Family-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 June 2013

Family-sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	22APR06	22APR06	22APR06	15AUG93	01JAN00
F2A	08JUN11	08JUN11	08JUN11	08MAY11	08JUN11
F2B	08JUL05	08JUL05	08JUL05	15JUN93	01NOV02
F3	01SEP02	01SEP02	01SEP02	08APR93	15NOV92
F4	01MAY01	01MAY01	01MAY01	15SEP96	08NOV89

*NOTE: For June, F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 08MAY11. F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are available to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning 08MAY11 and earlier than 08JUN11. (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.)

How to Read the Visa Bulletin

First, identify your Preference Category from following list:

First: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (over 21) of U.S. Citizens

Second: Spouses and Children,and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents

A. Spouses and Children

B. Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older)

Third: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens

Fourth: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens

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.

Please note that if you are applying as the spouse or unmarried childof a U.S. citizen, or if you are applying as the parent of a U.S.citizen who is over the age of 18, then a visa number is immediately available to you and you are not required to wait for a Priority Date to become current.