Visa Bulletin for April 2009
Compared with March 2009: 25 lines moved forward, 8 retrogressed, current for all countries: EB-1, EB-2, EB-4.
Final action dates
| Family | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Aug 15, 2002+24 d | Aug 15, 2002+24 d | Aug 15, 2002+24 d | Oct 8, 1992 | Aug 1, 1993+17 d |
| F2A | Aug 15, 2004+45 d | Aug 15, 2004+45 d | Aug 15, 2004+45 d | Jan 1, 2002+2.6 mo | Aug 15, 2004+45 d |
| F2B | Sep 1, 2000+2.3 mo | Sep 1, 2000+2.3 mo | Sep 1, 2000+2.3 mo | May 1, 1992 | Jan 15, 1998+45 d |
| F3 | Aug 22, 2000+14 d | Aug 22, 2000+14 d | Aug 22, 2000+14 d | Oct 22, 1992+7 d | Jun 15, 1991+7 d |
| F4 | Apr 15, 1998+45 d | Jan 8, 1998+54 d | Apr 15, 1998+45 d | Apr 22, 1995+14 d | Jun 22, 1986+38 d |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Feb 15, 2005 | Feb 15, 2004 | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Mar 1, 2003−26.0 mo | Mar 1, 2003+4.3 mo | Nov 1, 2001+17 d | Mar 1, 2003−5.5 mo | Mar 1, 2003−26.0 mo |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Mar 1, 2001−24.4 mo | Mar 1, 2001−19.7 mo | Mar 1, 2001−7.5 mo | Mar 1, 2001−24.4 mo | Mar 1, 2001−24.4 mo |
| EB-4 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
What moved
Moved forward 25
- EB-3China+4.3 moMar 1, 2003
- F2AMexico+2.6 moJan 1, 2002
- F2BAll countries+2.3 moSep 1, 2000
- F2BChina+2.3 moSep 1, 2000
- F2BIndia+2.3 moSep 1, 2000
- F4China+54 dJan 8, 1998
- F2AAll countries+45 dAug 15, 2004
- F2AChina+45 dAug 15, 2004
Show all 25
- F2AIndia+45 dAug 15, 2004
- F2APhilippines+45 dAug 15, 2004
- F2BPhilippines+45 dJan 15, 1998
- F4All countries+45 dApr 15, 1998
- F4India+45 dApr 15, 1998
- F4Philippines+38 dJun 22, 1986
- F1All countries+24 dAug 15, 2002
- F1China+24 dAug 15, 2002
- F1India+24 dAug 15, 2002
- F1Philippines+17 dAug 1, 1993
- EB-3India+17 dNov 1, 2001
- F3All countries+14 dAug 22, 2000
- F3China+14 dAug 22, 2000
- F3India+14 dAug 22, 2000
- F4Mexico+14 dApr 22, 1995
- F3Mexico+7 dOct 22, 1992
- F3Philippines+7 dJun 15, 1991
Retrogressed 8
- EB-3All countries−26.0 moMar 1, 2003
- EB-3Philippines−26.0 moMar 1, 2003
- EB-3 Other WorkersAll countries−24.4 moMar 1, 2001
- EB-3 Other WorkersMexico−24.4 moMar 1, 2001
- EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippines−24.4 moMar 1, 2001
- EB-3 Other WorkersChina−19.7 moMar 1, 2001
- EB-3 Other WorkersIndia−7.5 moMar 1, 2001
- EB-3Mexico−5.5 moMar 1, 2003
What the State Department said
Expiration of two employment visa categoriesEmployment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers:
Pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program Act (Pub. L. 110-391), the nonminister special immigrant program expires on March 6, 2009.
Employment Fifth Preference Pilot Program Categories (I5, R5):
Pursuant to Section 144 of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 110-329), the immigrant investor pilot program expires on March 6, 2009.
The cut-off dates for the above categories are shown as “Unavailable” for April. Congress is considering an extension for each of these categories, but there is no certainty when such legislative action may occur. If legislation to extend either of these categories is enacted, the cut-off date for that category would immediately become “Current.”
Retrogresson of the worldwide, Mexico, and Philippines employment third preference cut-off dates for aprilDespite the established cut-off date having been held for the past five months in an effort to keep demand within the average monthly usage targets, the amount of demand being received from Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Offices for adjustment of status cases remains extremely high. Therefore, it has been necessary to retrogress the April cut-off dates in an attempt to hold demand within the FY-2009 annual limit. Since over 60 percent of the Worldwide and Philippines Employment Third preference CIS demand received this year has been for applicants with priority dates prior to January 1, 2004, the cut-off date has been retrogressed to 01MAR03 to help ensure that the amount of future demand is significantly reduced. As indicated in the last sentence of Item A, paragraph 1, of this bulletin, this cut-off date will be applied immediately. It should also be noted that further retrogression or “unavailability” at any time cannot be ruled out.
It has also been necessary to retrogress the Employment Third Preference Other Worker cut-off date for all countries in order to hold the issuance level within the annual limit.
Visa availability in the coming monthsDuring the past year, many preference categories have experienced steady and sometimes rapid cut-off date movement. Such action is normally followed by an increase in applicant demand. Heavy applicant demand for numbers in some categories could require cut-off date movements to slow, stop, or even retrogress at some point during the remainder of FY-2009, in order to hold visa use within the applicable annual numerical limits. Should such action occur, it would most likely be only temporary in nature, pending the start of the new fiscal year in October.
Released Mar 6, 2009. Official text: travel.state.gov.
Archive
Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin (travel.state.gov), every monthly bulletin since 2003, parsed by 77.today. A bulletin can be revised after release; the State Department's page is the binding text. Not legal advice.