Update on EB-2 Visa Availability: Low EB-1 Demand to Cause EB-2 India to Advance

A recent update from USCIS and Charles Oppenheim at the Department of State (the person who is responsible for the Visa Bulletin and visa number allocations) should provide some hope to applicants in some categories, but most notably to the EB-2 India category.

Low EB-1 Demand to Cause Visa Number Spillover to EB-2

USCIS has reported that the demand for EB-1 visa numbers has dropped significantly since October 1, 2010.   As a result, the planned visa number demand in this category can be adjusted downwards.  By doing this, the unused EB-1 numbers can be allocated to other categories.  This is Mr. Oppenheim’s statement:

“[US]CIS says they have seen a decline in filings, and does not expect a change in the number use pattern. Therefore, this decline in EB-1 number use will allow me to begin having those ‘otherwise unused’ numbers drop down and be available for use in the EB-2 category. Based on current indications, that would mean that at least 12,000 additional numbers will be available to the EB-2 category. This situation will allow me to advance the India EB-2 cut-off date for May. The reason being that all ‘otherwise unused’ numbers are provided strictly in priority date order, and the India demand has the largest concentration of early dates.”

EB-2 India Expected to Move Forward (Substantially?) in the May 2011 Visa Bulletin

Based on Mr. Oppenheim’s comments, it is expected that the EB-2 India category will move forward in the May 2011 Visa Bulletin (please see our Visa Bulletin topic page where updates are posted immediately).  This should be a welcome development for the thousands of EB-2 India filers who have been waiting for 8 months now without any movement in this category.   While we cannot estimate by how much EB-2 India will advance, we hope that the move would be substantial, based on the 12,000 available visa numbers mentioned by Mr. Oppenheim.

Porting of EB-3 India to EB-2 India to Continue — Heavy Demand in EB-2 Expected

Our office has been advising over the past couple of years, and we continue to do so, that all EB-3 India filers who are now eligible to port their priority dates into EB-2 to do so.   In many cases porting is extremely helpful in advancing one’s green card application substantially, especially when the EB-3 priority date, as ported to EB-2 becomes current, and especially considering a possible significant forward movement in EB-2 India.   Please contact us if we can provide analysis of your ability to port your EB-3 priority date into EB-2.

EB-2 India Expected Forward Movement to Cause Increase in I-485 Filings and Interfilings

We also expect the EB-2 India forward priority date movement to cause an increase in I-485 adjustment of status filings for both primary beneficiaries or for family members who have not been able to file I-485 previously (most often during the summer of 2007).

Additionally, many I-485s remain pending and “connected” to I-140s which reflect an older EB-3 priority date which is not current.  If a subsequent EB-2 I-140 has been filed and if the earlier EB-3 priority date has been ported into the new I-140, an “interfiling” may be needed to notify USCIS and have them “connect” the pending I-485 with the new, and current, EB-2 I-140.

Please contact our office if we can help you prepare and file your I-485 application or if you need assistance with interfiling your pending I-485 to a new and (soon to be) current EB-2 I-140.   We also invite you to subscribe to our free weekly immigration newsletter to obtain alerts of related news and developments.