The DOS recently published a final rule changing the way it would determine the validity dates it would issue for an L-1 visa. L visas will now be issued with validity periods based on the visa reciprocity schedule. The prior  rule limited L visas to the petition validity period, as shown on the I-797 approval notice issued by the USCIS.

Earlier this week, the DOS released the March visa bulletin.  The EB2 category for persons born in India or China saw another significant advancement of 4 months whereas all other categories continue to see slow but steady movement forward.

The DOS released the Feb Visa Bulletin and the priority dates for EB2 India and China moved forward by a full year to Jan 2010. The rapid movement over the past several months is due to reports from the USCIS of fewer than expected 485 filings. Future retrogression remains likely if the number of I-485 filings increases.  All EB3 categories saw snail like movement forward and the predictions are for more of the same.

In the January Visa Bulletin released by the DOS, EB2 numbers for India and China moved ahead over nine months making priority dates current for all of 2008 and before.  It is interesting to note the Bulletin’s comments on the relatively few new I-485′s that have been filed in recent months in spite of the rapid forward movement of dates. I bet if they go ask anyone who had a vacation planned but then cancelled in the summer of 2007, they could explain it to them.

In what has become a holiday tradition, a government agency has announced a fee increase. This time the DOS has published a new schedule for fees applicable to visa issued at Consular posts.  If only we could be assured that the Post would apply the law, paying increased fees would not be so bad but, alas, that is but wishful thinking on our part and as likely to happen as Santa coming down a chimney delivering presents !

The Department of State has released the December visa bulletin and EB2 India and PRC dates have surged ahead to March 15, 2008. This is a movement of over 4 months from the November bulletin and an almost 2 year improvement over the December 2010 bulletin. In spite of dire warnings from the DOS that a slowdown of movement and even possible retrogression is in store for the EB2 category, at least for now, there are smiles all around.

The DOS released the September Visa Bulletin and the EB2 categories for India and PRC showed no forward movement whereas the EB3 categories for all countries once again showed slow but, steady movement forward. It is not uncommon for the final Visa Bulletin of the fiscal year to show some slow-down or even retrogression so there should not be too much read into the lack of movement in Sept. dates for EB2 categories.

Earlier this week, the DOS released the August Visa Bulletin. Once again, it showed steady but slow movement forward.  They also released their determinations regarding overall preference and per-country allocations setting the worldwide family limit at 226,000, the world-wide employment limit at 140,000 and the per country limit at 25,620.

The DOS released the July Visa bulletin today and it contained good news for India and PRC EB2 holders as the dates jumped forward almost 5 months, to March 8,2007. Other categories and countries of chargeability were not as lucky as dates continue to move forward but, at a snail-like pace.

The DOS has released the June visa bulletin and India EB2 jumped ahead by almost 4 months. Other categories continued to move at a snail-like pace.