The Department of State recently advanced the Date for Filing (also known as the application date) for immigrant visa or adjustment of status applications in the employment-based, second preference (EB-2) category for India from September 1, 2013, to September 1, 2014.

If you are a noncitizen with an accepted immigrant visa petition in the EB-2 category that is chargeable to India and a priority date before to September 1, 2014, USCIS recommends completing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, in April. To save time, submit your Form I-485 with your Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. Although completing Form I-693 at the same time as Form I-485 is not essential, doing so may obviate the need for USCIS to make a Request for Evidence in order to receive your Form I-693. If we decide that you need to be adjudicated, this may also assist you prevent delays.

We continue to encourage eligible applicants to request that the underlying basis of their pending adjustment of status applications in the EB-3 category be transferred to the EB-1 or EB-2 category if they meet the following criteria: a visa is unavailable in the EB-3 category; they have a pending or approved Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers; and a visa is available in the EB-1 or EB-2 category.