Visa Bulletin for May 2011
Compared with April 2011: 30 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 | May 1, 2004 | May 1, 2004 | May 1, 2004 | Mar 1, 1993+14 d | Jul 15, 1995+3.4 mo |
| F2A | Jun 8, 2007+2.2 mo | Jun 8, 2007+2.2 mo | Jun 8, 2007+2.2 mo | Jan 1, 2007+6.0 mo | Jun 8, 2007+2.2 mo |
| F2B | Apr 15, 2003 | Apr 15, 2003 | Apr 15, 2003 | Aug 1, 1992+17 d | Mar 1, 2000+3.0 mo |
| F3 | May 1, 2001+47 d | May 1, 2001+47 d | May 1, 2001+47 d | Nov 15, 1992+7 d | Feb 15, 1992+45 d |
| F4 | Mar 8, 2000+36 d | Jan 22, 2000+21 d | Mar 8, 2000+36 d | Feb 15, 1996+14 d | Apr 8, 1988+31 d |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Aug 1, 2006+10 d | Jul 1, 2006+54 d | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Aug 22, 2005+31 d | Apr 15, 2004+45 d | Apr 15, 2002+7 d | Sep 8, 2004+4.0 mo | Aug 22, 2005+31 d |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Sep 8, 2003+48 d | Apr 22, 2003 | Apr 15, 2002+7 d | Sep 8, 2003+48 d | Sep 8, 2003+48 d |
| EB-4 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
What moved
Moved forward 30
- F2AMexico+6.0 moJan 1, 2007
- EB-3Mexico+4.0 moSep 8, 2004
- F1Philippines+3.4 moJul 15, 1995
- F2BPhilippines+3.0 moMar 1, 2000
- F2AAll countries+2.2 moJun 8, 2007
- F2AChina+2.2 moJun 8, 2007
- F2AIndia+2.2 moJun 8, 2007
- F2APhilippines+2.2 moJun 8, 2007
Show all 30
- EB-2India+54 dJul 1, 2006
- EB-3 Other WorkersAll countries+48 dSep 8, 2003
- EB-3 Other WorkersMexico+48 dSep 8, 2003
- EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippines+48 dSep 8, 2003
- F3All countries+47 dMay 1, 2001
- F3China+47 dMay 1, 2001
- F3India+47 dMay 1, 2001
- F3Philippines+45 dFeb 15, 1992
- EB-3China+45 dApr 15, 2004
- F4All countries+36 dMar 8, 2000
- F4India+36 dMar 8, 2000
- F4Philippines+31 dApr 8, 1988
- EB-3All countries+31 dAug 22, 2005
- EB-3Philippines+31 dAug 22, 2005
- F4China+21 dJan 22, 2000
- F2BMexico+17 dAug 1, 1992
- F1Mexico+14 dMar 1, 1993
- F4Mexico+14 dFeb 15, 1996
- EB-2China+10 dAug 1, 2006
- F3Mexico+7 dNov 15, 1992
- EB-3India+7 dApr 15, 2002
- EB-3 Other WorkersIndia+7 dApr 15, 2002
What the State Department said
Visa availability during the coming monthsFamily-sponsored: The extremely high level of demand during the first few months of FY-2011 resulted in the retrogression of most worldwide cut-off dates in January or February. Most of these cut-offs have begun to advance slowly, although demand is still somewhat heavy in the Family First preference which may require further retrogression of that date. At this time it is not possible to predict the rate of forward movement, but some movement is anticipated in most categories for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Employment-based: At this time the amount of demand being received in the Employment First preference is extremely low compared with that of recent years. Absent an immediate and dramatic increase in demand, this category will remain “Current” for all countries. It also appears unlikely that a Second preference cut-off date will be imposed for any countries other than China and India, where demand is extremely high. Based on current indications of demand, the best case scenarios for cut-off date movement each month during the coming months are as follows:
Employment Second: Demand by applicants who are “upgrading” their status from Employment Third to Employment Second preference is very high, but the exact amount is not known. Such “upgrades” are in addition to the known demand already reported, and make it very difficult to predict ultimate demand based on forward movement of the China and India cut-off dates. While thousands of “otherwise unused” numbers will be available for potential use without regard to the China and India Employment Second preference per-country annual limits, it is not known how the “upgrades” will ultimately impact the cut-offs for those two countries. (The allocation of “otherwise unused” numbers is discussed below.)
China: none to three weeks expected through July. No August or September estimate is possible at this time.
India: One or more weeks, possibly followed by additional movement if demand remains stable. No August or September estimate is possible at this time.
Employment Third:
Released Apr 8, 2011. 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.