EB-2 India and China advance notably while the forward movement in most of the other categories is minor. Additionally, EB-3 China continues to have a more favorable cutoff date than EB-2 China which creates favorable conditions for EB-2 to EB-3 China downgrades.
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); “C” means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and “U” means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.)
| Employ- ment based |
All Charge- ability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | C | C | C | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 15JUL12 | C | 01NOV07 | C | C |
| 3rd | 01JUL16 | 15APR13 | 01JUL16 | 08MAR05 | 01JUL16 | 01APR11 |
| Other Workers | 01JUL16 | 01SEP05 | 01JUL16 | 08MAR05 | 01JUL16 | 01APR11 |
| 4th | C | C | 15JUL15 | C | C | C |
| Certain Religious Workers | C | C | 15JUL15 | C | C | C |
| 5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) |
C | 08MAR14 | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Regional Center (I5 and R5) |
C | 08MAR14 | C | C | C | C |
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to “*Other Workers”.
Fourth: Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level.
Fifth: Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of Pub. L. 102-395.