us who have been waiting for years.
I’m reading a lot of hopeful messages from people who think EB3 will move to 2007. I have been waiting for years and I haven’t seen it moving (except for the mistake of last july) like it has the past three months, so I’m pretty pessimistic about the odds of the dates moving forward much more this year. I do hope I’m wrong so as many people as possible become eligible.

“funny” immigration story:

I hope John won’t mind me going a little off subject. My friends and co-workers had a good laugh but I think foreigners who have gone through the complex process of getting a visa or a green card will appreciate it even more.
Upon my attorney recommendation I decided to call USCIS to try to get some news about my status.
After a good 7-8 mn of pressing a bunch of numbers and listening to the exact same status update I’ver read numerous time on their web site (hey I’ve been reading it for almost 4 years almost everyday in the hope that there would be some new information) I finally get somebody on the phone who doesn’t seem to know much about the immigration process. I can tell she’s reading questions on a computer. She was not very nice and was not going to help me. She hung up and I hadn’ t learned anything except for the fact that I shouldn’t assume somebody who works at the immigration services knows what a I-485 is.
I decide to call again hoping to get somebody else. I do get another lady who seemed nicer. But then it became funny:
” I need to ask you some questions: are you applying for American citizenship?”
“No, I filed my I-485 -by then I know I shouldn’t assume she knows what that is so I keep going…-, I’ m applying to get my green card”
“Are you an American citizen?”
“No, I am applying for my green card, for the US residency -I thought I was clear the first time no?-”
“ok, but are you an American citizen?”
“….. no” (I was floored)
I felt in the twilight zone. I did think up to this day that most people in the world know that the green card is for foreigners to get US residency. Maybe some people would think to get US citizenship.
But I surely didn’t expect an American person working at the immigration services not to know that a US citizen couldn’t apply for a green card.
It got a little scarier…
“what visa did you come in?”
“H1B”
“….. -she looks somewhere- mmmm there’s a problem: an H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa and you are not allowed to get a green card.”
“….. -my heart had dropped for a few seconds-, well ma’m I know probably more than 50 people who were on H1B and got their green card or who are in the process of getting it, I think there’s a little misunderstanding. I am sure you can apply for a green card while being on a H1B”
“let me put you on hold for a second”
She came back a minute later and went on with her questions without mentionning the fact that yes indeed I could get a green card while being on H1B (extended because of the approval of labor certification). She probably put me on hold 5 or 6 times, but at least she was checking the information she was giving me.
I have to say: she was not the most knowledgeable person but she was very nice and she tried very hard to help me. In the end she opened a service request on my case which what I wanted. I thanked her many times, I was really grateful.
Long story, but I thought it may make some of you laugh or smile while we’re all waiting for that little piece of paper…

my prediction for worldwide Eb3 is sept/oct 2006. Think that is asking for too much? No!!! Wait in few days and see.
It has to move this way so that the bulletin for july will move to jan 2007 and get my friend and her spouse in.
all the best everyone ( in all categories!!!!!) Like in my case, it happens when you least expect it.

FB1 will advance 1 month, that is my prediction. So, hang on everybody.

somebody in trackitt is saying VB for EB3 is capped out for this year. I don’t know if its true

Hi John,

Can you please comment on @xyz’s comment about EB3 capped for this year? Is this true? If so, can you please add a link to the official article?

Thanks a bunch!

i was talking about the post which is in trackitt.com.

I checked trackit, but cannot find anything. Also, many posts on trackit are for EB3 India. Can you perhaps post a link to the comment? Thx.

Everyone:

I checked trackitt again in regards to XYZ’s comment. I came across this post:

“Just called SRC and spoke with 2 different IOs, they told me that they just recieved a memo that as of today, all EB3’s are capped and they’ve used all the visa avaliable for that catagory. Don’t know what that really means but i’m deverstated!! I had been current since April…..I guess i’m just the unlucky ones. “

Everyone:

I followed up on the postings on trackitt. I also found data on the USCIS site:

“As of April 25, 2008, USCIS had adjudicated over 65 percent of its FY 2008 target for employment-based visas. ”

In other words, this would mean USCIS has used all remaining 35% within 14 days??? I don’t think that’s possible. I guess, we can only wait for the official VB to come out.

CADude and Blandine,

Thank you for your answers.

I filed I-140 last month, now I am waiting.

Good luck to all of you. Let all dates be current.

Regarding the rumor of EB unavailability. It turns out that the rumor is not true. There is no news as of today and no internal memo ever went around.

The Philippines F3 is not moving at all, duh. I hope it will move this month.

I really really really hope it will move… I’m already 21 this coming July, and I’m freaking over aged! damn. >(

The June 2008 bulletin has been published on the Mumbai consulate web site if you want to check it out. I don’t think I can copy the link of the web site, but you can find it in the discussions going on on the immigration site “trackitt”.

Hi John,
when do you think retrogression will be lifted up from family first preference?It is moving deadly slow….just a week in a month.

Blandine, i saw the site..sadly the EB3 for ROW remain march 2006.. i still hope this is not official..

oh sorry..i think i read the wrong site…

John when is the official June Vb will be posted?

yes i agree the june visa bulletin is still march 2006 im so sad

let’s keeps our hopes up..since all we read was from mumbai consulate link..maybe they will move the dates…God help us all

Though there’s a big possibility that is true,dont loose hope guys..lets wait for the official visa bulletin guys. Keep on praying.

The EB3 category for rest of world will have a cutoff date of March, 1st 2006.
EB2 category for Indian born immigrants will move 3 months.

June 2008 Visa Bulletin has been posted:
Category India Most Other Countries
F1 15 March 2002 15 March 2002
FX 1 May 2002 1 May 2002
F2A 15 July 2003 15 July 2003
F2B 1 August 1999 1 August 1999
F3 8 June 2000 8 June 2000
F4 1 February 1997 22 August 1997
E1 Current Current
E2 1 April 2004 Current
E3 1 November 2001 1 March 2006
EX Unavailable Unavailable
EW 1 January 2003 1 January 2003
E4 Current Current
E4-Religious Current

Current

i just hope and pray the June vb will show progress..

Is this true? Taken from Oh Law Firm

“The employment-based immigration visa number will practically remain stand still in that for the Rest of the World category, nothing will change, and for India, other than three month progress in EB-2, everything else will remain same as May 2008. There is an unconfirmed prediction that the visa number movement for the rest of the fiscal year ending at September 30, 2008 may not see progress or in worse situation, move backward in some categories. Please stay tuned.”

yes, amar i read that..its frustrating to read that news..but lets’ just remain hopeful. i wonder why the state department have not posted the VB yet. though we read from other sites regarding the June VB, im still quite hoping there will be changes..

what is FX for family-based visa? i see there is F1, F2A and F2B and F3 and F4. What is FX?

is it official though.

@Che-che: Keep in mind that some sites have announced dates but they turned out to be completely wrong. The Oh law firm’s site posted the incorrect dates last month (or the month before that?). I’ll post the official dates as soon as possible. The State Department might post them today, but more than likely early next week.

Thanks John!! at least we still have hope..

But why would the US consulate in Mumbia post the wrong dates? It seems that the consulate would have the right dates. I’m not trying to be pessimisstic but realistic. I think it will confirm the above bulletin. I have been waiting for over 6 years with no end in sight. But what is FX on the bulletin?

I am from the Phil, my priority date is on June 16, 1986. After having paying our visa, Will it take too long for our interview appointment? Thanks in advance.

From my experience (and I became sort of an expert in the visa bulletin’s whereabout every month), the Mumbai consulate is ALWAYS inline with the Official VB. I really hope they screwed up this time for my own sake since I am so close of being current.

Hi John, All,
Another question/thought:
When in the long process of EB3 ROW, the visa number is assigned?
• After the DS-230 are reviewed/completed and just before they send it to the consulate?
• At the time of arrive at the consulate and before the interview?
• After the Interview?
This question is to clarify exactly when you want to have your PD current, when it really matters the most to have it current….
(I don’t have the answer LOL, just want to know what PPL and John’s thought about it are….)
Good luck everyone…..

I was right about my prediction! F4 moved to 22 Aug 97 for June bulletin.

Now here is my prediction for July bulletin:
F4 will likely be 08 Sept 97. Although, what I really want it to be is 22 Sept 97!

My PD is March 31, 2006 under EB3 ROW. Is it likely that the VB moves forward in the next quarter (July-September)? When the PD is finally current, how long is the processing on average at the Neb office?

Sean;
I don’t know whether it helps assess an average time, but my PD is in 2004 and I haven’t heard anything from USCIS (I’m EB3 ROW like you)
I registered on their web site for updates and to be able to see when the last time they touched my case was (LUDs).
I became current March 1st and they haven’t touched my case at all. It makes me think that there’s a lot of 2003 and 2004 PD that are being processed or even waiting to be assigned to an officer (like for me).
However, as somebody said before : immigration is chaos and some people that had a PD more than a year after mine, from the same country, same category got their green card on March 5th.
So could be quick, could take a long time, there’s no way to really know as I’ve learned.

isn’t the mumbai consulate general part of the department of state?
the cut off date posted by mumbai always turn out correctly.
Hopefully begining of next quarter (July VB), EB3 ROW will be showered with overflow quota from EB1 & Eb2

Why is F3 at a stand still….???? It has hardly moved in the last few months….???

Category India Most Other Countries
F1 15 March 2002 15 March 2002
FX 1 May 2002 1 May 2002
F2A 15 July 2003 15 July 2003
F2B 1 August 1999 1 August 1999
F3 8 June 2000 8 June 2000
F4 1 February 1997 22 August 1997
E1 Current Current
E2 1 April 2004 Current
E3 1 November 2001 1 March 2006
EX Unavailable Unavailable
EW 1 January 2003 1 January 2003
E4 Current Current
E4-Religious Current Current

My PD is July31,2006 under EB3 Phil..I hadcompleted docus for NVC last March 2007 and paid the fee bill. How can i get feedback re: receipt date and its approval?
I am optimistic that June VB will move forward til PD Aug 2006. In my case..is it possible to be issued a visa by this year 2008. how long will we have to wait. Is there a need to submit an updated Ds230 ?
Hope you could give me some advise. Thank you and may God bless us all!

hello, we are the same. my priority date is june 2006. paid the v bills. submitted ds230.. this all happen only if the vb covered my pd. I think if the vb date will cover our pd then it’s our time to move on to the next step. Next step is appointment letter. I advise you to have your vaccination completed before you receive your appointment letter. Some shots needs 1 month before the next shot.
email me if you progress. so do i.

I hope Philippines F3 will move this month.. Please!!!!!

Hi to all.

I filed I-485 and I-140 concurrently. My Priority Date is October 20, 2006. I am an EB3-Philippines

I am scheduled for an interview this coming June 19, 2008 at New York City.

Most people that I have talked to said that the June 08 VB will be June or July 2007.

Regarding the Mumbai Consulate. It’s just an estimation not an official bulletin. Remember, they are the ones who caused a great confusion in India about the CURRENT availability of all categories sometime July 2007 last year.

All of us should have our fingers crossed.

hi myhonestself,
we have the same PD. you mean you I140 and i485? My i140 is already approved do you think we can change status this coming july?

Hi owell! i haven’t inquired re: vaccination. are you done with the said vaccinations? what hospitals are accredited to avail the required shots of vaccines? Thanks…