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The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2011 Visa Bulletin, which summarizes visa availability. As compared to the September 2011 Visa Bulletin, minimal movement occurred in the oversubscription date (i.e., the date on which the availability quota was met) for employment-based visa categories, including:

• EB-2 (professionals with advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability): The oversubscription date for Indian and Chinese nationals progressed three months, from April 15 to July 25, 2007.
• EB-3 (skilled workers and professionals): The oversubscription date for nationals of Mexico and the Philippines advanced 16 days, from November 22 to December 8, 2005. A 24-day advance occurred for nationals of China, from July 15 to August 8, 2004. Indian nationals experienced a one-week advance, from July 8 to July 15, 2002.
• EB-3 (other workers): There were no changes concerning Chinese nationals (April 22, 2003); Indian nationals’ oversubscription date advanced one week, from June 1 to June 8, 2002; the oversubscription date for nationals of Mexico and the Philippines advanced several weeks, from August 1 to September 15, 2005. 

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The U.S. Department of State has released the September 2011 Visa Bulletin, which summarizes visa availability. As compared to the June 2011 Visa Bulletin, some movement occurred in the oversubscription date (i.e., the date on which the availability quota was met) for employment-based visa categories, including:

• EB-2 (professionals with advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability): The oversubscription date for Indian and Chinese nationals progressed to April 15, 2007, from October 15, 2006.
• EB-3 (skilled workers and professionals): The most significant development concerned the oversubscription date for Mexican nationals, which advanced almost a full year, from December 22, 2004 to November 22, 2005. Advances of several weeks occurred for nationals of: China, from May 15 to July 15, 2004; the Philippines, from September 15 to November 22, 2005; and India, from April 22 to July 8, 2002.
• EB-3 (other workers): The oversubscription date for nationals of Mexico and the Philippines advanced two years, from November 8, 2003, to November 22, 2005. 

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The U.S. Department of State has released the June 2011 Visa Bulletin, which summarizes visa availability. Some movement occurred in the oversubscription date (i.e., the date on which the availability quota was met) for employment-based visa categories, including:

• EB-2 (professionals with advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability): The oversubscription date for Indian and Chinese nationals progressed to October 15, 2006, from July 1 and August 1, 2006, respectively.
• EB-3 (skilled workers and professionals): The oversubscription date for Mexican nationals advanced 3.5 months, from September 8 to December 22, 2004. A one-month advance occurred for Chinese nationals, from April 15 to May 15, 2004, with a one-week advancement for Indian nationals, from April 15 to 22, 2002, and three weeks’ progression for Philippines nationals, from August 22 to September 15, 2005.
• EB-3 (other workers): The oversubscription date for nationals of Mexico and the Philippines advanced two months, from September 8 to November 8, 2003.

Photo credit: David Pedre Loureiro

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The State Department has released the September 2010 Visa Bulletin, which summarizes visa availability. Some movement occurred in the oversubscription date (i.e., the date on which the availability quota was met) for employment-based visa categories, including:

• EB-2 (professionals with advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability): The oversubscription date for Indian and Chinese nationals progressed two months from March 1, 2006, to May 8, 2006.
• EB-3 (skilled workers and professionals): The oversubscription date for nationals of the Dominican Republic and the Philippines advanced six months, from June 1, 2004, to December 15, 2004. A one-month advance occurred for Chinese nationals, from September 22 to October 22, 2003, but there was no movement concerning the date for Indian nationals, which remains at January 1, 2002.
• EB-3 (other workers): The oversubscription date for nationals of China, the Dominican Republic and the Philippines advanced 10 months, from May 15, 2002, to March 22, 2003.

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The State Department has released the August 2010 Visa Bulletin, which summarizes visa availability. Some movement occurred in the oversubscription date (i.e., the date on which the availability quota was met) for employment-based visa categories, including:

• EB-2 (professionals with advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability): The oversubscription date for Indian and Chinese nationals changed from October 1, 2005, and November 22, 2005, respectively, to March 1, 2006. As previously discussed, considerable movement concerning the oversubscription date for Indian nationals was reported in the July 2010 Visa Bulletin.
• EB-3 (skilled workers and professionals): The oversubscription date for nationals of the Dominican Republic moved from August 15, 2003, to June 1, 2004. For Indian nationals, the date edged forward slightly from November 22, 2001, to January 1, 2002.
• EB-3 (other workers): The previous oversubscription date of June 1, 2001 progressed to January 1, 2002 for Indian nationals, and to May 15, 2002 for nationals of China, Mexico, and the Philippines.

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The Philippines has revised its guidelines for issuing alien employment permits (AEP), reports the Oman Tribune. The new rules require foreign workers—and domestic and foreign employers looking to employ them—to obtain an AEP. Individuals and companies can face a fine of $200 for every year that a foreign worker is employed without an AEP.

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Under new United Arab Emirates visa regulations effective at the end of July, jobseekers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Philippines and Bangladesh, who currently are not subject to visa fees, will have to pay a refundable deposit of Dh1,000 ($272) and secure health insurance while they look for work. One likely result of the new regulations, as reported at portstrategy.com, is a rush of would-be workers in the port of Dubai in the spring and early summer. Another probable consequence is that potential employers and recruitment agencies will need to search abroad to find workers in order to avoid a labor shortage. Anyone found working while on a visit visa can be fined more than Dh50,000 ($13,617) and banned from re-entering the UAE. Employers also will be subject to strict penalties for violations.

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