EB-2 category. Advanced degree professionals are also current with two exceptions: professionals from China and India. China has progressed six years to January 1, 2012. Permanent residence is only available for Indian nationals with priority dates before May 1, 2005.

Fortunately, the new visa bulletin does allow for some early filing. Chinese advanced degree professionals with priority dates before January 1, 2013 can file for adjustment of status or apply for an immigrant visa abroad, allowing these individuals to file for adjustment one year earlier than they would have been able to without this new system. Likewise, Indian advanced degree professionals with priority dates earlier than July 1, 2009 can file approximately four years earlier.

EB-3 category. China progressed approximately seven years, to October 15, 2011. India regressed approximately nine months to March 8, 2004.  The Philippines moved forward more than two years to January 1, 2007. Mexico and all other countries continue to hold strong at August 15, 2015. If this pace remains for Mexico and countries other than China, India, and the Philippines, foreign nationals can expect to have current priority dates by the time labor certification applications are approved. 

The early filing system also provides advantages to the EB-3 category. Chinese foreign nationals can apply under this category with priority dates earlier than October 1, 2013. Indian foreign nationals can apply under this category if they have priority dates before July 1, 2005. This allows for filing approximately one year in advance for China and India. Workers from the Philippines can file early if they have priority dates before January 1, 2010 (three years earlier).

Visas remain current for EB-4 (religious workers). EB-5 (investors) is current except for China. There was no movement for EB-5 China, so it remains at September 1, 2013.

Family 2A category.  For foreign nationals who are married to a lawful permanent resident, visas are available to people from all countries whose petitions were filed prior to April 15, 2014, except for Mexico (March 1, 2014). Other family-based visa categories remain backlogged anywhere from 7 to 23 years.

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