The Department of State (DOS) released the September 2019 Visa Bulletin a few weeks ago, and the EB-3 categories had normal retrogression. Since then, the DOS has announced that the EB-3 category is now unavailable for the remainder of the fiscal year. This means that all available green cards within the numerical limits have been issued already for this classification and petitioners will need to wait for the new fiscal year (October 1st, 2019) at a minimum to be issued a green card in the EB-3 category.
This does happen from time to time. While frustrating indeed for foreign nationals waiting many years for this long, grueling process of obtaining a green card, it should correct and go back to a more ‘normative’ retrogression schedule when the new fiscal year begins.
