Immediate Relatives: Spouses, Parents, and Unmarried Children Under 21 of US Citizens: Immediate Relative petitions do not have a limit on visa availability. They are not listed on the Visa Bulletin because there is no wait for a visa to become available for Immediate Relative petitions.

 

First Preference (F1) Unmarried Sons and Daughters of US Citizens: Visa availability for the Philippines moved from June 1, 2004 to August 1, 2004. Availability for Mexico moved forward from April 8, 1994 to June 1, 1994. Availability for everyone else moved from April 22, 2007 to May 1, 2007.

 

Second Preference (F2A) Spouses and Unmarried Children Under 21 of US Permanent Residents: Visa availability for Mexico has jumped forward more than a year, from March 15, 2011 to April 22, 2012. Availability for all other countries has also been moved forward significantly from May 1, 2012 to January 1, 2013. 

 

Second Preference (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters Over 21 of US Permanent Residents: Visa availability for the Philippines has moved forward from October 8, 2003 to December 1, 2003. Availability for Mexico has moved from April 1, 1994 to May 15, 1994. Availability for all other countries moved forward from July 1, 2007 to September 1, 2007.

 

Third Preference (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of US Citizens: Visa availability for the Philippines has moved from April 15, 1993 to May 22, 1993. Availability for Mexico has moved forward from September 15, 1993 to October 15, 1993. Availability for all other countries remains at November 15, 2003.

 

Fourth Preference (F4) Siblings of US Citizens: Visa availability for the Philippines moved forward this month from January 22, 1991 to March 15, 1991. Availability for Mexico moved from January 1, 1997 to January 22, 1997.  Availability for all other countries remains at January 1, 2002.

 

First Preference (EB-1) Extraordinary Ability, Intracompany Transferee, or Outstanding Professor or Researcher: Visa availability in this category remains current for all countries, meaning there are visas available for all petitions.

 

Second Preference (EB-2) Advance Degree Professional, Exceptional Ability, or National Interest Waiver: Visas availability for India has moved forward from January 22, 2009 to May 1, 2009. DOS has predicted the possibility that they may move EB-2 for India back, and that this may happen as soon as November. Availability for China remains at October 8, 2009. Visa availability for all other countries is current, meaning there are visas available for all priority dates.

 

Third Preference (EB-3) Professional, Skilled Worker and Other Workers: Visa availability for the Philippines has moved forward from June 1, 2010 to April 1, 2011. Availability for India remains at November 8, 2003. Availability for China remains at November 1, 2008 for Professionals and Skilled Workers, and at July 22, 2005 for Other Workers. Availability for all other countries remains at April 1, 2011.

 

Fourth Preference (EB-4) Certain Special Immigrants: Visa availability remains current for all countries, meaning visas are available for all priority dates.

 

Fourth Preference (Certain Religious Workers): Visa availability remains current for all countries, meaning visas are available for all priority dates.

 

Fifth Preference (EB-5) Investors: Visa availability remains current for all countries, meaning visas are available for all priority dates. However, the DOS  is expecting that they might have to establish a China EB-5 cut-off date sometime next year, possibly as early as June 2015. 

 

The DV-2014 visas available in September are:

 

Egypt: 32,250

All other countries in Africa: 81,350

Nepal: 9,500

All other countries in Asia: 13,350

Europe: 40,150

N.A. Bahamas: Current (meaning a visa is available for all from this region)

Oceania: 1,450

S.A. and Caribbean: 1,750

 

The availability for the DV-2015 winners (DV-2014 winners are not eligible) in October will be:

Egypt: 6,000

Ethiopia: 7,000

All other countries in Africa: 8,000

Asia: 2,500

Europe: 8,500

N.A. Bahamas: 3

Oceania: 400

S.A. and Caribbean: 550

 

 

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By Ari Sauer.

 

Submit questions to Ari Sauer – The Immigration Answer Man by emailing your question to immigrationanswerman@gmail.com. Questions submitted by email will be posted without personal information unless specifically requested. Due to the volume of questions received, not all questions submitted will be answered. Only general questions can be answered on this blog. For answers to specific questions about your situation, please schedule a consultation appointment with attorney Ari Sauer. Sending in a question by email or any other means does not create an attorney-client relationship. * This is an advertisement. Ari Sauer is an attorney with the Siskind Susser law firm. www.visalaw.com/ari.html. On this blog we answer questions as a service to our readers, but we cannot assume any liability related to reliance on anything herein, and responses to questions are not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship. Immigration laws and regulations are constantly changing and the rules stated may not apply to your situation. Readers are cautioned to schedule a consultation with an immigration lawyer before acting on anything stated in this blog. This blog is not intended to substitute for a consultation with a qualified immigration law attorney. Ari Sauer is licensed to practice law through the states of Tennessee, New York and New Jersey but is eligible to assist clients from throughout the US. Certification as an Immigration Specialist is not currently available in Tennessee, New York or New Jersey. Siskind Susser limits its practice strictly to immigration law, a Federal practice area, and we do not claim expertise in the laws of states other than where our attorneys are licensed. the opinions expressed here are those of Ari Sauer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Siskind Susser.