Archive · fiscal year 2013

Visa Bulletin for October 2012

Compared with September 2012: 31 lines moved forward, 0 retrogressed, current for all countries: EB-1, EB-4.

Chart A

Final action dates

Family	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Oct 8, 2005+7 d	Oct 8, 2005+7 d	Oct 8, 2005+7 d	Jun 15, 1993+7 d	Apr 1, 1996+16.8 mo
F2A	Jun 1, 2010+24 d	Jun 1, 2010+24 d	Jun 1, 2010+24 d	May 15, 2010+30 d	Jun 1, 2010+24 d
F2B	Sep 15, 2004	Sep 15, 2004	Sep 15, 2004	Oct 1, 1992+40 d	Jan 22, 2002+21 d
F3	May 22, 2002+7 d	May 22, 2002+7 d	May 22, 2002+7 d	Feb 8, 1993+17 d	Jul 22, 1992
F4	Mar 15, 2001+7 d	Feb 15, 2001+24 d	Mar 15, 2001+7 d	Jun 22, 1996+7 d	Feb 8, 1989+7 d

Employment	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
EB-2	Jan 1, 2012+36.0 mo	Jul 15, 2007	Sep 1, 2004	Jan 1, 2012+36.0 mo	Jan 1, 2012+36.0 mo
EB-3	Oct 22, 2006+21 d	Feb 8, 2006+55 d	Oct 15, 2002+7 d	Oct 22, 2006+21 d	Aug 1, 2006
EB-3 Other Workers	Oct 22, 2006+21 d	Jun 22, 2003	Oct 15, 2002+7 d	Oct 22, 2006+21 d	Aug 1, 2006
EB-4	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
EB-4 Religious Workers	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable

What moved

Moved forward 31

EB-2All countries+36.0 moJan 1, 2012
EB-2Mexico+36.0 moJan 1, 2012
EB-2Philippines+36.0 moJan 1, 2012
F1Philippines+16.8 moApr 1, 1996
EB-3China+55 dFeb 8, 2006
F2BMexico+40 dOct 1, 1992
F2AMexico+30 dMay 15, 2010
F2AAll countries+24 dJun 1, 2010
Show all 31
- F2AChina+24 dJun 1, 2010
- F2AIndia+24 dJun 1, 2010
- F2APhilippines+24 dJun 1, 2010
- F4China+24 dFeb 15, 2001
- F2BPhilippines+21 dJan 22, 2002
- EB-3All countries+21 dOct 22, 2006
- EB-3Mexico+21 dOct 22, 2006
- EB-3 Other WorkersAll countries+21 dOct 22, 2006
- EB-3 Other WorkersMexico+21 dOct 22, 2006
- F3Mexico+17 dFeb 8, 1993
- F1All countries+7 dOct 8, 2005
- F1China+7 dOct 8, 2005
- F1India+7 dOct 8, 2005
- F1Mexico+7 dJun 15, 1993
- F3All countries+7 dMay 22, 2002
- F3China+7 dMay 22, 2002
- F3India+7 dMay 22, 2002
- F4All countries+7 dMar 15, 2001
- F4India+7 dMar 15, 2001
- F4Mexico+7 dJun 22, 1996
- F4Philippines+7 dFeb 8, 1989
- EB-3India+7 dOct 15, 2002
- EB-3 Other WorkersIndia+7 dOct 15, 2002

What the State Department said

Scheduled expiration of two employment visa categories
Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR): Pursuant to Section 568(a)(1) of Public Law 111-83, the non-minister special immigrant program expires on September 30, 2012. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, or after September 30, 2012. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of September 30, 2012, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight September 30, 2012.
Employment Fifth Preference Pilot Categories (I5 and R5): Section 548 of Public Law 111-83 extended this immigrant investor pilot program through September 30, 2012. The I5 and R5 visas may be issued until close of business on September 30, 2012, and may be issued for the full validity period. No I5 or R5 visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after September 30, 2012.
The cut-off dates for the categories mentioned above have been listed as “Unavailable” for October. Congress is currently considering an extension of the SR, I5 and R5 visa categories, but there is no certainty when such legislative action may occur. If there is legislative action extending one or both of these categories for FY-2013, those cut-off dates would immediately become “Current” for October.
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for October 2012

Released Sep 10, 2012. Official text: travel.state.gov.