Employment-Based Visa Availability

The Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin that tells applicants when their Priority Date is current. Applicants must wait for their Priority Date to become current before they can apply for a Green Card.

Visa Cut-Off Dates for February 2010

All Charge-ability Areas Except Those Listed
CHINA- mainland born
INDIA
MEXICO
PHILIPPINES
Employment-based  
1st
C
C
C
C
C
2nd
C
22MAY05
22JAN05
C
C
3rd
22SEP02
22SEP02
22JUN01
01JUL02
22SEP02
Other Worker
01JUN01
01JUN01
01JUN01
01JUN01
01JUN01
4th
C
C
C
C
C
Certain Religious Workers
C
C
C
C
C
5th
C
C
C
C
C
Targeted Employ-ment Areas/ Regional Centers
C
C
C
C
C
5th Pilot Programs
C
C
C
C
C

How to Read the Visa Bulletin

First, identify your Preference Category from following list:

     First: Priority Workers

     Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability

     Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers

     Fourth: Certain Special Immigrants

     Fifth: Employment Creation (Investors)

Next, identify your country of nationality (If you are claiming chargeability from a country other than China, India, Mexico or Philippines, then you should refer to the first column, labeled “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.”) The cell that represents your Preference Category and Country of Nationality will contain either a date or a letter.

If a cell is marked “C” that means that the Priority Date is current in that Category and visa numbers are available. If a cell is marked “U” it means that no visas are available for the rest of the fiscal year (which ends on September 30). If a date appears in the cell, then that date signifies the visa “cut-off” date. Applicants must have a Priority Date that falls before the date listed in the cell in order to qualify to apply for a Green Card.


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