Employment-based Visas Exhausted for FY 2011

Just when you thought you were close to the front of the line, US Department of State announced yesterday that no further employment based preference cases (the so called EB cases) can be allotted toward the fiscal year 2011 quota.

Translation: No more employment based approvals of I-485s for now. Remember that October 1, 2011 will mark the first day of the USCIS Fiscal Year 2012, so EB greencard cases will resume in October.

USCIS has been directed to continue adjudicating EB cases but those cases will be placed “on hold” until October 3 when all cases which are “pending demand” (for I-485 approval) between September 15 – September 30, 2011 can receive final adjudication.

What this means is that anyone with a pending I-485 based on an employment preference case will have to wait until October 2011 to see a final approval of their pending and ripe adjustment of status. For updates to the visa bulletin, check back in October or call the business immigration attorneys at Romben Law, APC for a initial consultation. —ecf