2012 Visa Bulletin Predictions
DOS Visa Bulletin Predictions Made in November 2012:
The Department of State published their predictions on cutoff date movement in the December 2012 Visa Bulletin (released on 11/07/2012):
- EB1: Current
- EB2:
- Worldwide: Current
- China: 5 to 8 weeks
- India: no movement
- EB3:
- Worldwide: 3 to 5 weeks
- China: 4 to 8 weeks
- India: up to 2 weeks
- Mexico: 3 to 5 weeks
- Philippines: 1 to 3 weeks
- EB4: Current
- EB5: Current (It appears likely that a cut-off date will need to be established for the China EB5 category at some point during second half of fiscal year 2013.)
- Family-Sponsored:
- F1: 3 to 4 weeks
- F2A: 4 to 6 weeks
- F2B: 3 to 5 weeks
- F3: 1 to 2 weeks
- F4: 1 to 2 weeks
DOS Visa Bulletin Predictions Made in May 2012:
- EB1: Potential retrogression at the end of the fiscal year
- EB2 Worldwide: Potential retrogression at any time for the remainder of this fiscal year
DOS Visa Bulletin Predictions Made in April 2012:
Over the next few months, the Department of State Visa Office estimate that
visa bulletin cutoff date movement will be:
- EB1: Current
- EB2:
- Worldwide: Potential retrogression
- EB2 China and India: Potentially "Unavailable"
- EB3:
- Worldwide: 3 to 5 weeks
- China: up to 6 weeks
- India: up to 2 weeks
- Mexico: 3 to 5 weeks
- Philippines: 3 to 5 weeks
- EB4: Current
- EB5: Current
- Family-Sponsored:
- F1: 4 to 6 weeks
- F2A: up to 2.5 months
- F2B: 3 to 6 weeks
- F3: 3 to 6 weeks
- F4: 3 to 5 weeks
DOS Visa Bulletin Predictions Made in January 2012:
Over the next few months, the Department of State Visa Office estimate that visa bulletin cutoff date movement will be:
- EB1: Current
- EB2:
- Worldwide: Current
- EB2 China and India: Reports from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicate that the rate of new filings for adjustment of status in recent months has been extremely low. This fact has required the continued rapid forward movement of the cut-off date, in an attempt to generate demand and maximize number use under the annual limit. Once the level of new filings or USCIS processing increases significantly, it will be necessary to slow or stop the movement of the cut-off. Readers are once again advised that an eventual need to retrogress the cut-off date is also a distinct possibility.
- Mexico: Current
- Philippines: Current
- EB3:
- Worldwide: up to one month
- China: up to one month
- India: up to two weeks
- Mexico: up to one month
- Philippines: up to one month
- EB4: Current
- EB5: Current
- Family-Sponsored:
- F1: three to five weeks
- F2A: one to two months
- F2B: three to four weeks
- F3: one to three weeks
- F4: up to one month
DOS cautions that the above date ranges are only estimates, and eventual cutoff date movement in the next few months will depend on applicant demand which fluctuates all the time.
