State Dept Predicts Priority Dates for FY2006

[mdh3000]

The September Visa Bulletin is out and it's not looking good. Here is what the State Department thinks will happen after October 1.

Sept Visa Bulletin

As a result cut-off dates in the Employment Third preferency category will apply to the China, India, and Philippines chargeabilities beginning in October, and it is possible that Mexico may be added to this list. In addition, it is anticipated that heavy demand will require the establishment of a Third preference cut-off date on a Worldwide basis by December.

The amount of Employment demand for applicants from China and India is also likely to result in the oversubcription of the Employment First and Second preference categories for those chargeability areas. The establishment of such cut-off dates is expected to occur no later than December.

The level of demand in the Employment categories is expected to be far in excess of the annual limits, and once established, cut-off date movements are likely to be slow.

I've got a feeling that, despite the fact that PERM approvals are reducing the wait for labor certification, people with priority dates mid-2003 and later are in for a long wait.

mdh