April 15, 2005

Probable Unavailability of Employment-Based Third Preference “Other Worker” Category

As originally evidenced in the February and March Visa Bulletins, the demand for visa numbers in all employment-based categories remains very high. This is particularly true for the “other worker” category within the employment-based third preference. In March the Department of State issued a cut-off date for visa issuance in this category in hopes of limiting visa number usage. However, according to a communication received by GT from the Department of State this week, the imposition of that deadline did not have the intended effect of reducing visa demand in the third preference category. Consequently, the Department of State projects that the cut-off date previously established will substantially retrogress – even further than the prior retrogression dating back to July 2001 – resulting in visa numbers for the “other worker” category becoming unavailable for an unspecified period in the near future. GT, through our work and leadership with the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition, continues to work with Congress and the agencies to find a solution to these problems.