A) STATUTORY NUMBERS (This communication provides priority dates and other
transitional information as taken from the State Department's Visa Bulletin
released January 19, 1996.)
On the following chart, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the
class is oversubscribed; "C" means current, i.e., numbers are available for all
qualified applicants; and "U" means unavailable, i.e., no numbers are available.
PREFERENCES
FAMILY
All Charge-
ability Areas CHINA-
Except Those mainland
Listed born INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES
1st C C C 01APR95 04FEB86
2A* 15SEP92 15SEP92 15SEP92 08MAR92 15SEP92
2B 15AUG90 15AUG90 15AUG90 15AUG90 15AUG90
3rd 15MAY93 15MAY93 15MAY93 01SEP87 08AUG84
4th 01NOV85 01NOV85 01AUG84 01MAR85 19SEP77
*NOTE: For FEBRUARY, 2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are available to
applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 08MAR92. 2A numbers
SUBJECT to per-country limit are available to applicants chargeable to all countries
EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning 08MAR92 and earlier than 15SEP92. (2A
numbers subject to per-country limit are "unavailable" for applicants chargeable to
MEXICO.) (The three-year transition program which had provided additional visas for
spouses/children of legalization beneficiaries has ended; petitions approved on
behalf of such spouses/children continue to accord them status in the Family 2A
preference, however.)
All Charge-
ability Areas CHINA-
Except Those mainland
Listed born INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES
Employment-Based
1st C C C C C
2nd C C C C C
3rd C C C C 01MAY94
Other 01MAR91 01MAR91 01MAR91 01MAR91 01MAR91
Workers
4th C C C C 08MAR94
Certain C C C C 08MAR94
Religious Workers
5th C C C C C
Targeted C C C C C
Employment Areas/Regional Centers
The Department of State has available a recorded message with visa
availability information which can be heard at (202) 663-1541. This
recording will be updated in the middle of each month with information
on cut-off dates for the following month.
ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FEBRUARY 1996 VISA BULLETIN
B. DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY
Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides 55,000
immigrant visas each fiscal year to provide immigration opportunities
for persons from countries other than the principal sources of current
immigration to the United States. DV visas are divided among six
geographic regions. Not more than 3,850 visas (7% of the 55,000 visa
limit) may be provided to immigrants from any one country.
The allotment of FY-1996 visa numbers for each region is as follows:
Africa, 20,426; Asia, 7,087; Europe, 24,257; North America (Bahamas), 8;
South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, 2,407; and Oceania, 815.
For FEBRUARY, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to
qualified applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as
follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available
only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank number BELOW the
specified allocation cut-off number:
All DV Chargeability
Areas Except Those
Region Listed Separately
AFRICA CURRENT
ASIA AS 06,358 EXCEPT: BANGLADESH AS 04,085
EUROPE CURRENT
NORTH AMERICA CURRENT
(BAHAMAS)
OCEANIA OC OO,451
SOUTH AMERICA, CURRENT
CENTRAL AMERICA,
and the CARIBBEAN
NOTE: Increased demand for DV numbers by applicants from Oceania has made
necessary the establishment of the above rank cut-off for February. For
March, it will be necessary to establish a rank cut-off for Poland (country)
because of heavy applicant demand for numbers. For April, it will also be
necessary to establish regional rank cut-offs for Africa and Europe.
