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VisaBulletinForJanuary2017
Number1
VolumeX
Washington,D.C
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A.STATUTORYNUMBERS
ThisbulletinsummarizestheavailabilityofimmigrantnumbersduringJanuaryfor:FinalActionDatesandDatesforFiling
Applications,indicatingwhenimmigrantvisaapplicantsshouldbenotifiedtoassembleandsubmitrequireddocumentationtothe
NationalVisaCenter.
UnlessotherwiseindicatedontheU.S.CitizenshipandImmigrationServices(USCIS)website
atwww.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo ,individualsseekingtofileapplicationsforadjustmentofstatuswithUSCISintheDepartment
ofHomelandSecuritymustusetheFinalActionDateschartsbelowfordeterminingwhentheycanfilesuchapplications.When
USCISdeterminesthattherearemoreimmigrantvisasavailableforthefiscalyearthanthereareknownapplicantsforsuchvisas,
USCISwillstateonitswebsitethatapplicantsmayinsteadusetheDatesforFilingVisaApplicationschartsinthisBulletin.
1.Proceduresfordeterminingdates.ConsularofficersarerequiredtoreporttotheDepartmentofStatedocumentarilyqualified
applicantsfornumericallylimitedvisasUSCISreportsapplicantsforadjustmentofstatus.Allocationsinthechartsbelowwere
made,totheextentpossible,inchronologicalorderofreportedprioritydates,fordemandreceivedbyDecember12th.Ifnotall
demandcouldbesatisfied,thecategoryorforeignstateinwhichdemandwasexcessivewasdeemedoversubscribed.Thefinal
actiondateforanoversubscribedcategoryistheprioritydateofthefirstapplicantwhocouldnotbereachedwithinthenumerical
limits.Ifitbecomesnecessaryduringthemonthlyallocationprocesstoretrogressafinalactiondate,supplementalrequestsfor
numberswillbehonoredonlyiftheprioritydatefallswithinthenewfinalactiondateannouncedinthisbulletin.Ifatanytimean
annuallimitwerereached,itwouldbenecessarytoimmediatelymakethepreferencecategoryunavailable,andnofurther
requestsfornumberswouldbehonored.
2.Section201oftheImmigrationandNationalityAct(INA)setsanannualminimumfamilysponsoredpreferencelimitof
226,000.Theworldwidelevelforannualemploymentbasedpreferenceimmigrantsisatleast140,000.Section202prescribes
thatthepercountrylimitforpreferenceimmigrantsissetat7%ofthetotalannualfamilysponsoredandemploymentbased
preferencelimits,i.e.,25,620.Thedependentarealimitissetat2%,or7,320.
3.INASection203(e)providesthatfamilysponsoredandemploymentbasedpreferencevisasbeissuedtoeligibleimmigrantsin
theorderinwhichapetitioninbehalfofeachhasbeenfiled.Section203(d)providesthatspousesandchildrenofpreference
immigrantsareentitledtothesamestatus,andthesameorderofconsideration,ifaccompanyingorfollowingtojointhe
principal.ThevisaproratingprovisionsofSection202(e)applytoallocationsforaforeignstateordependentareawhenvisa
demandexceedsthepercountrylimit.Theseprovisionsapplyatpresenttothefollowingoversubscribedchargeabilityareas:
CHINAmainlandborn,ELSALVADOR,GUATEMALA,HONDURAS,INDIA,MEXICO,andPHILIPPINES.
4.Section203(a)oftheINAprescribespreferenceclassesforallotmentofFamilysponsoredimmigrantvisasasfollows:
FAMILYSPONSOREDPREFERENCES
First:(F1)UnmarriedSonsandDaughtersofU.S.Citizens:23,400plusanynumbersnotrequiredforfourthpreference.
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Second:SpousesandChildren,andUnmarriedSonsandDaughtersofPermanentResidents:114,200,plusthenumber(ifany)
bywhichtheworldwidefamilypreferencelevelexceeds226,000,plusanyunusedfirstpreferencenumbers:
A.(F2A)SpousesandChildrenofPermanentResidents:77%oftheoverallsecondpreferencelimitation,ofwhich75%are
exemptfromthepercountrylimit
B.(F2B)UnmarriedSonsandDaughters(21yearsofageorolder)ofPermanentResidents:23%oftheoverallsecondpreference
limitation.
Third:(F3)MarriedSonsandDaughtersofU.S.Citizens:23,400,plusanynumbersnotrequiredbyfirstandsecond
preferences.
Fourth:(F4)BrothersandSistersofAdultU.S.Citizens:65,000,plusanynumbersnotrequiredbyfirstthreepreferences.
A.FINALACTIONDATESFORFAMILYSPONSORED
PREFERENCECASES
Onthechartbelow,thelistingofadateforanyclassindicatesthattheclassisoversubscribed(seeparagraph1)"C"means
current,i.e.,numbersareauthorizedforissuancetoallqualifiedapplicantsand"U"meansunauthorized,i.e.,numbersarenot
authorizedforissuance.(NOTE:Numbersareauthorizedforissuanceonlyforapplicantswhoseprioritydateisearlierthanthe
finalactiondatelistedbelow.)
Family
Sponsored

AllChargeability
AreasExcept
ThoseListed

CHINAmainland
born

INDIA

MEXICO

PHILIPPINES

F1

08JAN10

08JAN10

08JAN10

22APR95

01OCT05

F2A

22MAR15

22MAR15

22MAR15

08MAR15

22MAR15

F2B

08JUN10

08JUN10

08JUN10

15OCT95

08APR06

F3

01MAR05

01MAR05

01MAR05

15DEC94

01SEP94

F4

22JAN04

22NOV03

15MAY03

15MAY97

08JUN93

*NOTE:ForJanuary,F2AnumbersEXEMPTfrompercountrylimitareauthorizedforissuancetoapplicantsfromallcountrieswith
prioritydatesearlierthan08MAR15.F2AnumbersSUBJECTtopercountrylimitareauthorizedforissuancetoapplicants
chargeabletoallcountriesEXCEPTMEXICOwithprioritydatesbeginning08MAR15andearlierthan22MAR15.AllF2Anumbers
providedforMEXICOareexemptfromthepercountrylimit.
B.DATESFORFILINGFAMILYSPONSORED
VISAAPPLICATIONS
Thechartbelowreflectsdatesforfilingvisaapplicationswithinatimeframejustifyingimmediateactionintheapplicationprocess.
Applicantsforimmigrantvisaswhohaveaprioritydateearlierthantheapplicationdateinthechartbelowmayassembleand
submitrequireddocumentstotheDepartmentofStatesNationalVisaCenter,followingreceiptofnotificationfromtheNational
VisaCentercontainingdetailedinstructions.Theapplicationdateforanoversubscribedcategoryistheprioritydateofthefirst
applicantwhocannotsubmitdocumentationtotheNationalVisaCenterforanimmigrantvisa.Ifacategoryisdesignated
current,allapplicantsintherelevantcategorymayfileapplications,regardlessofprioritydate.
TheClistingindicatesthatthecategoryiscurrent,andthatapplicationsmaybefiledregardlessoftheapplicantsprioritydate.
Thelistingofadateforanycategoryindicatesthatonlyapplicantswithaprioritydatewhichisearlierthanthelisteddatemay
filetheirapplication.
Visitwww.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo forinformationonwhetherUSCIShasdeterminedthatthischartcanbeused(inlieuofthe
chartinparagraph4.A.)thismonthforfilingapplicationsforadjustmentofstatuswithUSCIS.
Family
Sponsored

AllChargeability
AreasExcept
ThoseListed

CHINA
mainland
born

INDIA

MEXICO

PHILIPPINES

F1

01JAN11

01JAN11

01JAN11

01JUN95

01MAY06

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F2A

22NOV15

22NOV15

22NOV15

22NOV15

22NOV15

F2B

08FEB11

08FEB11

08FEB11

01JUN96

01FEB07

F3

22AUG05

22AUG05

22AUG05

01MAY95

01JAN95

F4

01JUL04

01JUL04

01MAY04

01DEC97

01APR94

5.Section203(b)oftheINAprescribespreferenceclassesforallotmentofEmploymentbasedimmigrantvisasasfollows:
EMPLOYMENTBASEDPREFERENCES
First:PriorityWorkers:28.6%oftheworldwideemploymentbasedpreferencelevel,plusanynumbersnotrequiredforfourth
andfifthpreferences.
Second:MembersoftheProfessionsHoldingAdvancedDegreesorPersonsofExceptionalAbility:28.6%oftheworldwide
employmentbasedpreferencelevel,plusanynumbersnotrequiredbyfirstpreference.
Third:SkilledWorkers,Professionals,andOtherWorkers:28.6%oftheworldwidelevel,plusanynumbersnotrequiredbyfirst
andsecondpreferences,notmorethan10,000ofwhichto"*OtherWorkers".
Fourth:CertainSpecialImmigrants:7.1%oftheworldwidelevel.
Fifth:EmploymentCreation:7.1%oftheworldwidelevel,notlessthan3,000ofwhichreservedforinvestorsinatargetedrural
orhighunemploymentarea,and3,000setasideforinvestorsinregionalcentersbySec.610ofPub.L.102395.
A.FINALACTIONDATESFOREMPLOYMENTBASED
PREFERENCECASES
Onthechartbelow,thelistingofadateforanyclassindicatesthattheclassisoversubscribed(seeparagraph1)"C"means
current,i.e.,numbersareauthorizedforissuancetoallqualifiedapplicantsand"U"meansunauthorized,i.e.,numbersarenot
authorizedforissuance.(NOTE:Numbersareauthorizedforissuanceonlyforapplicantswhoseprioritydateisearlierthanthe
finalactiondatelistedbelow.)
Employ
ment
based

AllCharge
ability
AreasExcept
ThoseListed

CHINA
mainland
born

ELSALVADOR
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS

INDIA

MEXICO

PHILIPPINES

1st

2nd

15OCT12

15APR08

3rd

01AUG16

08SEP13

01AUG16

15MAR05

01AUG16

22JUL11

OtherWorkers

01AUG16

01DEC05

01AUG16

15MAR05

01AUG16

22JUL11

4th

15JUL15

15JUL15

CertainReligiousWorkers

15JUL15

15JUL15

5th
NonRegional
Center
(C5andT5)

08APR14

5th
Regional
Center
(I5andR5)

08APR14

*EmploymentThirdPreferenceOtherWorkersCategory:Section203(e)oftheNicaraguanandCentralAmericanReliefAct
(NACARA)passedbyCongressinNovember1997,asamendedbySection1(e)ofPub.L.105139,providesthatoncethe
EmploymentThirdPreferenceOtherWorker(EW)cutoffdatehasreachedtheprioritydateofthelatestEWpetitionapproved
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priortoNovember19,1997,the10,000EWnumbersavailableforafiscalyeararetobereducedbyupto5,000annually
beginninginthefollowingfiscalyear.Thisreductionistobemadeforaslongasnecessarytooffsetadjustmentsunderthe
NACARAprogram.SincetheEWcutoffdatereachedNovember19,1997duringFiscalYear2001,thereductionintheEWannual
limitto5,000beganinFiscalYear2002.
B.DATESFORFILINGOFEMPLOYMENTBASED
VISAAPPLICATIONS
Thechartbelowreflectsdatesforfilingvisaapplicationswithinatimeframejustifyingimmediateactionintheapplicationprocess.
Applicantsforimmigrantvisaswhohaveaprioritydateearlierthantheapplicationdateinthechartmayassembleandsubmit
requireddocumentstotheDepartmentofStatesNationalVisaCenter,followingreceiptofnotificationfromtheNationalVisa
Centercontainingdetailedinstructions.Theapplicationdateforanoversubscribedcategoryistheprioritydateofthefirst
applicantwhocannotsubmitdocumentationtotheNationalVisaCenterforanimmigrantvisa.Ifacategoryisdesignated
current,allapplicantsintherelevantcategorymayfile,regardlessofprioritydate.
TheClistingindicatesthatthecategoryiscurrent,andthatapplicationsmaybefiledregardlessoftheapplicantsprioritydate.
Thelistingofadateforanycategoryindicatesthatonlyapplicantswithaprioritydatewhichisearlierthanthelisteddatemay
filetheirapplication.
Visitwww.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo forinformationonwhetherUSCIShasdeterminedthatthischartcanbeused(inlieuofthe
chartinparagraph5.A.)thismonthforfilingapplicationsforadjustmentofstatuswithUSCIS.

Employment
based

AllChargeability
AreasExcept
ThoseListed

CHINA
mainland
born

INDIA

MEXICO

PHILIPPINES

1st

2nd

01MAR13

22APR09

3rd

01MAY14

01JUL05

01SEP13

OtherWorkers

01AUG09

01JUL05

01SEP13

4th

CertainReligiousWorkers

5th
NonRegional
Center
(C5andT5)

15JUN14

5th
Regional
Center
(I5andR5)

15JUN14

6.TheDepartmentofStatehasarecordedmessagewiththecutoffdateinformationforFinalApplicationActionwhichcanbe
heardat:(202)4857699.Thisrecordingisupdatedonoraboutthetenthofeachmonthwithinformationonfinalactiondates
forthefollowingmonth.
B.DIVERSITYIMMIGRANT(DV)CATEGORYFORTHEMONTH
OFJANUARY
Section203(c)oftheINAprovidesupto55,000immigrantvisaseachfiscalyeartopermitadditionalimmigrationopportunities
forpersonsfromcountrieswithlowadmissionsduringthepreviousfiveyears.TheNACARAstipulatesthatbeginningwithDV99,
andforaslongasnecessary,upto5,000ofthe55,000annuallyallocateddiversityvisaswillbemadeavailableforuseunderthe
NACARAprogram.ThisresultedinreductionoftheDV2017annuallimitto50,000.DVvisasaredividedamongsix
geographicregions.Noonecountrycanreceivemorethansevenpercentoftheavailablediversityvisasinanyoneyear.
ForJanuary,immigrantnumbersintheDVcategoryareavailabletoqualifiedDV2017applicantschargeabletoallregions/eligible
countriesasfollows.Whenanallocationcutoffnumberisshown,visasareavailableonlyforapplicantswithDVregionallottery
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ranknumbersBELOWthespecifiedallocationcutoffnumber:
Region

AllDVChargeabilityAreasExceptThoseListed
Separately

AFRICA

25,800

Except:
Egypt:12,700
Ethiopia:14,700

ASIA

4,000

Except:
Iran:3,600
Nepal:2,750

EUROPE

15,900

NORTHAMERICA
(BAHAMAS)

OCEANIA

650

SOUTHAMERICA,
andtheCARIBBEAN

775

EntitlementtoimmigrantstatusintheDVcategorylastsonlythroughtheendofthefiscal(visa)yearforwhichtheapplicantis
selectedinthelottery.TheyearofentitlementforallapplicantsregisteredfortheDV2017programendsasofSeptember30,
2017.DVvisasmaynotbeissuedtoDV2017applicantsafterthatdate.Similarly,spousesandchildrenaccompanyingor
followingtojoinDV2017principalsareonlyentitledtoderivativeDVstatusuntilSeptember30,2017.DVvisaavailability
throughtheveryendofFY2017cannotbetakenforgranted.NumberscouldbeexhaustedpriortoSeptember30.
C.THEDIVERSITY(DV)IMMIGRANTCATEGORYRANKCUTOFFS
WHICHWILLAPPLYINFEBRUARY
ForFebruary,immigrantnumbersintheDVcategoryareavailabletoqualifiedDV2017applicantschargeabletoall
regions/eligiblecountriesasfollows.Whenanallocationcutoffnumberisshown,visasareavailableonlyforapplicantswithDV
regionallotteryranknumbersBELOWthespecifiedallocationcutoffnumber:

Region

AllDVChargeabilityAreasExceptThoseListed
Separately

AFRICA

28,700

Except:
Egypt:16,000
Ethiopia:17,500

ASIA

4,700

Except:
Iran:3,950
Nepal:3,150

EUROPE

18,000

NORTHAMERICA
(BAHAMAS)

OCEANIA

725

SOUTHAMERICA,
andtheCARIBBEAN

825

D.SPECIALIMMIGRANT(SI)TRANSLATORCATEGORYVISA
AVAILABILITY
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TheDepartmentexpectstoreachtheFY2017annuallimitof50SpecialImmigrantVisasintheSIcategorybytheendof
December2016.Asaresult,thefinalactiondatefortheSIcategoryhasbecomeUnavailableeffectiveJanuary2017.Further
issuancesintheSIcategorywillnotbepossibleuntilOctober2017,undertheFY2018annuallimit.TheSQSpecialImmigrant
VisacategoryforcertainIraqiandAfghannationalsemployedbyoronbehalfoftheU.S.governmentinIraqorAfghanistanisnot
affectedandremainscurrent.
E.EMPLOYMENTBASEDFOURTH(E4)ANDCERTAINRELIGIOUS
WORKERS(SR)PREFERENCECATEGORYVISAAVAILABILITY
TherecontinuestobehighdemandintheE4andSRcategories,primarilyforJuvenileCourtDependentcasesfiledwithU.S.
CitizenshipandImmigrationServicesforadjustmentofstatus.Therefore,itmaybenecessarytoretrogresstheE4andSRFinal
ActionDatesforElSalvador,Guatemala,Honduras,andMexicoatsomepointinanefforttoholdnumberusewithinthe
maximumallowedundertheFY2017annuallimits.
F.ANNUALREPORTOFIMMIGRANTVISAAPPLICANTSINTHE
FAMILYSPONSOREDANDEMPLOYMENTBASEDPREFERENCES
REGISTEREDATTHENATIONALVISACENTERASOF
NOVEMBER1,2016
TheNationalVisaCenterhasprovidedthetotalsofapplicantswhoareregisteredinthevariousnumericallylimitedimmigrant
categoriesforprocessingatoverseasposts.ThisinformationisavailableontheConsularAffairswww.travel.state.govwebsite.The
directlinktotheitemis:
https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/ImmigrantStatistics/WaitingListItem.pdf
H.OBTAININGTHEMONTHLYVISABULLETIN
TobeplacedontheDepartmentofStatesEmailsubscriptionlistfortheVisaBulletin,pleasesendanEmailtothefollowingE
mailaddress:
listserv@calist.state.gov
andinthemessagebodytype:
SubscribeVisaBulletin
(example:SubscribeVisaBulletin)
ToberemovedfromtheDepartmentofStatesEmailsubscriptionlistfortheVisaBulletin,sendanemailmessagetothe
followingEmailaddress:
listserv@calist.state.gov
andinthemessagebodytype:SignoffVisaBulletin
TheDepartmentofStatealsohasavailablearecordedmessagewithvisafinalactiondateswhichcanbeheardat:(202)485
7699.Therecordingisnormallyupdatedon/aboutthe10thofeachmonthwithinformationonfinalactiondatesforthefollowing
month.
ReadersmaysubmitquestionsregardingVisaBulletinrelateditemsbyEmailatthefollowingaddress:
VISABULLETIN@STATE.GOV
(ThisaddresscannotbeusedtosubscribetotheVisaBulletin.)
DepartmentofStatePublication9514
CA/VO:December12,2016

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