FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First: (F1) Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents
A. (F2A) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
B. (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); “C” means current, i.e., numbers are available for all qualified applicants; and “U” means unavailable, i.e., no numbers are available. (NOTE: Numbers are available only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below:
Family-Sponsored | All Charge-ability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
F1 | Petitions filed on/prior to 12/15/07 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 12/15/07 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 12/15/07 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 11/15/94 are being processed now | Petitions filed on Prior to 10/22/2000 are being processed now |
F2A | Petitions filed on/prior to 03/01/14 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 03/01/14 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 03/01/14 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 02/01/14 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 03/01/14 are being processed now |
F2B | Petitions filed on/prior to 12/22/08 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 12/22/08 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 12/22/08 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 07/15/95 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 09/08/04 are being processed now |
F3 | Petitions filed on/prior to 05/08/04 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 05/08/04 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 05/08/04 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 05/22/94 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 09/15/93 are being processed now |
F4 | Petitions filed on/prior to 01/15/03 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 01/15/03 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 01/15/03 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 03/15/97 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 03/01/92 are being processed now |
Section 203(b) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Employment-based immigrant visas as follows:
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
Fourth: Certain Special Immigrants
Fifth: Employment Creation
Employment -based | All Charge-ability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
EB-1 | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now |
EB-2 | All filed petitions are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 01/01/06 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 01/01/06 are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now |
EB-3 | Petitions filed on/prior to 08/15/15 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 12/22/04 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 12/22/04 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 08/15/15 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 12/22/04 are being processed now |
Other workers | Petitions filed on/prior to 08/15/15 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 01/01/04 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 12/22/04 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 08/15/15 are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 12/22/04 are being processed now |
EB-4 | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now |
Certain Religious workers | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now |
EB-5 | All filed petitions are being processed now | Petitions filed on/prior to 09/01/13 are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now | All filed petitions are being processed now |
The Department of State has a recorded message with visa availability information which can be heard at: (202) 663-1541. This recording is updated on or about the tenth of each month with information on cut-off dates for the following month