The official Visa Bulletin for October 2008 has been posted by the State Department.
Screenshots are posted below.
October 2008 // Family-Based Visa Bulletin
October 2008 // Employment-Based Visa Bulletin
Source: travel.state.gov
And the notes of the October Visa Bulletin include the following:
D. MEXICO F2A VISA AVAILABIILTY FOR OCTOBER
Heavy demand for numbers in the Mexico F2A category has required the establishment of a cut-off date which is earlier than that which applied in June (after which they became “unavailable” for the remainder of FY-2008). The Mexico F2A cut-off date for October will be 01MAY01. Forward movement during the first quarter of the new fiscal year is likely to be limited.
E. EMPLOYMENT VISA AVAILABILITY
Item E of the May 2008 Visa Bulletin (number 118, volume VIII) indicated that many Employment cut-off dates had been advancing very rapidly, based on indications that the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) would need to review a significantly larger pool of applicants than there were numbers available in order to maximize number use under the FY-2008 annual limits. That item also indicated that if the CIS projections proved to be incorrect, it would be necessary to adjust the cut-off dates during the final quarter of FY-2008. The CIS estimates have proven to be very high resulting in: 1) the “unavailability” of all Employment Third preference categories beginning in July, 2) the “unavailability” of numbers for China and India Employment Second preference adjustment of status cases during September, and 3) the establishment of many October Employment cut-off dates which are earlier than those which applied during FY-2008.
Little if any forward movement of the cut-off dates in most Employment categories is likely until the extent of the CIS backlog of old priority dates can be determined. It is estimated that the FY-2009 Employment-based annual limit will be very close to the 140,000 minimum.
56 responses so far ↓
1 FD // Sep 10, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Just when we all had thought that the cutoffs were moving ahead for EB3 ROW they retrogressed it to January 2005! This process is endless.
2 Rajesh Kumar // Sep 10, 2008 at 3:36 pm
eb2 has retrogressed to 2003 which really sucks. I dont see much hope.
3 hitesh patel // Sep 10, 2008 at 8:14 pm
EB2 waiters………after looking at october visa bulletin, it will take atleast 8-9 months before visa bulletin come up to pd may-june 2007 for EB2 applicant.
EB3,INDIA, it’s going to be looooooong wait, atleast 6-7 yrs ! I would look for other options, like Australia, New zealand, great countries too !!!!
we all need to shout n make sure our voice is heard.
4 PB // Sep 11, 2008 at 8:30 am
Hello everyone. Let’s forget about F3 Category. I was a type of person who never let go hopless, but this time I have to say I’m totally hopeless regarding F3 Category. It’s about 5 or 6 months and only 3 or maximum 4 weeks of movement. I will never ever check visa bulletin again and I let go.
5 NR // Sep 11, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Hello John ,I would ask you about my apllied in f4 category brother of US citizen in 01 june 2005 .I am from Kosovo ,what do you think and how many years will wait for that visa issue.
6 deo // Sep 12, 2008 at 3:16 am
EB3 in the philippines was mar 2006 last may 2008 visa buletin, it became unavailable but now its jan 2005,how does this happen?
7 aries // Sep 12, 2008 at 1:31 pm
i ‘m looking for another option i’m losing hope..
8 Bong // Sep 12, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Hello John,
I’m EB3Phil, MY PD is Jan 2004. As of Oct 2008 My PD is current, My-I40 is not yet approved( Filed on 2 July 2007). What are my chances of getting GC this year. Is it possible. Thanks.
9 JKDAV // Sep 13, 2008 at 4:20 am
DEAR SIR JOHN
MY PD F/3 INDIA 31/OCT/2000 WHEN I EXPECT MY VISA PAPER.
10 Ozzy // Sep 14, 2008 at 10:22 pm
It’s such a torture to have to wait so long for that PD to come up. I really wonder how USCIS handles its customers. The US really needs nurses!
11 Sophie // Sep 15, 2008 at 3:57 am
To Deo, if im not mistaken that is what they call retrogression.
To All Filipino Applicants, My immigration consultant is quite hopeful that things will move fast in the last quarter of 2008 if Obama wins. He’s immigration reforms could be helpful for us. I’ve been waiting for a long time too, Im Eb 3 Visa others category. I got my I-140 approved last May 2008.
12 hitesh patel // Sep 15, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I am losing hopes too………I sure will start looking another options….still single n in my 20’s and a Pharmacist, gonna a start looking to get married to US citizen………..easiest !!!
13 MISSY // Sep 16, 2008 at 12:36 am
well thank god eb3 ROW didnt retrogress to far behind. lets thank god for that.
maybe someone on here is in my boat and can give me some advice…or insight….give me back my hope…bc im losing it as every day passes…
my priority date is july 2004 . my I-140 was approved in june 2008 and i applied for consulate processing using the I-824 form in july 2008….im hoping bc my date will be current oct 1 they process my case…im praying they dont take a lonnngg time to approve the i-824 FORM requesting consular procesing and i miss my date being current….
anyone in my boat? or can shed some light?
thanks in advance….
14 LEINE // Sep 16, 2008 at 1:47 pm
surely it’s a hopeless thing to wait. it moved back to jan. 2005. my pd is june 2007 and my I-140 got approved last jan 08. how long will i wait? i guess i have to look for other options.
15 Carmen Pilapil // Sep 17, 2008 at 6:23 am
Hi Anyone who can answer this,
Can you please clear out some things for me? Why are some EB3 Phils applicant have PD’s already like the one I read just now with PD Jan 2004 but still his I-140 petition is not yet approved at the present time? How can that be? I am in the same category but I got my PD when I my I-140 was approved last July 2006. My PD is July 3, 2006.
Kindly enlighten please.. Thanks so much for your time.
16 jaycelle_06 // Sep 17, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Hi CArmen,
Priority DAte or PD is the date when our employer files our I-140 or petition at the uscis. If youre referring to BONG’S case, his PD is way back January 2004 but as what he mentioned his I-140 has not been approve until now. that mean to say, his case is still at uscis. Even if his pd became current it doesnt mean that he will be given a visa number. He still need to wait for his petition to be approve and uscis will still forward it to nvc. Bong’s case might have insufficient supporting documents that his employer is not qualified to sponsor him that is why uscis have not approve it yet.
TO BONG:
You might need to follow up your petition status to your agency or lawyer. Whoever is responsible for your processing because there might be a problem. Dont waste your time waiting for the uscis to inform you. You should act now coz youre pd has been current by october. Hope these helps you guys! God bless..
17 bheng // Sep 17, 2008 at 4:25 pm
hi my priority date is march 16 2006 and evrything is approved which is d i 140 long time ago…. i had my finger printing done and medical done together w my family…. im planning to resign to the employer that sponsor me but i already serve the two yrs contract that i have…… is it going to affect my application if i resign??????????? please help!!!!!!!!!!!!
18 light EB3 // Sep 17, 2008 at 7:14 pm
To Carmen & Jaycelle
fyi… Bong’s i140 (under EB3) is not yet approved bec right now USCIS is processing cases filed before March 2007. In Bong’s case, his i140 was filed July 07. So even with a current PD but pending i140, he still has to wait.
19 light777 // Sep 17, 2008 at 10:33 pm
TO CARMEn, JAYCELLE, & BONG,
To answer your question, Carmen. Some of us, like me, has PD based on the date Labor Certificate was filed. Upon approval, that’s the time that I-140 is filed. Now, in Bong’s case, his I-140 was filed July 07. If you check USCIS website, they are now processing I-140 (based on EB3) with cut-off date of March 2007. And unfortunately it has remained in March 2007 for at least 3 months now. So Bong, to answer your question…I’m not trying to be pessimistic here, but all we can do is hope that USCIS process more I-140. Mine was filed May 2007, and I have been checking every month hoping that there will be some movement. So much for the increase in processing fees. I guess we all can see that nothing has improved in terms of speed. In fact, my colleagues (also EB3) got approved after 3 months, but mine has already been in file for 16 months. Now, do the math!
20 Bong // Sep 17, 2008 at 10:48 pm
to: 16 jaycelle_06 /
Actually, I have an approved I-140 back in august 2006. The thing is it has a wrong priority date, the priority date was august 2005 instead of Jan 2004. My PD was corrected back in May 2007 (Jan 2004). During the July 2007 VB Fiasco my lawyer filed for a new I-140 concrrent with I-485 his reason is that to avoid confusion with USCIS.
21 tim // Sep 18, 2008 at 4:06 am
priority date is the date when the approved labor certification was filed. so you should know what your priority date is when there is already an ongoing I-140 petition.
22 Carmen Pilapil // Sep 18, 2008 at 5:23 am
Thanks so much Jaycelle, it is really so confusing when you think of who’s going to be given a visa number first, the one with old PD’s but got approved just nowwith their I-140’s or the ones who have a much later PD but got approved concurrently.
23 light777 // Sep 18, 2008 at 3:39 pm
BHENG, have you filed your 485 with the employer you are leaving? I think you can apply for another company, as long as the job title is exactly the same as what was in your approved LCP. Your new employer will just have to file for a new 485, because your employer has the right to cancel the 485 petition.
24 Bong // Sep 18, 2008 at 5:26 pm
to : 19 light777
Before the July 2007 VB Fiasco, approvals of I-140 is fast, the processing dates does’nt even matter. My old approved I-140 ( with wrong PD) was approved in 45 days. So I dont know why its taking so long to approve I-140 petitions now. The only possible reason for the long approvals is maybe because of concurrent filing last July 2007.
25 RP // Sep 20, 2008 at 2:34 pm
HELLO EVERYONE,
My pd is june 2001 in F3 INDIA
I Want to know who have latest received
form DS 230 in above category.pl reply
who get agent choice letter or form DS 230
26 PB // Sep 22, 2008 at 1:02 pm
RP hello, my priority date is 4 months before you Feb. 2001 and I have still not received that. How come are you waiting for that?
27 kirti // Sep 22, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Hi, my priority date is jan’03 and my i-140 has been filed with the reciept date of oct-07, why it is taking too long to get i-140 to process, any suggetions, apprecited.
28 RP // Sep 22, 2008 at 2:52 pm
PB
Thanks for your reply.
Do you know current paper work in f3 india
in which month is running.
I have seen DS 3030 & DS 230 received before
10/12 month ago in my friend case. in f3
PL IF YOU KNOW CURRENT NEWS PL LET ME KNOW .
Thanks.
29 lexart // Sep 22, 2008 at 5:12 pm
With regards to (Eb3) October 2008 visa bulletin, does it mean that we should consider other countries? Any predictions about the cutoff dates after October?
30 gwapa // Sep 23, 2008 at 3:54 am
when will the visa be released?
31 Adeniyi Taiwo // Sep 24, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Hi,
My name is niyi. My priority date is June 2002 (family-based) and in all honesty, i’m just believing God to take control. Received approval and visa paid for. Is there any hope for this year at all? Thanks.
32 emilia // Sep 27, 2008 at 12:22 am
ADENIYI TAIWO:
I am in the same boat here. Been waiting for 7 years now. Hopefully soon…
33 v b patel // Sep 27, 2008 at 10:15 am
my pd is2000 nov so i wate log time.
34 june // Sep 27, 2008 at 8:25 pm
this regregression thing is way beyond frustration.
35 james // Oct 2, 2008 at 8:13 am
my pd is august 2005,ive been rushing before because my visa screen cerificate wil expires on Fbruary 2009,now that this retro pull back do you I can still have my visa interview before my VSC expires.
36 caro brown // Oct 3, 2008 at 12:48 am
i think the us encourage because people have to wait for many year to get a green card while other people can get a visa and come to america and overstay ha america the man that play by the rule is the man that get shafted
37 Harsha // Oct 3, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Question: Merger or acquisition
Hi, currently I am working with Company A on H1-b visa since last 3 yrs and my GC process is also on the way with Company A. LC approved, 140 approved, but didn’t apply for 485 as my PD is oct. 2007.
Now company B bought company A where I am currently working and employed so soon we will be a part of Company B.
What will happen to my status and green card process? Could anyone please help me out in this situation what will happen to my status and gc process?
Thanks,
Harsha
38 sonal // Oct 6, 2008 at 9:05 am
my file is in f3 january 2002, how much more time it will take.
39 andy pogi // Oct 6, 2008 at 2:55 pm
my priority date is may 11 1998 how long should i wait for my petition ! thanks
40 paltakeneous // Oct 7, 2008 at 10:08 am
andy, what is you category. i am f3 category, married sons and daughters of citizen. my priority date is october 1993. until now i am still hoping. maybe for you about 1o years minimum.
41 Jeremy Angeles // Oct 7, 2008 at 2:11 pm
hi..i have signed up with a US employer for immigrant visa last March but until now they have not filed my papers because of some problem or updates with the US law (USCIS)..and now, i have an offer from another hospital who would sponsor me for a working visa..i want to withdraw from my previous contract because they have not filed me like what they have promised…but they said that they already spent money for the lawyers that is why i cannot withdraw..buying out the contract would be too costly..do you think it is ok if i signed with the working visa considering that the immigrant visa will take a long time to be approved..im just worried that if the immigration sees that i have two application, i might lose both application and might be banned..pls give advice…tnx!!
42 willieth // Oct 8, 2008 at 3:53 am
jeremy i just talked to my agency last monday sept 6,2008 and i inquired also regarding the application of working visa they said that it is ok to apply for working visa but for them, they won’t allow their nurses because it it is hard in their part to reprocess the immigrant. and there is no law in the US that won’t allow you to apply for working visa, it is really possible.
43 Ashley // Oct 8, 2008 at 9:25 am
hello everyone.. could it be possible for me to get my visa process by the time of November or even within this year?? my priority date is june1991 f3 category Philippines . are there any big chances for me?
44 andy pogi // Oct 8, 2008 at 1:46 pm
i sory my category is f2b my priority date may 11 1998 almost 10 yrs hoping 2 see my family in san diego thanks
45 attwyn // Oct 11, 2008 at 6:23 am
hi. mine is F2B Philippines. my PD is February 3, 1998. When will I start receiving papers from the visa center?
46 andy pogi // Oct 12, 2008 at 4:19 pm
my category is f2b priority date is may 1998 how long i’ve been waiting for? i almost have 10 yrs waiting. I just want to know the exact date of my petition. tnx a lot.
47 attwyn // Oct 13, 2008 at 8:29 am
hi andy pogi! my estimate for your petition to become current is 2 years. bagal kasi pare. parang every movement of 1 month in PD 2 months ang waiting period. haaayyyyyyyy
48 hitesh patel // Oct 13, 2008 at 4:52 pm
eb2 current
49 Amin Kajani // Oct 14, 2008 at 1:04 am
What do u think guys , dates are going to be current or not. ?
few hours
50 macoy // Oct 14, 2008 at 4:57 am
i also f2b category from the philippines i almost waiting for 10 yrs….ang tagal nga eh……how advance if i recieve papers coming from nvc for my petition if my papers become current.?…
if there possibility that will affect my papers if i am planning to go abroad, when my papers become current……….hope you could answer my queeries???/thanks…
51 Gie // Oct 14, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Ei guys…
I passed my ds-230 last may 2008, and i have a case number from NVC. I called NVC and they told me that my ds-230 was processed last june 11, 2008. But until now i havent heard anything from them? could someone please enlighten me.. i really havent got a clue as to what my status is and for how long i must wait…thank you so much…
52 pogiku // Oct 17, 2008 at 8:46 am
hi guys
may PD is march 1997, i received may appointment letter for interview last august 2008. i hope this info will help you to estimate your time of waiting. I’m still waiting for may visa it has been 5 weeks since my interview.
53 owen // Oct 26, 2008 at 7:19 am
hi pogiku, its seem your pampango, anyway just want to ask what interview they have asked you?
54 didith // Nov 7, 2008 at 8:21 am
hi! i petitioned my husband and 6 year old son on nov. 2004. Their PD is nov. 24, 2004 with the category of F2A.
As far as the visa bulletin is concern, they’re processing feb. 2004.
Can anyone give me a rough estimate on the time line for this?
thanks!
55 didith // Nov 7, 2008 at 8:24 am
btw, country is Philippines.
56 jit patel // Dec 27, 2008 at 2:08 am
hi
my son is on f4 category visa and i filed for his visa before three mth how much time it will make,and he is divorced wid no child
plz reply me?
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