1/8/2008

The reason for the EB2 retrogression is high demand for visa numbers. The cutoff dates are set based upon the quantity of visa numbers remaining and the anticipated demand. The additional significant retrogression for January 2008 reflects a very small supply of visa numbers, as compared to pending EB2 I-485 cases and consular processing cases. Since the retrogression in December did not sufficiently limit the class of eligible cases, and the resulting demand for visa numbers, the dates moved backward once again. 

Employment-Based First Preference : This category remains current for all countries of chargeability.

Employment-Based Second Preference : This category continues to be current for worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines. The cutoff date for China remained unchanged, at January 1, 2003. This follows a three-year retrogression in December. The big news was India, which retrogressed by two full years, to January 1, 2000.

Employment-Based Third Preference : The cutoff date for the EB3 worldwide category, China, and the Philippines each moved forward. The worldwide category moved forward by a month and a half, to October 15, 2002. China inched forward by half a month, to November 1, 2001; the Philippines moved by a month, to October 1, 2002. India remained unchanged, at May 1, 2001. Mexico remained at April 22, 2001. The "other workers" category continued to have an October 1, 2001 cutoff date for all areas of chargeability.

Employment-Based Fourth / Fifth / Religious Workers and Targeted Employment : The EB4, EB5, religious workers, and the targeted employment categories are all current.