Chart 1: Application Final Action Dates For Family-Sponsored Preference Cases
When the below chart states that the immigrant’s category is Current (C), no backlog exists in this category for that month. If a category is listed as Unavailable (U), then immigrant visas will not be issued in that category for that month. A foreign national with a birth country other than India, China, Mexico or the Philippines must use the “world-wide” dates to determine whether their priority date is current.
To receive an immigrant visa or an adjustment of status, you must have a priority date prior to the listed date for your category and country, as shown in this chart.
| Family-Sponsored | World-wide | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 08 JUN 16 | 08 JUN 16 | 08 JUN 16 | 22 APR 05 | 15 JUL 12 |
| F2A | 01 JAN 22 | 01 JAN 22 | 01 JAN 22 | 15 MAY 21 | 01 JAN 22 |
| F2B | 22 SEP 16 | 22 SEP 16 | 22 SEP 16 | 01 JAN 06 | 08 FEB 12 |
| F3 | 22 JUN 11 | 22 JUN 11 | 22 JUN 11 | 15 JAN 01 | 22 SEP 03 |
| F4 | 01 JAN 08 | 01 JAN 08 | 15 JUN 06 | 15 MAR 01 | 01 JUN 05 |
“C” means current and “U” means unavailable.
Chart 2: Dates For Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications
When the below chart states that the immigrant’s category is Current (C), an applicant in that category may file immigrant visa application regardless of the priority date. If the foreign national’s country of chargeability (country of birth) is other than India, China, Mexico or Philippines, use the “World-wide” dates to determine the cut-off date.
In order to file an application for immigrant visa or adjustment of status, you must have a priority date prior to the listed date for your category and country, as shown in this chart.
| Family-Sponsored | World-wide | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01 SEP 17 | 01 SEP 17 | 01 SEP 17 | 01 APR 06 | 22 APR 15 |
| F2A | 01 FEB 25 | 01 FEB 25 | 01 FEB 25 | 01 FEB 25 | 01 FEB 25 |
| F2B | 01 JAN 17 | 01 JAN 17 | 01 JAN 17 | 01 APR 07 | 01 OCT 13 |
| F3 | 22 JUL 12 | 22 JUL 12 | 22 JUL 12 | 15 JUN 01 | 22 SEP 04 |
| F4 | 01 JUN 08 | 01 JUN 08 | 01 DEC 06 | 30 APR 01 | 01 JAN 08 |
Are You Experiencing Immigration Issues?
Get answers to your immigration questions to work, invest, marry or live in the U.S.
Start My Phone ConsultationEach month, the Department of State (DOS) releases a Visa Bulletin that advises on the availability of immigrant visas. The United States regulates immigration by capping the number of foreign nationals welcomed into the country each year. Each person must have his/her own personal immigrant visa number in order to live permanently in the United States. A foreign national can seek an Immigrant Visa at a U.S. Consulate outside the U.S., or file for an Adjustment of Status with USCIS inside the U.S.
Only a limited number of immigrant visas are available in each category. Immigrant Visas are also limited by the country of chargeability, which is normally the country where the immigrant is born. Those who are eligible for a family based immigrant visa petition (I-130) fall into “preference” category and must wait in line for their category and country of chargeability to accept new applicants.
*NOTE: May, F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 22 APR 19. F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are available to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates on or after 22 APR 19. (All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit; there are no F2A numbers for MEXICO subject to per-country limit.)
First Preference:
Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.
Second Preference:
Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, and any unused first preference numbers:
A. Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents: 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;
B. Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation.
Third Preference:
Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.
Fourth Preference:
Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences
INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa demand exceeds the per-country limit. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES.
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I am pleased to write a review of my experience with VisaPro, who helped me get my green card. I discovered VisaPro with a web search and arranged an interview with [the Attorney], who quickly ascertained upon reviewing my CV that I wasting my time exploring an O-1 visa but rather I should be looking at the EB-1 category: Alien of Extraordinary Ability. Overall this is a great team who really know what they are doing. One cannot go wrong in using them for your visa needs.
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Chart 1: Application Final Action Dates For Family-Sponsored Preference Cases
When the below chart states that the immigrant’s category is Current (C), no backlog exists in this category for that month. If a category is listed as Unavailable (U), then immigrant visas will not be issued in that category for that month. A foreign national with a birth country other than India, China, Mexico or the Philippines must use the “world-wide” dates to determine whether their priority date is current.
To receive an immigrant visa or an adjustment of status, you must have a priority date prior to the listed date for your category and country, as shown in this chart.
| Family-Sponsored | World-wide | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 15 JUL 16 | 15 JUL 16 | 15 JUL 16 | 22 APR 05 | 15 JUL 12 |
| F2A | 01 SEP 22 | 01 SEP 22 | 01 SEP 22 | 01 FEB 22 | 01 SEP 22 |
| F2B | 15 OCT 16 | 15 OCT 16 | 15 OCT 16 | 01 JAN 07 | 15 APR 12 |
| F3 | 01 AUG 11 | 01 AUG 11 | 01 AUG 11 | 01 FEB 01 | 01 DEC 03 |
| F4 | 01 JAN 08 | 01 JAN 08 | 08 JUL 06 | 15 MAR 01 | 01 JAN 06 |
“C” means current and “U” means unavailable.
Chart 2: Dates For Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications
When the below chart states that the immigrant’s category is Current (C), an applicant in that category may file immigrant visa application regardless of the priority date. If the foreign national’s country of chargeability (country of birth) is other than India, China, Mexico or Philippines, use the “World-wide” dates to determine the cut-off date.
In order to file an application for immigrant visa or adjustment of status, you must have a priority date prior to the listed date for your category and country, as shown in this chart.
| Family-Sponsored | World-wide | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01 SEP 17 | 01 SEP 17 | 01 SEP 17 | 01 JUN 06 | 22 APR 15 |
| F2A | 01 MAR 25 | 01 MAR 25 | 01 MAR 25 | 01 MAR 25 | 01 MAR 25 |
| F2B | 01 JAN 17 | 01 JAN 17 | 01 JAN 17 | 01 APR 08 | 01 OCT 13 |
| F3 | 22 JUL 12 | 22 JUL 12 | 22 JUL 12 | 15 JUN 01 | 01 DEC 04 |
| F4 | 08 SEP 08 | 08 SEP 08 | 01 DEC 06 | 30 APR 01 | 01 JAN 08 |
Are You Experiencing Immigration Issues?
Get answers to your immigration questions to work, invest, marry or live in the U.S.
Start My Phone ConsultationEach month, the Department of State (DOS) releases a Visa Bulletin that advises on the availability of immigrant visas. The United States regulates immigration by capping the number of foreign nationals welcomed into the country each year. Each person must have his/her own personal immigrant visa number in order to live permanently in the United States. A foreign national can seek an Immigrant Visa at a U.S. Consulate outside the U.S., or file for an Adjustment of Status with USCIS inside the U.S.
Only a limited number of immigrant visas are available in each category. Immigrant Visas are also limited by the country of chargeability, which is normally the country where the immigrant is born. Those who are eligible for a family based immigrant visa petition (I-130) fall into “preference” category and must wait in line for their category and country of chargeability to accept new applicants.
*NOTE: June, F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 22 APR 19. F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are available to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning beginning 22 APR 19. (All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit; there are no F2A numbers for MEXICO subject to per-country limit.)
First Preference:
Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.
Second Preference:
Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, and any unused first preference numbers:
A. Spouses and Children: 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit.
B. Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older): 23% of the overall second preference limitation.
Third Preference:
Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.
Fourth Preference:
Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences
INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa demand exceeds the per-country limit. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES.
What VisaPro Customers Are Saying
I am one of those numerous entrepreneurs, who were fortunate to have sought Venkat's expertise in setting up a business, in the USA. What began as an immigration advice soon grew into a wholesome advisory in all aspects of incorporating our U.S. business.....Venkat's inputs often go beyond the mandate of an advisor and assumes the character of a valuable mentor."
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