Since the BEST NEWS thread has been closed. I will be starting a new one. Topics that will be posted here would be experiences related after retrogression. What really happened to those applications that were pending before retrogression? Did the NVC completely cleared pending cases?
Based on my experience and from what i have read from other posts... I completely agree with Suzanne that NVC did not SPEEED THINGS UP and NVC did not cleared the backlog for Schedule A completely. In other words their processing is the same as even there is no retrogression for EB3. Although the good thing is that nurses were able to get interview appointments and visas.
The most anticipated date would be September 15, 2005. This will be the date (on or before) that the October VISA BULLETIN will be released. According to the Immigration and Nationality Act...October 1 marks the first quarter of the U.S. Fiscal Year 2006. It is stated on their law that new visa numbers will be released during this month.
EB3 applicants that were affected by retrogression particularly TECH workers are anxiously waiting and praying that visa numbers CUT OFF DATES will move. They are hoping that the EB3 category will change to U (unavailable) to a new cut-off date.
WHAT IS THE IMAPACT OF THIS TO SCHEDULE A???
Many are curious what is the impact of the new numbers to Schedule A/ EX Category that will be released this October. If logical analysis would be done, effect would slow down the processing of Schedule A workers because NVC resources would be allocated to other EB3 applicants.
The same logical analysis was done when the EB3 was shut down last June 2005, but it did not SPEED THINGS UP with NVC for the processing of Schedule A.
So i will agree with Suzanne that there will be no effect. Cases will be processed according to priority date or Cut Off Dates and it would still be slow.
THE GOOD NEWS FOR SCHEDULE A...
According to the law, Schedule A workers can EAT UP THE VISAS from the normal pool of visas that will be available as long as their cut-off dates are included in the EB3 visa bulletin. It means that instead of the 50k visas will be depleted, they will be depleting first the allocated visas for the first quarter of the U.S. Fiscal year 2006. More visas for Schedule A this October.
Please post questions, comments, experiences here!
You should be just fine, I would not worry about it in your case. Those that have another two years of school to complete, and then go thru the process, may have some issues to worry about.
is it true that an additional 90,000 visas were issued on top of the 50,000 visas? or is it just a bill waiting for deliberation in the US congress? thanks!!!
The additional visas would still be discussed in the JOINT SENATE AND CONGRESS COMMITTEE. Yes it was passed in the senate but the additional visas were not discussed in the Congress version. So these additional visas would still be resolved in that committee.
If these visas would be granted, there would be a big relief on all employment based applicants eliminating the backlog and possible clearing retrogression.
The Bush Administration needs more funds (spent alot to Iraq), that is why they are supporting this bill plus the GUEST WORKER LEGALIZATION PROGRAM wherein "out of status" people or what they call "UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS" or sometimes "ILLEGALS" can legalize their status by paying a certain amount of FINE.
They are expecting that this bill would push through before Christmas but i think this bill would push through around January.
Hi! I already have an employer from California willing to sponsor my I-140 petition. However, I am worried that the processing time of the California Service Center is longer than the other centers. I wonder if it would be a good idea to try to find a sponsor in another jurisdiction, for example Texas, so that the I-140 can be filed in Texas instead. I am worried that the 50k visas will be used up before my papers are approved. Can anyone advise me?
Hi! I already have an employer from California willing to sponsor my I-140 petition. However, I am worried that the processing time of the California Service Center is longer than the other centers. I wonder if it would be a good idea to try to find a sponsor in another jurisdiction, for example Texas, so that the I-140 can be filed in Texas instead. I am worried that the 50k visas will be used up before my papers are approved. Can anyone advise me?
Rita
Processing dates change very rapidly and unpredictably.
Tomorrow, California might become the fastest Sevice center.
You should not base your decision on that.
Which state would you like to go to? California?
Then go for it, especially if you've already found a sponsor there.
Getting hired can be a challenge, from what I understand.
Thanks for the advice Margo. My employer is an agency in California. So far, they have been upfront in their dealings with me and don't give unrealistic expectations like getting the visa in 6 months. In fact, they are saying that it may take 12-18 months before I get my visa. I know that there are horror stories with other agencies. I just hope that I don't have any of those problems.
It isn't that it may take at least 12 months, it will take at least that, especially if you are still overseas. Have you completed all of the exams, as well as having a Visa Screen Certificate? Things can speed up a little, if all documents are submitted in full right from the beginning.
All I can add is please check out the stickies here about agencies.
By the way, does anyone know why the processing times in the service centers are so different and why should it speed up suddenly in one center then slow down later? I understand from past posted messages that the california Service center had one of the fastest processing times but it now appears that they lag behind all the others.
Yes, I have completed all the requirements. CGFNS has received all the necessary documents and I am just waiting for them to issue the Visa Screen certificate. So, do you think its a good idea to go ahead and file with my California employer rather than looking for another employer in another jurisdiction where processing times are currently faster? The downside is that there will be a delay in the filing.
Also, if I expect the visa screen certificate to be issued in the next 2 weeks, is it a good idea to delay filing until the Visa Screen can be included in the application? I would appreciate any advice on this matter.
By the way, does anyone know why the processing times in the service centers are so different and why should it speed up suddenly in one center then slow down later? I understand from past posted messages that the california Service center had one of the fastest processing times but it now appears that they lag behind all the others.
Rita
California was the fastest during the time of the retorgression, as all of those nurses were out of the count, and many of them were under CA Service Center.
Depends on the number of applications that get submitted to each of the service centers, then also if additional information needs to be requested. Totally complete files will get processed the fastest. Meaning Visa Screen Certificate included right from the start, if you have it, it should not be saved.
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
You should be just fine, I would not worry about it in your case. Those that have another two years of school to complete, and then go thru the process, may have some issues to worry about.
None of us have crystal balls..............