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MAY 1997 STATE DEPARTMENT VISA NUMBERS
A.   STATUTORY NUMBERS (This communication provides priority dates
and other transitional information as taken from the State
Department's Visa Bulletin released April 10, 1997.)  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  
     Except Those        
     Listed         INDIA     MEXICO    PHILIPPINES 

1st  08APR96        08APR96   01FEB93   18JUL86

2A*  01MAR93        01MAR93   22JUN92   01MAR93

2B   08APR91        08APR91   08APR91   08APR91

3rd  22FEB94        22FEB94   15APR88   22DEC85

4th  01NOV86        01MAR85   08FEB86   22DEC77

*NOTE:  For MAY, 2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are
available to applicants from all countries with priority dates
earlier than 22JUN92.  2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are
available to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO
with priority dates beginning 22JUN92 and earlier than 01MAR93. 
(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              C         C         C

3rd       C              01APR95   C         C

Other     01APR90        01APR90   01APR90   01APR90
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 MAY 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 MAY, 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   40,390         EXCEPT:   GHANA AF 10,730
                                             NIGERIA AF 09,750

ASIA           AS   11,020         EXCEPT:   BANGLADESH AS 09,360

EUROPE         EU   30,001         EXCEPT:   ALBANIA  EU  17,981
                                              POLAND EU  06,410

NORTH AMERICA
(BAHAMAS)      CURRENT

OCEANIA        OC   416

SOUTH AMERICA  SA   2,150
(CENTRAL AMERICA,
and the CARRIBBEAN

(NOTE: Heavy applicant demand has resulted in the retrogression of
the Oceania cut-off for and the establishment of a regional cut-off
for South America for May.) 

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.
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Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk.