Visa Bulletin for May 2006
Compared with April 2006: 10 lines moved forward, 9 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 22, 2001 | Apr 22, 2001 | Apr 22, 2001 | Jan 1, 1991−43.2 mo | Aug 22, 1991 |
| F2A | Mar 1, 2002 | Mar 1, 2002 | Mar 1, 2002 | Jun 15, 1999 | Mar 1, 2002 |
| F2B | Jul 15, 1996 | Jul 15, 1996 | Jul 15, 1996 | Sep 1, 1991−5.5 mo | Jul 8, 1996 |
| F3 | Jul 22, 1998 | Jul 22, 1998 | Jul 22, 1998 | Jan 1, 1993−24.0 mo | Jul 1, 1988−31.3 mo |
| F4 | Jan 1, 1995+54 d | Jan 1, 1995+54 d | Jun 1, 1994+2.0 mo | Aug 15, 1993 | Oct 15, 1983+7 d |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Jul 1, 2004+6.0 mo | Jul 1, 2005+5.9 mo | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Jan 1, 2004+12.0 mo | Jan 1, 2003+6.0 mo | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | May 1, 2001 | May 1, 2001 | Mar 1, 2001+28 d | Apr 15, 2001+7 d | May 1, 2001 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Oct 1, 2000−12.0 mo | Oct 1, 2000−12.0 mo | Oct 1, 2000−12.0 mo | Oct 1, 2000−12.0 mo | Oct 1, 2000−12.0 mo |
| EB-4 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
What moved
Moved forward 10
Retrogressed 9
- F1Mexico−43.2 moJan 1, 1991
- F3Philippines−31.3 moJul 1, 1988
- F3Mexico−24.0 moJan 1, 1993
- EB-3 Other WorkersAll countries−12.0 moOct 1, 2000
- EB-3 Other WorkersChina−12.0 moOct 1, 2000
- EB-3 Other WorkersIndia−12.0 moOct 1, 2000
- EB-3 Other WorkersMexico−12.0 moOct 1, 2000
- EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippines−12.0 moOct 1, 2000
Show all 9
- F2BMexico−5.5 moSep 1, 1991
What the State Department said
Retrogression of family preference cut-off dates for mayFor May, it has been necessary to retrogress the cut-off dates for the Mexico and Philippines chargeability areas. This has been done in an effort to hold the issuance levels within the applicable annual numerical limits for the affected categories. The categories which have experienced retrogressions are listed below:
Mexico: F1, F2B, and F3
Philippines: F3
Retrogresson of the employment third preference “other worker” category for mayContinued heavy demand for numbers (particularly for adjustment of status cases at USCIS offices) has brought allocations close to the 5,000 annual numerical limit. Therefore, it has been necessary to retrogress the Employment Third preference “Other Worker” cut-off date in an effort to limit future demand. Should the annual limit be reached, it will be necessary to immediately make the category “unavailable” for the remaining months of the fiscal year.
Potential retrogression of family-sponsored preference categoriesApplicant demand for numbers, particularly in the Family F1 and F2A categories, has increased dramatically in recent months. Should the current rate of demand continue, it will be necessary to retrogress those cut-off dates in June.
China-mainland born and India employment-based preference visa availabilityThere has been a significant amount of forward movement in the China-mainland born and India Employment First and Second preference cut-off dates during recent months. This has been done in an effort to generate demand for numbers. It cannot be assumed that these cut-off dates will continue to advance at this pace during the remainder of the fiscal year. It remains to be seen how heavy the demand for visa numbers by applicants from those areas will be in the coming months.
Released Apr 5, 2006. 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.