Visa Bulletin for September 2008
Compared with August 2008: 25 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 | Apr 1, 2002+17 d | Apr 1, 2002+17 d | Apr 1, 2002+17 d | Sep 8, 1992+31 d | Apr 1, 1993+10 d |
| F2A | Dec 1, 2003+2.0 mo | Dec 1, 2003+2.0 mo | Dec 1, 2003+2.0 mo | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2003+2.0 mo |
| F2B | Dec 15, 1999+44 d | Dec 15, 1999+44 d | Dec 15, 1999+44 d | Apr 22, 1992+7 d | Apr 8, 1997+24 d |
| F3 | Jun 15, 2000+7 d | Jun 15, 2000+7 d | Jun 15, 2000+7 d | Sep 15, 1992+7 d | Apr 22, 1991+21 d |
| F4 | Oct 1, 1997+23 d | Apr 8, 1997+45 d | Apr 8, 1997+45 d | Jan 15, 1995+7 d | Mar 8, 1986 |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Aug 1, 2006+2.0 mo | Aug 1, 2006+2.0 mo | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| 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 25
- F2AAll countries+2.0 moDec 1, 2003
- F2AChina+2.0 moDec 1, 2003
- F2AIndia+2.0 moDec 1, 2003
- F2APhilippines+2.0 moDec 1, 2003
- EB-2China+2.0 moAug 1, 2006
- EB-2India+2.0 moAug 1, 2006
- F4China+45 dApr 8, 1997
- F4India+45 dApr 8, 1997
Show all 25
- F2BAll countries+44 dDec 15, 1999
- F2BChina+44 dDec 15, 1999
- F2BIndia+44 dDec 15, 1999
- F1Mexico+31 dSep 8, 1992
- F2BPhilippines+24 dApr 8, 1997
- F4All countries+23 dOct 1, 1997
- F3Philippines+21 dApr 22, 1991
- F1All countries+17 dApr 1, 2002
- F1China+17 dApr 1, 2002
- F1India+17 dApr 1, 2002
- F1Philippines+10 dApr 1, 1993
- F2BMexico+7 dApr 22, 1992
- F3All countries+7 dJun 15, 2000
- F3China+7 dJun 15, 2000
- F3India+7 dJun 15, 2000
- F3Mexico+7 dSep 15, 1992
- F4Mexico+7 dJan 15, 1995
What the State Department said
Visa availability for octoberThe Mexico F2A and Employment Third preference cut-off dates are “unavailable” for both August and September, since those FY-2008 annual limits have been reached. The Visa Office had originally anticipated that this would be a temporary situation. Then with the start of the new fiscal year in October the cut-off dates would have returned to those which had applied during June. However, continued heavy demand in those categories may require the establishment of cut-off dates which are earlier than those which had applied in June. A formal decision determination of the October cut-off dates will not be possible until early September.
Determination of the numerical limits on immigrants required under the terms of the immigration and nationality act (INA)The State Department is required to make a determination of the worldwide numerical limitations, as outlined in Sections 201(c) and (d) of the INA, on an annual basis. These calculations are based in part on data provided by the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) regarding number of immediate relative adjustments in the preceding year and the number of aliens paroled into the United States under Section 212(d)(5) in the second preceding year. Without this information, it is impossible to officially determine of the annual limits. To avoid delays in processing while awaiting the CIS data, the Visa Office bases allocations on the minimum annual limits as outlined in Section 201 of the INA, along with estimates. On July 22nd, CIS provided the required data to the Visa Office.
The Department of State has determined the family and employment preference limits for FY-2008 in accordance with the terms of Section 201 of the INA. The numerical limits for FY-2008 are as follows:
Worldwide Family-sponsored preference limit: 226,000
Worldwide Employment-based preference limit: 162,704
Under the INA Section 202(A), the per-country limit is fixed at 7% of the family and employment annual limits. For FY-2008 the per-country limit is 27,209. The dependent area annual limit is 2%, or 7,774.
Released Aug 8, 2008. 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.