Archive · fiscal year 2007

Visa Bulletin for May 2007

Compared with April 2007: 22 lines moved forward, 1 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	May 15, 2001+7 d	May 15, 2001+7 d	May 15, 2001+7 d	Jan 1, 1991−36.0 mo	Mar 22, 1992+29 d
F2A	Apr 8, 2002+7 d	Apr 8, 2002+7 d	Apr 8, 2002+7 d	Jan 1, 2001+31 d	Apr 8, 2002+7 d
F2B	Oct 1, 1997+47 d	Oct 1, 1997+47 d	Oct 1, 1997+47 d	Mar 1, 1992	Oct 1, 1996
F3	Apr 1, 1999+10 d	Apr 1, 1999+10 d	Apr 1, 1999+10 d	Feb 8, 1988	Jan 1, 1985
F4	May 15, 1996+14 d	Nov 22, 1995+38 d	Jan 8, 1996+7 d	Jul 1, 1994+23 d	Jan 1, 1985+2.0 mo

Employment	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
EB-2	Current	Apr 22, 2005	Jan 8, 2003	Current	Current
EB-3	Aug 1, 2003+12.0 mo	Aug 1, 2002	May 8, 2001	May 15, 2001	Aug 1, 2003+12.0 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable
EB-4	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
EB-4 Religious Workers	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current

What moved

Moved forward 22

EB-3All countries+12.0 moAug 1, 2003
EB-3Philippines+12.0 moAug 1, 2003
F4Philippines+2.0 moJan 1, 1985
F2BAll countries+47 dOct 1, 1997
F2BChina+47 dOct 1, 1997
F2BIndia+47 dOct 1, 1997
F4China+38 dNov 22, 1995
F2AMexico+31 dJan 1, 2001
Show all 22
- F1Philippines+29 dMar 22, 1992
- F4Mexico+23 dJul 1, 1994
- F4All countries+14 dMay 15, 1996
- F3All countries+10 dApr 1, 1999
- F3China+10 dApr 1, 1999
- F3India+10 dApr 1, 1999
- F1All countries+7 dMay 15, 2001
- F1China+7 dMay 15, 2001
- F1India+7 dMay 15, 2001
- F2AAll countries+7 dApr 8, 2002
- F2AChina+7 dApr 8, 2002
- F2AIndia+7 dApr 8, 2002
- F2APhilippines+7 dApr 8, 2002
- F4India+7 dJan 8, 1996

Retrogressed 1

F1Mexico−36.0 moJan 1, 1991

What the State Department said

Retrogression of the Mexico family first preference category cut-off date
It has been necessary to retrogress the cut-off date for the Mexico Family First preference category for the month of May in an attempt to keep the issuance level within the annual numerical limit. Further retrogression or “unavailability” in future months cannot be ruled out.
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for May 2007

Employment third preference “other worker” category becomes “unavailable” for may
The Employment Third Preference “Other Worker” category is expected to reach the annual numerical limit during April. As a result, the category will become “Unavailable” beginning in May and will remain so for the remainder of FY-2007.
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for May 2007

Visa availability during the coming months
Recent discussions have indicated that both the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) and the Department of Labor still have a significant amount of cases in their backlog reduction efforts. As a result, the anticipated increase in demand has not yet materialized and may not for some time. Therefore, in an effort to maximize number use under the annual numerical limit, the Worldwide and Philippines Employment Third preference cut-off dates have been advanced by one year.
Unless there is a significant increase in Employment demand, it will be necessary to continue this rate of movement during the upcoming months. Such movement could be expanded to include other chargeability areas and preference categories.
One consequence of rapid cut-off date advancement is the inevitable increase in demand for numbers as adjustment of status cases are brought to conclusion at CIS Offices. Such increased demand could have dramatic impact on the cut-off dates. Readers will be provided as much advance notice as possible should this occur.
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for May 2007

Released Apr 11, 2007. Official text: travel.state.gov.