The August visa bulletin was a shock for many Indians who are awaiting US green cards on the EB-1 category. The bulletin, which is published monthly by the US Department of State, showed that the priority dates for EB-1 visas for India had retrogressed significantly. This means that Indians who applied for green cards in the EB-1 category in recent years will have to wait even longer to get their visas.
The retrogression is due to a number of factors, including the high demand for green cards from Indians and the limited number of visas that are available each year. The Trump administration has also made it more difficult for Indians to get green cards, by reducing the number of visas that are available in the EB-1 category and by increasing the fees that are required to apply for green cards.
The retrogression is a major setback for Indians who are hoping to immigrate to the United States. It is unclear when the priority dates for EB-1 visas for India will start to move forward again. In the meantime, Indians who are awaiting green cards in this category should be prepared to wait for a long time.
Here are some additional details about the August visa bulletin:
- The priority date for EB-1 visas for India is now March 1, 2015. This means that Indians who applied for green cards in the EB-1 category on or after March 1, 2015, will have to wait until their priority dates become current before they can apply for their visas.
- The retrogression is particularly acute for EB-1 visas for Indian nationals who are applying for green cards based on their extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics. The priority date for this category is now January 1, 2014.
- The retrogression is also a problem for EB-1 visas for Indian nationals who are applying for green cards based on their outstanding achievements in the field of education. The priority date for this category is now July 1, 2013.
The August visa bulletin is a reminder of the challenges that Indians face when they try to immigrate to the United States. The retrogression is a major setback, but it is important to remember that the situation could improve in the future. The Biden administration has pledged to make it easier for Indians to immigrate to the United States, and it is possible that the priority dates for EB-1 visas will start to move forward again in the coming months or years.