Visa Bulletin for December 2010
Compared with November 2010: 15 lines moved forward, 3 retrogressed, current for all countries: EB-1, EB-2, EB-4, EB-4 Religious Workers.
Final action dates
| Family | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Feb 15, 2006 | Feb 15, 2006 | Feb 15, 2006 | Jan 1, 1993+10 d | Apr 1, 1997 |
| F2A | Aug 1, 2010+2.0 mo | Aug 1, 2010+2.0 mo | Aug 1, 2010+2.0 mo | Mar 1, 2010 | Aug 1, 2010+2.0 mo |
| F2B | Jun 1, 2005 | Jun 1, 2005 | Jun 1, 2005 | Jun 22, 1992 | Mar 1, 2000−30.0 mo |
| F3 | Jun 1, 2002 | Jun 1, 2002 | Jun 1, 2002 | Oct 22, 1992 | Jul 1, 1992−32.0 mo |
| F4 | Jan 1, 2002 | Jan 1, 2002 | Jan 1, 2002 | Dec 22, 1995+7 d | Jan 1, 1988−39.0 mo |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Jun 8, 2006+7 d | May 8, 2006 | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Feb 22, 2005+31 d | Dec 8, 2003+16 d | Jan 22, 2002 | Jul 1, 2002+14.0 mo | Feb 22, 2005+31 d |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Apr 22, 2003+21 d | Apr 22, 2003+21 d | Jan 22, 2002 | Jul 1, 2002+14.0 mo | Apr 22, 2003+21 d |
| EB-4 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
What moved
Moved forward 15
- EB-3Mexico+14.0 moJul 1, 2002
- EB-3 Other WorkersMexico+14.0 moJul 1, 2002
- F2AAll countries+2.0 moAug 1, 2010
- F2AChina+2.0 moAug 1, 2010
- F2AIndia+2.0 moAug 1, 2010
- F2APhilippines+2.0 moAug 1, 2010
- EB-3All countries+31 dFeb 22, 2005
- EB-3Philippines+31 dFeb 22, 2005
Show all 15
- EB-3 Other WorkersAll countries+21 dApr 22, 2003
- EB-3 Other WorkersChina+21 dApr 22, 2003
- EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippines+21 dApr 22, 2003
- EB-3China+16 dDec 8, 2003
- F1Mexico+10 dJan 1, 1993
- F4Mexico+7 dDec 22, 1995
- EB-2China+7 dJun 8, 2006
What the State Department said
Oversubscription of the dominican republic chargeabilityContinued heavy applicant demand for Family preference numbers has required the oversubscription of the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC chargeability for December, to hold issuances within the annual numerical limitation. The result has been the establishment of cut-off dates in the Family First and 2B preference categories which are earlier than the Worldwide dates.
Retrogression of Philippines family cut-off datesA dramatic increase in the level of applicant demand with very early priority dates has required the retrogression of the Philippines Family 2B, Third, and Fourth preference cut-off dates.
Visa availability in the coming monthsFamily-sponsored: From early 2009 through September 2010, the level of demand for numbers in the Family-sponsored preference categories was very low. As a result, the cut-off dates for most Family preference categories were advanced at a very rapid pace, in an attempt to generate demand so that the annual numerical limits could be fully utilized. As readers were advised in previous Visa Bulletins providing projections of visa availability (e.g., April 2009, January 2010, May 2010, July 2010), such cut-off date advances could not continue indefinitely, and at some point they could slow, stop, or in some cases retrogress.
The level of demand which has been experienced during FY-2011 has resulted in most of the worldwide cut-off dates being held for the month of December. At this time it is not possible to predict when or if these dates may advance further, and there is a distinct possibility that retrogressions could occur as early as January if demand within the established cut-off dates does not appear to be subsiding.
Employment-based: At this time it is unlikely that there will be any cut-off dates in the Employment First preference during the coming months. It also appears unlikely that it will be necessary to establish a cut-off date other than those already in effect for the Second preference category. Cut-off dates continue to apply to the China and India Second preference categories due to heavy demand. Based on current indications of demand, the best case scenarios for cut-off date movement each month during the coming months are as follows:
Employment Second:
China: none to two weeks
India: no movement
Annual report of immigrant visa applicants in the family-sponsored and employment-based preferences registered at the national visa center as of november 1, 2010This information is available on the Consular Affairs travel.state.gov web site. Once at that site, select “Visas” from along the top line, then on the left side select “Visa Statistics”, then Immigrant Visas”, then “Annual IV Waiting List Report”.
Released Nov 10, 2010. 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.