The June and July 2013 issues of Visa Bulletin provide encouraging news for those waiting, especially in the employment-based third preference (EB-3) category (all chargeability) and the family second preference F2A category (all chargeability). EB-3 worldwide cut-off dates jumped 18 months in two months, from December 1, 2007 (in May) to January 1, 2009 (in July). However, EB-3 is not expected to progress further in this fiscal year until demand over the next three to five months can be evaluated. For the F2A category (spouses and children of permanent residents), worldwide cut-off dates jumped seven months in two months, from March 11, 2011 (in May) to October 8, 2011 (in July). Perhaps more significantly, however, the Visa Office predicts that the F2A category could become current at some point during the coming months. Other categories have also advanced during this two-month period.
The Department of State (DOS) reminds applicants generally that dramatic advances prompts higher demand for visa numbers, which in turn decreases the overall supply of visa numbers for the fiscal year and slows forward movement in cut-off dates. Â