*NOTE: For FEBRUARY, 2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 01JUN92. 2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are available to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning 01JUN92 and earlier than 08FEB93. (2A numbers subject to per-country limit are "unavailable" for applicants chargeable to MEXICO.)

EMPLOYMENT-BASED

          All Charge-
          ability Areas  
          Except Those   
          Listed         INDIA     MEXICO    PHILIPPINES 

1st       C              C         C         C

2nd       C              01NOV95   C         C

3rd       C              01SEP94   C         C

Other     01FEB90        01FEB90   01FEB90   01FEB90
Workers

4th       C              C         C         C

Certain   C              C         C         C   
Religious Workers

5th       C              C         C         C
Targeted  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 1997 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.

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 numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:

               All DV Charge-
               ability Areas
               Except Those
Region         Listed Separately

AFRICA         AF   35,830         EXCEPT:   GHANA AF 10,730
                                             NIGERIA AF 09,750

ASIA           AS   08,210         EXCEPT:   BANGLADESH AS 05,880

EUROPE         CURRENT             EXCEPT:   ALBANIA  EU  16,850
                                             POLAND EU  08,301

NORTH AMERICA
(BAHAMAS)      CURRENT

OCEANIA        CURRENT

SOUTH AMERICA  CURRENT
(CENTRAL AMERICA,
and the CARRIBBEAN

(NOTE: For MARCH, there will be a regional rank cut-off for Europe because of heavy applicant demand for numbers. Increased demand for DV numbers from Oceania will make necessary the establishment of a regional rank cut-off for April.)

Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-97 program ends as of September 30, 1997. DV visas may not be issued to DV-97 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-97 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 1997.