Visa Bulletin for March 2009
Compared with February 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 | Jul 22, 2002+14 d | Jul 22, 2002+14 d | Jul 22, 2002+14 d | Oct 8, 1992 | Jul 15, 1993 |
| F2A | Jul 1, 2004+30 d | Jul 1, 2004+30 d | Jul 1, 2004+30 d | Oct 15, 2001+23 d | Jul 1, 2004+30 d |
| F2B | Jun 22, 2000+45 d | Jun 22, 2000+45 d | Jun 22, 2000+45 d | May 1, 1992 | Dec 1, 1997+47 d |
| F3 | Aug 8, 2000+7 d | Aug 8, 2000+7 d | Aug 8, 2000+7 d | Oct 15, 1992+7 d | Jun 8, 1991+7 d |
| F4 | Mar 1, 1998+14 d | Nov 15, 1997+54 d | Mar 1, 1998+45 d | Apr 8, 1995+17 d | May 15, 1986+14 d |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Feb 15, 2005+45 d | Feb 15, 2004+45 d | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | May 1, 2005 | Oct 22, 2002+21 d | Oct 15, 2001 | Aug 15, 2003+4.5 mo | May 1, 2005 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Mar 15, 2003 | Oct 22, 2002+21 d | Oct 15, 2001 | Mar 15, 2003+17.0 mo | Mar 15, 2003 |
| EB-4 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
What moved
Moved forward 28
- EB-3 Other WorkersMexico+17.0 moMar 15, 2003
- EB-3Mexico+4.5 moAug 15, 2003
- F4China+54 dNov 15, 1997
- F2BPhilippines+47 dDec 1, 1997
- F2BAll countries+45 dJun 22, 2000
- F2BChina+45 dJun 22, 2000
- F2BIndia+45 dJun 22, 2000
- F4India+45 dMar 1, 1998
Show all 28
- EB-2China+45 dFeb 15, 2005
- EB-2India+45 dFeb 15, 2004
- F2AAll countries+30 dJul 1, 2004
- F2AChina+30 dJul 1, 2004
- F2AIndia+30 dJul 1, 2004
- F2APhilippines+30 dJul 1, 2004
- F2AMexico+23 dOct 15, 2001
- EB-3China+21 dOct 22, 2002
- EB-3 Other WorkersChina+21 dOct 22, 2002
- F4Mexico+17 dApr 8, 1995
- F1All countries+14 dJul 22, 2002
- F1China+14 dJul 22, 2002
- F1India+14 dJul 22, 2002
- F4All countries+14 dMar 1, 1998
- F4Philippines+14 dMay 15, 1986
- F3All countries+7 dAug 8, 2000
- F3China+7 dAug 8, 2000
- F3India+7 dAug 8, 2000
- F3Mexico+7 dOct 15, 1992
- F3Philippines+7 dJun 8, 1991
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. No. 110-391), the nonminister special immigrant program expires on March 6, 2009. No SR-1, SR-2, or SR-3 visas may be issued overseas on or after March 6, 2009. Visas issued prior to this date may only be issued with a validity date of March 5, 2009, and all individuals seeking admission as a nonminister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight March 5, 2009.
Employment Fifth Preference Pilot 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 will expire on March 6, 2009. No I5-1, I5-2, I5-3, R5-1, R5-2 or R5-3 visas may be issued after March 6, 2009.
The initial cut-off dates for the categories mentioned above have been listed as “current” for March. If these categories have not been extended based on legislative action those cut-off dates will become “unavailable” effective March 7, 2009.
Active immigrant visa applicants registered for processing at consular offices abroad as of january 2009Most prospective immigrant visa applicants qualify for status under the law on the basis of family relationships or employer sponsorship. Entitlement to visa processing in these classes is established ordinarily through approval by Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) of a petition filed on the applicant's behalf. When such petitions are forwarded by CIS to the Department of State, applicants in categories subject to numerical limit are registered on the visa waiting list. Each case is assigned a priority (i.e., registration) date based on the filing date accorded to the petition. Visa issuance within each numerically limited category is possible only if the applicant's place on the waiting list has been reached, i.e., the case priority date is within the visa availability cut-off dates published each month by the Department of State. Family and employment preference applicants wait for their visa numbers to become current within their respective categories on a worldwide basis according to priority date; a per-country limit on such preference immigrants set by INA 202 places a maximum on the amount of visas which may be issued in a single year to applicants from any one country, however.
The Department of State requested that the National Visa Center at Portsmouth, New Hampshire provide the totals of applicants on the waiting list in the various numerically-limited family immigrant categories. Those totals are listed below, and reflect persons registered under each respective numerical limitation, i.e., the totals represent not only principal applicants or petition beneficiaries, but their spouses and children entitled to derivative status under INA 203(d) as well. It should be noted that applications for adjustment of status under INA 245 which are pending at Citizenship and Immigration Services offices are not included in the totals which are being presented at this time.
Family-Sponsored Preference Categories
F1: 228,787
F2A: 322,212
F2B: 481,726
Released Feb 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.