The U.S. Department of State has issued the August 2010 Visa Bulletin.? There has been some solid forward movement in a number of categories, while other categories crept forward only slightly.? The good news is that everything is currently moving in the direction of less retrogression.

The first preference category (EB-1) remains current for all countries.

The second preference category (EB-2) remains current for all countries, except for India and China.? EB-2 India moved from October 1, 2005 to March 1, 2006, a positive change of five months.? EB-2 China also advanced several months from November 22, 2005 to March 1, 2006, a change of more than three months.? Because these categories moved more than one month, it signifies a slight erosion of immigrant visa retrogression.

In July, the EB-3 category for Dominican Republic, Philippines, and All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed had an effective date of August 15, 2003. ??These categories moved an impressive nine and a half months to June 1, 2004.

EB-3 India and EB-3 China were equally disappointing.? Each only moved a month and one week, which is barely ahead of month-to-month improvement.? EB-3 India moved from November 22, 2001 to January 1, 2002, and EB-3 China moved from August 15, 2003 to September 22, 2003.

EB-3 Mexico is the only category that did not move, as it currently remains “unavailable.”