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Visa Bulletin For February 2017
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travel.state.gov>Visas>LawandPolicy>VisaBulletin>VisaBulletinForFebruary2017
VisaBulletinForFebruary2017
Number2
VolumeX
Washington,D.C
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A.STATUTORYNUMBERS
ThisbulletinsummarizestheavailabilityofimmigrantnumbersduringFebruaryfor: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,fordemandreceivedbyJanuary9th.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
22FEB10
22FEB10
22FEB10
08MAY95
01DEC05
F2A
15APR15
15APR15
15APR15
01APR15
15APR15
F2B
08JUL10
08JUL10
08JUL10
08NOV95
08APR06
F3
22MAR05
22MAR05
22MAR05
15DEC94
08SEP94
F4
08FEB04
22JAN04
15JUN03
22MAY97
22JUN93
*NOTE:ForFebruary,F2AnumbersEXEMPTfrompercountrylimitareauthorizedforissuancetoapplicantsfromallcountries
withprioritydatesearlierthan01APR15.F2AnumbersSUBJECTtopercountrylimitareauthorizedforissuancetoapplicants
chargeabletoallcountriesEXCEPTMEXICOwithprioritydatesbeginning01APR15andearlierthan15APR15.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
15NOV12
15APR08
3rd
01OCT16
01OCT13
01OCT16
22MAR05
01OCT16
15OCT11
OtherWorkers
01OCT16
01DEC05
01OCT16
22MAR05
01OCT16
15OCT11
4th
15JUL15
15JUL15
CertainReligiousWorkers
15JUL15
15JUL15
5th
NonRegional
Center
(C5andT5)
15APR14
5th
Regional
Center
(I5andR5)
15APR14
*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
OFFEBRUARY
Section203(c)oftheINAprovidesupto55,000immigrantvisaseachfiscalyeartopermitadditionalimmigrationopportunities
forpersonsfromcountrieswithlowadmissionsduringthepreviousfiveyears.TheNACARAstipulatesthatbeginningwithDV99,
andforaslongasnecessary,upto5,000ofthe55,000annuallyallocateddiversityvisaswillbemadeavailableforuseunderthe
NACARAprogram.ThisresultedinreductionoftheDV2017annuallimitto50,000.DVvisasaredividedamongsix
geographicregions.Noonecountrycanreceivemorethansevenpercentoftheavailablediversityvisasinanyoneyear.
ForFebruary,immigrantnumbersintheDVcategoryareavailabletoqualifiedDV2017applicantschargeabletoall
regions/eligiblecountriesasfollows.Whenanallocationcutoffnumberisshown,visasareavailableonlyforapplicantswithDV
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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
EntitlementtoimmigrantstatusintheDVcategorylastsonlythroughtheendofthefiscal(visa)yearforwhichtheapplicantis
selectedinthelottery.TheyearofentitlementforallapplicantsregisteredfortheDV2017programendsasofSeptember30,
2017.DVvisasmaynotbeissuedtoDV2017applicantsafterthatdate.Similarly,spousesandchildrenaccompanyingor
followingtojoinDV2017principalsareonlyentitledtoderivativeDVstatusuntilSeptember30,2017.DVvisaavailability
throughtheveryendofFY2017cannotbetakenforgranted.NumberscouldbeexhaustedpriortoSeptember30.
C.THEDIVERSITY(DV)IMMIGRANTCATEGORYRANKCUTOFFS
WHICHWILLAPPLYINMARCH
ForMarch,immigrantnumbersintheDVcategoryareavailabletoqualifiedDV2017applicantschargeabletoallregions/eligible
countriesasfollows.Whenanallocationcutoffnumberisshown,visasareavailableonlyforapplicantswithDVregionallottery
ranknumbersBELOWthespecifiedallocationcutoffnumber:
Region
AllDVChargeabilityAreasExceptThoseListed
Separately
AFRICA
28,700
Except:
Egypt:18,800
Ethiopia:19,200
ASIA
4,700
Except:
Iran:4,600
Nepal:3,850
EUROPE
19,300
NORTHAMERICA
(BAHAMAS)
OCEANIA
800
SOUTHAMERICA,
andtheCARIBBEAN
875
D.OBTAININGTHEMONTHLYVISABULLETIN
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