Visa Bulletin for September 2013
Compared with August 2013: 31 lines moved forward, 0 retrogressed, current for all countries: F2A, EB-1, EB-2, EB-4, EB-4 Religious Workers.
Final action dates
| Family | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Sep 15, 2006+14 d | Sep 15, 2006+14 d | Sep 15, 2006+14 d | Sep 8, 1993+7 d | May 8, 2001+4.2 mo |
| F2A | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| F2B | Feb 15, 2006+2.5 mo | Feb 15, 2006+2.5 mo | Feb 15, 2006+2.5 mo | Feb 22, 1994+21 d | Jan 22, 2003+31 d |
| F3 | Jan 22, 2003+45 d | Jan 22, 2003+45 d | Jan 22, 2003+45 d | May 15, 1993+14 d | Dec 22, 1992+21 d |
| F4 | Jul 22, 2001+30 d | Jul 22, 2001+30 d | Jul 22, 2001+30 d | Oct 8, 1996+16 d | Feb 15, 1990+38 d |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Aug 8, 2008 | Jun 15, 2008+5.5 mo | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Jul 1, 2010+17.9 mo | Jul 1, 2010+17.9 mo | Sep 22, 2003+8.0 mo | Jul 1, 2010+17.9 mo | Dec 1, 2006+40 d |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Jul 1, 2010+17.9 mo | Jun 15, 2004+2.8 mo | Sep 22, 2003+8.0 mo | Jul 1, 2010+17.9 mo | Dec 1, 2006+40 d |
| EB-4 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
What moved
Moved forward 31
- EB-3All countries+17.9 moJul 1, 2010
- EB-3China+17.9 moJul 1, 2010
- EB-3Mexico+17.9 moJul 1, 2010
- EB-3 Other WorkersAll countries+17.9 moJul 1, 2010
- EB-3 Other WorkersMexico+17.9 moJul 1, 2010
- EB-3India+8.0 moSep 22, 2003
- EB-3 Other WorkersIndia+8.0 moSep 22, 2003
- EB-2India+5.5 moJun 15, 2008
Show all 31
- F1Philippines+4.2 moMay 8, 2001
- EB-3 Other WorkersChina+2.8 moJun 15, 2004
- F2BAll countries+2.5 moFeb 15, 2006
- F2BChina+2.5 moFeb 15, 2006
- F2BIndia+2.5 moFeb 15, 2006
- F3All countries+45 dJan 22, 2003
- F3China+45 dJan 22, 2003
- F3India+45 dJan 22, 2003
- EB-3Philippines+40 dDec 1, 2006
- EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippines+40 dDec 1, 2006
- F4Philippines+38 dFeb 15, 1990
- F2BPhilippines+31 dJan 22, 2003
- F4All countries+30 dJul 22, 2001
- F4China+30 dJul 22, 2001
- F4India+30 dJul 22, 2001
- F2BMexico+21 dFeb 22, 1994
- F3Philippines+21 dDec 22, 1992
- F4Mexico+16 dOct 8, 1996
- F1All countries+14 dSep 15, 2006
- F1China+14 dSep 15, 2006
- F1India+14 dSep 15, 2006
- F3Mexico+14 dMay 15, 1993
- F1Mexico+7 dSep 8, 1993
What the State Department said
Visa availability in the coming monthsFAMILY-sponsored:
F2A: This category was made "Current" in an effort to generate new demand for the upcoming fiscal year. Information received during discussions with the National Visa Center and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services indicates that this action is already having the intended result. Therefore, it is likely that a cut-off will be imposed for October. This cut-off is unlikely to have any negative impact on those who have already initiated action on their case prior to the announcement of the October cut-off dates.
EMPLOYMENT-based:
SECOND:
India: This cut-off date has been advanced significantly more than originally expected, based on the projection that there would be "otherwise unused" numbers under the overall Employment Second preference annual limit. This is the result of a decrease in Employment First preference number use, and a similar decrease in Employment Second preference demand for most other countries during the past two months. It is expected that such movement will generate a very significant amount of new India demand during the coming months.
THIRD:
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 Section 201(c) and (d) of the INA, on an annual basis. These calculations are based in part on data provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) regarding the 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 make an official determination of the annual limits. To avoid delays in processing while waiting for the USCIS data, the Visa Office (VO) bases allocations on the minimum annual limits outlined in Section 201 of the INA. On July 25th, USCIS provided the required data to VO.
The Department of State has determined the Family and Employment preference numerical limits for FY-2013 in accordance with the terms of Section 201 of the INA. These numerical limits for FY-2013 are as follows:
Worldwide Family-Sponsored preference limit: 226,000
Worldwide Employment-Based preference limit: 158,466
Under INA Section 202(A), the per-country limit is fixed at 7% of the family and employment annual limits. For FY-2013 the per-country limit is 26,913. The dependent area annual limit is 2%, or 7,689.
Released Aug 12, 2013. 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.