The Department of State’s (DOS) August Visa Bulletin shows forward movement in most employment-based visa categories.  EB-3 and the “Other Workers” categories for the Philippines are no longer unavailable; and, EB-3 and “Other Workers” categories for China retrogressed due to large demand.

Chinese nationals seeking EB-2 preference classification will see modest change from the month of July. Although Indian nationals under EB-2 remained the same, those under EB-3 and “Other Workers” have advanced four months to June 1, 2004. Mexican nationals under EB-3 and “Other Workers” also advanced slightly from April 1, 2015 to July 15, 2015.

Other nationals seeking EB-3 and “Other Worker” share the same three month advance as Mexican nationals.

Individuals who are affected by visa retrogression are encouraged to check the Department of State Visa Bulletin each month to see if visa processing dates have moved under their approval category.

Employment-Based All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed China-Mainland Born India Mexico Philippines
1st Current Current Current Current Current
2nd Current 12/15/2013 10/1/2008 Current Current
3rd 7/15/2015 6/1/2004 6/1/2004 7/15/2015 6/1/2004
Other Workers 7/15/2015 1/1/2004 6/1/2004 7/15/2015 6/1/2004
4th Current Current Current Current Current
Certain Religious Workers Current Current Current Current Current
5th Targeted Employment Areas/Regional Centers and Pilot Programs Current 9/1/2013 Current Current Current

Not admitted to the practice of law.

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Photo of Ian Macdonald Ian Macdonald

Ian R. Macdonald Co-Chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice’s International Employment, Immigration & Workforce Strategies group. He focuses his practice on developing, assessing and managing global mobility programs for multinational companies on a range of challenges affecting the movement of people capital

Ian R. Macdonald Co-Chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice’s International Employment, Immigration & Workforce Strategies group. He focuses his practice on developing, assessing and managing global mobility programs for multinational companies on a range of challenges affecting the movement of people capital domestically and internationally, including secondment agreements, benefits transferability, local host country employment concerns and immigration.

Ian and his team work closely with companies to manage and modify, where needed, corporate immigration programs to maximize efficiency, service and regulatory compliance levels. He is experienced with the full range of business immigration sponsorship categories (visas and permanent residence), anti-discrimination rules to reduce or eliminate risk of employment litigation, employer sanction cases, and I-9 and E-Verify compliance. Ian assists clients with establishing risk-based performance standards (RBPS) and Department of Homeland Security protocol, providing risk assessment assistance to corporations subject to Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) and assisting clients with ITAR/Export Control compliance within the immigration context.

Ian has developed strategic relationships abroad that he utilizes when working with clients to ensure compliance with foreign registration requirements. He is experienced with analyzing complex global mobility opportunities on country-specific matters to facilitate the transfer of personnel. Ian is also experienced in counseling employers on immigration strategy as well as immigration consequences of mergers and acquisitions, reduction in workforces, and furloughs.

Prior to joining the firm, Ian worked for the United Nations, various non-governmental think tanks and corporate law firms in London, Washington, D.C., New York and Atlanta.