Actually, EB3 waiting for visa number for several countries is a norm, and the current opening for any PD is just an exception (for only 2.5 years, mid 2001-end of 2004) Just like family-based has always been the norm to wait for visa number, Always worse for the Mexicans and Fillipino (Vietnamnese used to need to wait extra time, but now the same as the rest of the world).