Visa Bulletin for January 2010
Compared with December 2009: 28 lines moved forward, 0 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 | Apr 1, 2004+2.3 mo | Apr 1, 2004+2.3 mo | Apr 1, 2004+2.3 mo | Aug 15, 1992+14 d | Dec 1, 1993+30 d |
| F2A | Jan 1, 2006+2.0 mo | Jan 1, 2006+2.0 mo | Jan 1, 2006+2.0 mo | Jan 1, 2004+3.0 mo | Jan 1, 2006+2.0 mo |
| F2B | Dec 1, 2001+30 d | Dec 1, 2001+30 d | Dec 1, 2001+30 d | Jun 8, 1992+7 d | Jul 1, 1998 |
| F3 | May 22, 2001 | May 22, 2001 | May 22, 2001 | Sep 15, 1992+24 d | Dec 1, 1991+16 d |
| F4 | Oct 1, 1999+23 d | Oct 1, 1999+23 d | Oct 1, 1999+23 d | Nov 22, 1995+7 d | May 1, 1987+40 d |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | May 1, 2005+30 d | Jan 22, 2005 | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Aug 1, 2002+2.0 mo | Aug 1, 2002+2.0 mo | Jun 22, 2001+52 d | Jul 1, 2002+30 d | Aug 1, 2002+2.0 mo |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Jun 1, 2001 | Jun 1, 2001 | Jun 1, 2001+31 d | Jun 1, 2001 | Jun 1, 2001 |
| EB-4 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
What moved
Moved forward 28
- F2AMexico+3.0 moJan 1, 2004
- F1All countries+2.3 moApr 1, 2004
- F1China+2.3 moApr 1, 2004
- F1India+2.3 moApr 1, 2004
- F2AAll countries+2.0 moJan 1, 2006
- F2AChina+2.0 moJan 1, 2006
- F2AIndia+2.0 moJan 1, 2006
- F2APhilippines+2.0 moJan 1, 2006
Show all 28
- EB-3All countries+2.0 moAug 1, 2002
- EB-3China+2.0 moAug 1, 2002
- EB-3Philippines+2.0 moAug 1, 2002
- EB-3India+52 dJun 22, 2001
- F4Philippines+40 dMay 1, 1987
- EB-3 Other WorkersIndia+31 dJun 1, 2001
- F1Philippines+30 dDec 1, 1993
- F2BAll countries+30 dDec 1, 2001
- F2BChina+30 dDec 1, 2001
- F2BIndia+30 dDec 1, 2001
- EB-2China+30 dMay 1, 2005
- EB-3Mexico+30 dJul 1, 2002
- F3Mexico+24 dSep 15, 1992
- F4All countries+23 dOct 1, 1999
- F4China+23 dOct 1, 1999
- F4India+23 dOct 1, 1999
- F3Philippines+16 dDec 1, 1991
- F1Mexico+14 dAug 15, 1992
- F2BMexico+7 dJun 8, 1992
- F4Mexico+7 dNov 22, 1995
What the State Department said
Explanation of the numerical control system and cut-date projectionsWHAT CAUSES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CUT-OFF DATES?
The Visa Office (VO)subdivides the annual preference and foreign state limitations specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) into twelve monthly allotments. The totals of documentarily qualified applicants that have been reported to VO are compared each month with the numbers available for the next regular allotment and numbers are allocated to reported applicants in order of their priority dates, the oldest dates first.
If there are sufficient numbers in a particular category to satisfy all reported documentarily qualified demand, the category is considered "Current." For example, if the Employment Third preference monthly target is 3,000 and there are only 1,000 applicants, the category is considered "Current."
Whenever the total of documentarily qualified applicants in a category exceeds the supply of numbers available for allotment for the particular month, the category is considered to be "oversubscribed" and a visa availability cut-off date is established. The cut-off date is the priority date of the first documentarily qualified applicant who could not be accommodated for a visa number. For example, if the Employment Third preference monthly target is 3,000 and there are 8,000 applicants, a cut-off date would be established so that only 3,000 numbers would be used, and the cut-off date would be the priority date of the 3,001st applicant.
Applicants entitled to immigrant status become qualified at their own initiative and convenience and upon the completion of various processing requirements. Therefore, it is extremely important to remember that by no means has every applicant with a priority date earlier than a prevailing cut-off date been processed for final visa action. On the contrary, visa allotments are made only on the basis of the total applicants reported qualified each month, and consideration of other variables. Demand for visa numbers can fluctuate from one month to another, with an inevitable impact on cut-off dates.
HOW IS THE PER-COUNTRY LIMIT CALCULATED?
Released Dec 9, 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.