First Preference, Employment-Based Priority Workers' U.S. Immigrant Visas At A Processing Standstill

As of July 18, 2018, the Visa Control and Reporting Division of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) advised that due to heavy worldwide demand it was retrogressing the processing of immigrant visas for certain "priority workers."

First preference priority workers, commonly referred to as "EB-1" (employment-based first preference) workers, consist of:

1. persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, business, arts or sports;
2. outstanding professors and researchers; and
3. multinational executives and managers.

The practical effect of the DOS' announcement is that as of August 1, 2018, neither U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) nor the DOS will issue immigrant visas or permanent residence status to no less than 137,280 of the world's most sought-after workers – unless the workers' intended, permanent U.S. employer filed its EB-1 petition with USCIS more than two years ago, namely no later than May 1, 2016.