Archive · fiscal year 2006

Visa Bulletin for March 2006

Compared with February 2006: 22 lines moved forward, 0 retrogressed, current for all countries: EB-1, EB-2, EB-4, EB-4 Religious Workers.

Chart A

Final action dates

Family	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Apr 22, 2001	Apr 22, 2001	Apr 22, 2001	Aug 8, 1994	–
F2A	Feb 22, 2002+14 d	Feb 22, 2002+14 d	Feb 22, 2002+14 d	May 15, 1999+30 d	–
F2B	Jul 8, 1996+7 d	Jul 8, 1996+7 d	Jul 8, 1996+7 d	Feb 15, 1992	–
F3	Jul 22, 1998+7 d	Jul 22, 1998+7 d	Jul 22, 1998+7 d	Jan 1, 1995	–
F4	Oct 1, 1994+40 d	Oct 1, 1994+40 d	Mar 22, 1994+49 d	May 22, 1993+4.6 mo	–

Employment	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current	Jul 1, 2003+5.9 mo	Jul 1, 2004+5.0 mo	Current	Current
EB-2	Current	Jul 1, 2002+3.0 mo	Jan 1, 2002+5.0 mo	Current	Current
EB-3	May 1, 2001+9 d	May 1, 2001+9 d	Jan 1, 2001+12.0 mo	Mar 22, 2001+7 d	May 1, 2001
EB-3 Other Workers	Oct 1, 2001	Oct 1, 2001	Oct 1, 2001	Oct 1, 2001	Oct 1, 2001
EB-4	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
EB-4 Religious Workers	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current

What moved

Moved forward 22

EB-3India+12.0 moJan 1, 2001
EB-1China+5.9 moJul 1, 2003
EB-2India+5.0 moJan 1, 2002
EB-1India+5.0 moJul 1, 2004
F4Mexico+4.6 moMay 22, 1993
EB-2China+3.0 moJul 1, 2002
F4India+49 dMar 22, 1994
F4All countries+40 dOct 1, 1994
Show all 22
- F4China+40 dOct 1, 1994
- F2AMexico+30 dMay 15, 1999
- F2AAll countries+14 dFeb 22, 2002
- F2AChina+14 dFeb 22, 2002
- F2AIndia+14 dFeb 22, 2002
- EB-3All countries+9 dMay 1, 2001
- EB-3China+9 dMay 1, 2001
- F2BAll countries+7 dJul 8, 1996
- F2BChina+7 dJul 8, 1996
- F2BIndia+7 dJul 8, 1996
- F3All countries+7 dJul 22, 1998
- F3China+7 dJul 22, 1998
- F3India+7 dJul 22, 1998
- EB-3Mexico+7 dMar 22, 2001

What the State Department said

Visa availability during the coming months
Family-sponsored: Movement of the cut-off dates consistent with those of recent months can be expected for the foreseeable future.
Employment-based: Cut-off date movement in several categories during recent months has been greater than originally expected. This is because demand by Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) offices for adjustment of status cases has been much less than anticipated. Advancement of the cut-off dates at this time should prevent a situation late in the fiscal year where there are large amounts of numbers available but not enough time to use them. Interested parties should be aware that the recent rate of cut-off date advances might not continue indefinitely; however, it is not possible to say at present how soon CIS number use will influence the cut-off date determinations. Moreover, in some categories (for instance the “Other Workers” category), cut-off date retrogression is a definite possibility should demand increase dramatically. Such retrogressions are not likely in the immediate future, but readers should be alert to the possibility as the year proceeds and watch for updates in this Bulletin. Retrogressions are normally preceded by a period of no movement of the cut-off date, as we attempt to limit future demand for numbers under the annual limit.
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for March 2006

Availability of statistical (visa) data on the consular affairs web site
The travel.state.gov website offers online access to many statistical reports issued by the Visa Office. Here is a sampling of the reports that may be found online at present, with more being added on an ongoing basis:
Report of the Visa Office (FY-2000 through FY-2005)
Annual reports provide statistical data on visa issuances by consular offices worldwide, as well as on the use of visa numbers in numerically-limited categories
Multi-Year Reports (FY-1992 through FY-2004)
Tables provide statistical data for multiple years on a number of subjects (foreign state of chargeability, issuing office, etc.)
NIV Workload by Category (FY-2003 through FY-2005)
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for March 2006

Released Feb 6, 2006. Official text: travel.state.gov.