The February Visa Bulletin, which was released by the Department of State (DOS), shows significant forward movement for several employment-based categories.

For individuals born in China, the EB-1 category moved forward a full year to January 1, 2003, while EB-2 moved forward ten months to April 1, 2002.  Similarly, for individuals born in India, both the EB-1 and EB-2 categories moved forward seven months to February 1, 2004 and August 1, 2001 respectively.  World wide cut offs (for individuals born in all countries other than India and Mexico) for EB-3 inched forward to April 22, 2001.  EB-1 and EB-2 remain current for all individuals born in countries other than India and China.

While the forward progress in the immigrant visa numbers is encouraging, applicants should not expect this rate of progress to continue for the rest of the fiscal year.  DOS notes in the February Visa Bulletin that movement over the past several months has been greater than originally anticipated as a result of low visa number demand by Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).   DOS further advises that while it is unknown when USCIS visa number use will increase, "once increased demand does materialize, however, cut-off date movements will necessarily slow or stop."

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