The June 2015 Visa Bulletin continues to provide disappointing news for Filipinos, as the priority dates in the employment based categories (EB-3 and Other Workers) retrogressed (moved backwards) yet again, all the way back to January 1, 2005. (In April 2015, the priority date was already at October 1, 2014. Then in May 2015, it retrogressed to July 1, 2007. Now, in June 2015, it is at January 1, 2005.) This means that starting June 1, 2015, people with priority dates AFTER January 1, 2005 will no longer be eligible to adjust status or receive an immigrant visa, unless and until their priority date becomes current again.
In addition, the F-1 category (single adult children of US citizens) also retrogressed, and will move backwards to March 1, 2000. Ironically, once again, the priority date for children of immigrants (F-2B) is faster than F-1.
If you have a priority date that is now “current,” you must file for adjustment of status before the retrogression on June 1, 2015—if you are eligible, and take steps to preserve your children’s eligibility under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). If you believe you may be eligible to file, you should seek the immediate assistance of an attorney, to analyze your case, and to make sure you file before the June 2015 retrogression!
Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning that immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the US), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.
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Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.
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this really a sad news for me priority date is may 07, 2007, my case is in NVC right now and was completed april 22, 2015. now, i dont know what to do, i called up NVC and the US embassy here in the Philippines to request that they make my interview appointment this May to be eligible for a visa. but until now no news even if i call them every day. the embassy here would just say that my case is still with the NVC and still no advice. my employer is somehow believing that cases that was filled and completed while still current will be spared and will be given visa even if the time that they have a schedule for my interview is june in which i personally think that no US embassy or NVC would even entertain me. sir, i have a plan that has no guarantee but might just work but i need your personal thought regarding this. the agents here in the US embassy are allowing us to book for our appointment date. for the medical they only ask if i have a schedule for an interview and some documents that would state my case number. i am planning to go to manila and have my medical exam done and wait for any vacant in the May interview slot. i believe that i can book it but are they gonna allow me to do this? and for the documents that my employer would provide me will be emailed to me to show to the consul while the original will be sent urgently. i dont have any choice but to gamble that i might still make it or the consul would not mind that the supporting documents would be electronically sent to me( more or less a week to arrive here . i would appreciate any advice any one can share. i am so desperate but i can still see a small chance that i could make it out. i think 8 long years is more that enough waiting time.