70 responses so far ↓

• 1 Sam79 // Jan 10, 2008 at 5:39 pm

  What does this mean for India EB2? How long til its available again?

• 2 John C. // Jan 10, 2008 at 5:42 pm

  Sam,

  No more visa availability for EB-2 Indians until the next fiscal year… most likely numbers will become available in the October Visa Bulletin (which should be out mid-September 2008).

  The State Department said the following in the notes of the February 2008 Bulletin,

  Despite two retrogressions of the India Employment Second preference cut-off date, demand for numbers by CIS Offices for adjustment of status cases has remained extremely high in recent months. As a result the annual limit for the India Employment Second preference category has been reached, and the category has become “unavailable” effective immediately.

  [UPDATE: The American Immigration Lawyers Association has gotten word that while far from certain, the EB-2 India preference may become available again in the second half of this fiscal year. I'm not saying it is likely, but it is possible.]

• 3 USCIS Naturalization Delays Chart // Jan 17, 2008 at 11:51 pm

  [...] Current Visa Bulletin [...]

• 4 ANKUR PATEL // Jan 18, 2008 at 4:55 pm

  hello sir
  my priyority date is 2 april 2001
  cat : f3
  how many time to get visa call

• 5 John C. // Jan 18, 2008 at 11:23 pm

  Hi Ankur,

  Predicting visa bulletin cutoff dates is almost impossible. Sometimes there are clues in the notes to the visa bulletin that will indicate some future movement. For example, the notes from the January bulletin hinted that there might be further retrogression and/or unavailability for EB-2 nationals of India in the February bulletin. And sure enough, visas were unavailable in the February bulletin for EB-2 India. But that’s usually not the case and the best we can do is take an (educated?) guess.

  So back to your specific situation. F3 (Family 3rd Preference) with a priority date of April 2, 2001. In the most recent (February) visa bulletin, the cutoff date for F3 was May 8, 2000.

  I would normally ask you which country you are a national of … but all of the categories are currently matched up in F3 except for Mexico/Philippines. I’ll assume you’re not from Mexico or the Philippines.

  To guess-timate when your priority date might become current, I’d look to past visa bulletins to find any trends or patterns. The F3 category cutoff dates in the last few bulletins have progressed as follows:

  Visa Bulletin // Cutoff Dates for F3
  October 2007 // February 15, 2000
  November 2007 // March 1, 2000
  December 2007 // April 8, 2000
  January 2008 // May 8, 2000
  February 2008 // May 8, 2000

  In the last four months or so, your category’s cutoff date has moved forward almost 3 months. So let’s estimate it will continue at that pace of 3 weeks progress every time the visa bulletin is published (monthly). 4 weeks over 3 weeks = 1.333.

  Now let’s subtract your priority date (April 2, 2001) from the current cutoff date (May 8, 2000). This equals 11 months.

  A little math…
  11 months times (1.333) = 14.333 months

  My best guess is that you *might* be eligible to apply for your Green Card in March 2009.

  BUT… this is a total guess and these numbers can fluctuate based on a lot of different factors beyond everyone’s control.

• 6 katherine // Jan 19, 2008 at 2:50 pm

  i am a nurse in the philippines. i already have a contract in an agency based in california. they said that they will prioritize my application once the retrogression is lifted. my question is: what are the chances that i may leave the philippines this year? how many months do you think it will take for the processing of my immigrant visa? thank you very much..

• 7 John C. // Jan 19, 2008 at 4:55 pm

  Hi Katherine,

  Has the agency filed anything for you yet?

  I know most nurse positions fall in the EB-3 category. And the EB-3 category for nationals of the Philippines is currently November 1st, 2002 (see Employment-Based table above).

  Unless you have already filed your EB immigrant petition (I-140) and that petition was filed in 2002 or 2003, I don’t think it’s likely you will leave the Philippines in 2008.

  I hear chatter every other month about nursing relief but nothing seems to ever happen.

• 8 Marie Erickson // Jan 22, 2008 at 10:42 am

  What does this mean for US citizens applying for an employment visa to India. I applied for mine 26th Dec. and still haven’t heard anything and it’s 20th Jan. I’ve heard that sometimes countries respond to this by not offering similar visa’s to applicants. Is that true?

• 9 John C // Jan 23, 2008 at 11:13 pm

  Hi Marie,

  It doesn’t mean anything for USCs applying for an employment visa to India. The visa bulletin posted above is related only to *inbound* immigrants from countries outside the U.S.

  As far as getting a visa to India, my guess is it takes quite a while to navigate the bureaucracy. Three and a half weeks doesn’t sound too long at all. But I have no experience with this. Good luck!

• 10 Arenla Longchar // Jan 24, 2008 at 5:40 am

  Dear John,
  I am nurse in India. My I 140 application(EB3) is pending priority date 08 aug 07Texas service center. If retrogression lifts in Feb 08 and my approval comes in by feb 08, do u think I will get my visa within next 3 months??

• 11 John C // Jan 24, 2008 at 8:05 am

  Hi Arenla,

  It’s impossible to say. I’d prefer to wait and see what happens before answering that one. I think “if retrogression is lifted in Feb 08” is a pretty big “if”.

• 12 Dolma // Jan 24, 2008 at 8:27 am

  Dear John,

  I am hearing a lot of rumour about retrogression being lifted up in feb 08. Is there any truth in these rumours? My I 140 is still under process at Nebraska SC and I am wondering how long the whole process will take for me, and whether I will reach US in 2008 itself

• 13 Arenla longchar // Jan 24, 2008 at 8:35 am

  Thanks John for ur response. But I have another query: The bulletin shows EB3 category(India) as 08 May 01. Does this mean that they are still processing cases applied in 2001????. Hows that possible?? Or what does it mean??? Because,I have lots of nurse friends who have applied in 2005 and have already reached USA and working. I am puzzled. Please clarify.

  Thank you!!

• 14 Sumeet // Jan 25, 2008 at 1:26 am

  I have a question. Since I applied for my I-485 last July when they opened the visa numbers, and now that they have retrogressed the visa numbers back to 2001 (EB3, India), does it mean that I wouldn’t get a visa number until that backlog clears upto my Priority Date?

  I thought a Visa number was only required to apply for I-485 and since I have already done so, my application shouldn’t be waiting for the visa
  bulletin to be current again.

  Am I thinking rationally or does this sound way too optimistic? Any thoughts?

• 15 John C // Jan 25, 2008 at 5:04 am

  @Dolma - I wouldn’t put too much trust in any rumours. What’s your priority date? Where are you from?

  @Arenla - That May 8, 2001 cutoff date for the Indian EB3 preference determines who may file an adjustment of status application (I-485) only. That date fluctuates based on visa quotas and estimated numbers used (and expected numbers to be used). It is not an exact science, as we all saw in the July 2007 visa bulletin.

  @Sumeet - Your I-485 probablywon’t be approved until that backlog clears up and the cutoff date matches up to your priority date. But there are always exceptions and other factors can affect when the I-485 is approved. The visa bulletin is subject to change without notice. You just have to keep an eye on it.

  Being eligible to file an I-485 and having that I-485 approved are two very different things. This is probably one of the most misunderstood concepts out there right now and I doubt that most people understood it when they filed their adjustment of status applications last summer. Most would have probably filed anyway. But I’d bet there are some that would have not.

• 16 John C // Jan 25, 2008 at 5:15 am

  By the way, if anyone wants to subscribe to this post, just use this feed,

  http://thevisabulletin.com/2008/visa-bulletin-february-2008/feed/

  That way you can keep track of any new comments. I’m going to add a subscribe icon to each post soon.

• 17 tammy gia // Jan 27, 2008 at 12:10 pm

  Hello John,

  My Priority Date is Feb 25, 2002 for a F1 (unmarried son/ daughter) from Brazil. I have been keeping up with everything available, i noticed we have moved to FEB82002, how is it looking as far as alloted F1 visas for Brazil?

• 18 John C // Jan 27, 2008 at 3:16 pm

  Hi Tammy,

  It’s looking very good for F1 nationals of Brazil. You are so close you should be able to taste it. The cutoff date for your category (F1 All Chargeability Areas) didn’t move forward in the February Visa Bulletin, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it does move forward in the March bulletin. The March bulletin should be out in about 2 or 3 weeks, and I’ll post it here the instant it comes out. Good luck, Tammy!

• 19 tammy gia // Jan 27, 2008 at 3:28 pm

  Thank you so much for the quick reply!
  I can actually taste this, we’ve been waiting for so long.
  We actually started in 1998 but somehow they lost our application, by the time we found out, we had to start all over again… So now we are very nervous about it trying to keep up with it so we don’t loose our cut off dates. We’d really appreciate any and every kind of news you might have in the coming weeks…

  Thanks again,
  T

• 20 dolma // Jan 28, 2008 at 11:19 am

  Dear John,

  My priority date is 23 Aug 07 and I am from India.

• 21 merce // Jan 28, 2008 at 12:43 pm

  Hi,
  Just want to ask why our petition seems to be moving so slow, cat is f3 in the Philippines.Thanks

• 22 John C // Jan 28, 2008 at 2:00 pm

  @Dolma: Which category did you apply for? Employment (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3)?

  @merce:
  There is a huge demand for the F3 Philippines category and very few visas available based on per country limits.

• 23 Mohiuddin // Jan 29, 2008 at 12:42 am

  I have Dec 3, 2003 receipt date for I-485 filled as skilled worker under EB3.

  My case is in Texas , I was born in Pakistan.

  I hold U.S. MS and BS degrees but my lawyer filed as EB3 in 2003.

  My congressman checked status for me and told me that my case is held for only Visa right now.

  Can I make up my case to immigration through my congressman to allocate me visa from EB2 category?

  If there is no chance then for this change, when should I expect to get my GC?

• 24 JASON // Jan 29, 2008 at 12:59 pm

  hi John,

  I have a question, base on the cutoff dates for EB3. I am RN from the Phil. why is that some of my RN friends are already in US with their visas last Jan. 07 when, their applications started last 2005. can you tell me if you have some idea why that happened, since the cutoff date as of this time is Nov. 1, 02 . I am just wondering how that happened. tnx

• 25 CHING // Jan 29, 2008 at 8:39 pm

  Dear John, I am RN from india, my case has been refer to US EMBASSY DELHI and my priority date 16 MAY 2006. please tell me how long it will take to get my embassy interview.One of my freind who has file with me got her visa in november 2007, why is there so much difference in the visa processing. thanks

• 26 Punitha // Jan 30, 2008 at 1:47 am

  I am a Nurse &was born in India .My case is filed on May 06 under EB3 & received my packet 3. I plan to do higher studies in nursing.Do you have any idea about my case status ? please tell me when will i receive my packet 4 or visa .

• 27 John C // Jan 31, 2008 at 2:49 am

  @Jason: Hi Jason. Visa numbers have retrogressed over the past two years. Demand is high. And no extra numbers have been made available.

  @Ching: If your priority date is May 2006 and you are a RN from India, you won’t have a visa for quite some time (unless you know something I don’t). Everyone has a friend who got their visa quickly.

  @Punitha: I wish I could help. But you need to contact the petitioner (company or person) that applied for the visa on your behalf. Or the immigration lawyer assisting them.

• 28 March 2008 Visa Bulletin // Jan 31, 2008 at 7:20 am

  [...] Current Visa Bulletin [...]

• 29 Punitha // Feb 1, 2008 at 3:36 am

  Hi John
  Thank you so much for your reply.Actullay , I would like to study in singapore for two years. Is there any possiblity for me to get my visa before that .Once i started my studies ,i cannot give up in the middle because it is very expensive .Could i proceed further?…..
  Please suggest me.
  Thanks n advance

• 30 vhir // Feb 3, 2008 at 3:09 pm

  hi im vhir a nurse from the Philippines. last nov2007 i received my packet1 and still waiting to received packet 2..i dont have any idea what my priority date is? my agency who based in maryland has told me that even there is retrogression my papers are still processing..is there any chance that i may leave this 2008? i

• 31 John C // Feb 4, 2008 at 9:55 pm

  @Punitha: Hi Punitha. In my opinion, it’s unlikely EB3 India will catch up to your priority date (May 2006) within the next two years. The current cutoff date is May 2001 and I have to think that the July/August 2007 filings are going to make matters even worse. But your choice is a very personal one, and shouldn’t depend on this single factor. Good luck!

  @Vhir: Find out your priority date. It’s critical to knowing where you stand with the visa bulletin. Drop it in the comments once you find out and I’ll take a look.

• 32 kiki // Feb 5, 2008 at 5:29 am

  Hi sir,

  My I-140 approved in 2006 july..When can I expect turns to be come, if retrogression lifted…
  and also My papers at NVC…still how long it will take…

• 33 John C // Feb 5, 2008 at 5:48 am

  Hi Kiki. Your I-140 was approved in July 2006. But what is your priority date? Where are you from?

  It is your priority date that determines the order of availability for visas. And your priority date is either the date your labor certification was filed or the date your visa petition was filed (if you are a nurse).

• 34 WTan // Feb 6, 2008 at 6:16 pm

  Im just new here and really finding that all questions and reply really make sense. I a Canadian Citizen and being sponsored under Family Catergory F4. My sister-in-law just submitted our application in Feb 2008. Since I cant understand how Visa Bulletin works. Realistically, how many years do we have to wait to get visa number? Thank you so much

• 35 Premeela // Feb 7, 2008 at 12:48 am

  Hi John I am an Indian nurse. My visa petition was filed in Sept 2006 and it is being approved. I have received Pack 3 from NVC. Would you please tell me approximately how long will I have to wait for the visa?

• 36 Esrar Chowdhury // Feb 7, 2008 at 5:48 pm

  Hi John,

  I filed my 485 during the last week of June 2007. I am from Bangladesh and I am under the EB3 category. My priority date is Feb 03. Per Feb 2008 Visa Bulletin, they are processing Nov 02. What are your predictions for the March 2008 Visa bulletin in terms of EB3 category for “All Other Charge-ability countries” moving forward?
  Thanks.

• 37 VOP // Feb 8, 2008 at 2:09 am

  I have already applied for the I-485 under the Eb3 category back in july of 2007. My priority dates is Nov 2006. ( nat - Brazil)Does the bulletin needs to read nov 2006 in order for my I-485 to get approved?
  Any predictions of how bulletin of March will read?

• 38 John C // Feb 8, 2008 at 5:48 am

  @WTan: We’re all new here - I just threw this site up a few weeks ago. Thanks for coming. So far it seems like a lot of people have questions about the visa bulletin.

  The F4 cutoff date was July 8, 1997 in the February bulletin. You have years of waiting ahead of you.

  But if you have the proper credentials and you are eager to come to the United States to work, you might want to look into a “TN” visa and or an H-1B visa.

  @Premeela. Hi. The Indian EB3 cutoff date was May 8, 2001 in the February bulletin. Your priority date is September 2006. It’s impossible to say, but you probably have a few years to wait - especially because of all of the filings last summer when the visa bulletin opened up to all employment-based immigrants.

  @Esrar. Hi. Great question. Your priority date was very close to the cutoff date for EB3 in the February bulletin. I hope that your category moves forward past your priority date in the March bulletin, but there were so many applications filed at the same time as yours that I’m not so sure it will. In fact, that category has been slowing the last few months.

  If I had to guess, I’d say the EB3 priority date for all chargeability areas will move forward to November 15, 2002. Maybe December 1, 2002. The March bulletin will be out any day now so we won’t have to wait long to find out.

  @VOP: Yes, generally the cutoff date for your category must be later than your priority date(November 2006). Your category is the same as Esrar’s. Please refer to my comment above for my predictions.

• 39 Leslie // Feb 8, 2008 at 12:56 pm

  Hi John, i am a nurse from the Philippines. I just received a letter from the NVC, stating that my application is affected by the retrogression. My priority date is Oct 13, 2006. I would like to ask an advice from you because im planning to apply in UAE with a contract of 2 yrs since there is still retrogression . Im worried with my immigrant application and with my agency, if retro will be lifted anytime this year that i am still under contract with my employer in UAE. Pls give me some advice about my case. Thanks

• 40 Slawek // Feb 8, 2008 at 9:11 pm

  Hi John,

  Why the cut-off date has not changed for f4 category in February 2008? I reviewed the archive and it looks that this hasn’t happened before.
  My priority date is 08 Jan 1998 and I have been expecting to get visa call somewhere around Jun 2008 (anticipating that the pace from the last year would not decrease ). Is it realistic date?

• 41 Hafiz // Feb 10, 2008 at 12:46 pm

  Dear John,

  My wife’s priority date is19 March 2003 and she’s am from Guyana. I’d like to know when her appointment is.

• 42 M Patel // Feb 10, 2008 at 9:18 pm

  I have apply for my sister in Jan 8 1998. I havn’t receive any paper yet. It is F4

• 43 jessica // Feb 11, 2008 at 2:15 pm

  Dear Sir,
  I was petitioned by my mom under f2b category. I’m already married with kids and unfortunately my mom had withdrawn the petition because we applied for tourist visa and we were advised by an immigrant consultant here in the philippines to withdraw it to prove the consul that we have no intention to settle in the u.s. Can my mom request for motion to reopen the petition? My mom has applied for citizenship already and by next month she will be interviewed. What could be your advice on this complex situation? Do I and my family still have chance to go to the U.S.? pls help. Thanks

• 44 John C // Feb 11, 2008 at 8:02 pm

  @Leslie: This is impossible for me to answer. It’s possible retrogression will be lifted in 2008, but I would not count on it. Personally, I don’t think it is likely. But your decision depends on a lot of your own personal factors.

  @Slawek: That might be realistic. But I would suggest that would be best case scenario. Again, these dates stop and advance without any notice sometimes.

  @Hafiz: Who has applied for her? Which category has she applied for?

  @M Patel: Your (sister’s) priority date is close. But still at least a few more months.

  @jessica: It might be worth a shot to try. But depending on your priority date, you still might have to wait. And I would think that your motion to reopen would not be approved unless you have a very convincing reason. Withdrawing your immigrant visa petition because you wanted to come to the US on a tourist visa is not very convincing…

  You could reapply once your mom becomes a US citizen, but unfortunately those dates (F1) are even worse.

• 45 jessica // Feb 11, 2008 at 11:49 pm

  dear john,
  thanks for your time in responding to my problem…i really appreciated it!

• 46 John C // Feb 11, 2008 at 11:56 pm

  It’s my pleasure, Jessica. Thanks for posting your comments.

• 47 Slawek // Feb 12, 2008 at 12:26 am

  Thank you Jonh for your help!

• 48 John C // Feb 12, 2008 at 2:21 am

  Thank you for posting, Slawek. Good luck!

• 49 lore // Feb 12, 2008 at 12:42 pm

  hello do you know when is the next fiscal year for mexico?

• 50 Esrar Chowdhury // Feb 12, 2008 at 5:11 pm

  March 2008 Visa bulletin is OUT!

  EB3 category is “current” up to Jan 2005.

• 51 John C // Feb 12, 2008 at 6:31 pm

  @Lore: USCIS fiscal years begin October 1st.

  @Esrar: You beat me to it! Everyone, go see the March bulletin. It just came out today.

• 52 Padma // Feb 12, 2008 at 8:08 pm

  Hi John, Any idea if USCIS recapture the visa numbers there will be some amount of forward movement for EB2 India

• 53 John C // Feb 13, 2008 at 3:31 am

  @Padma: Hi. You are referring (I think) to the announcement that some visas for EB2 India might be made available in the second half of the fiscal year. I haven’t heard anything since that announcement from AILA a couple weeks back.

  April is the first month of the second half of the fiscal year. So we’ll have to look out for that in the April bulletin.

• 54 tintin // Feb 15, 2008 at 3:25 am

  i am a nurse in the philippines. i already have a contract in an agency based in new jersey. i received my priority date last july 2006. then last july 2007 which they open the visa for 1 week and then they close it again my agency received a letter from nvc that we have to prepare for interview and medical but after 2 months of waiting no call or email from nvc, and the agency said that i’m on pocket 4. is there a chance of leaving the philippines this year? how many months do you think it will take for me to received my immigrant visa? thank you very much.. god bless!!!

• 55 John C // Feb 15, 2008 at 4:41 am

  @Tintin: I wish I could help, but you need to ask the agency. Verify that they did indeed apply for your green card when the visa bulletin opened up last summer. Ask to see the receipt from USCIS and find out what happened. Good luck!

• 56 Mel // Feb 15, 2008 at 8:58 am

  Hello, I filed for 1-485 last August 2007, my priority date is Jan. 2006. What are the chances of me getting my green card this year? Thanks for the wonderful service you provide, your website is really helpful.

• 57 Mel // Feb 15, 2008 at 8:59 am

  Sorry I forgot to mention I’m from the Philippines, employment based third preference. Thanks again.

• 58 RAJESWARI . D // Feb 16, 2008 at 8:55 am

  Sir,

  I am a nurse from India. My I-140 was filed in July 2006 and approved in June 2007. Assuming positively, that the 61,000 visas are granted in March 2008, can you advise, when and whether my application will be taken up for further processing? Right now, my application is in NVC. Thanks in advance for your reply.

  Regards,
  Rajeswari . D

• 59 WTAN // Feb 16, 2008 at 8:49 pm

  thank you so much John! i guess i would have to check out the options that you mentioned. Hopefully I will have a chance.

  will chat again soon!

• 60 ching // Feb 17, 2008 at 11:38 pm

  Dear john,
  Thanks for your time in responding to my problem…… i reallt appreciate it.

• 61 John C // Feb 21, 2008 at 7:48 am

  @Mel. Hi. I think it is unlikely that an EB3 Philippines priority date of January 2006 would receive a green card in this year. But I suppose anything could happen.

  @Rajeswari. Same issue as Mel. I don’t think your priority date of July 2006 in the EB3 India category will get you a visa anytime soon. I don’t know enough about the exact number of visas used, but if I come across that information I’ll share it here.

  @Wtan: Good luck!

  @Ching: It’s my pleasure.

• 62 D.RAJESWARI // Feb 21, 2008 at 1:25 pm

  Sir,

  Thank you. That was really great of you to have taken time off to answer my question.

  Lot’s of rumours seem to have set in with regard to the lifting of Retrogression. Either March 2008 or after November elections. I would be greatful, if you can share any update about the above with all of us (Victims of Retrogression)

  Thanks,
  Rajeswari.

• 63 patrick // Feb 22, 2008 at 8:39 pm

  hi!
  i’m from Haiti, my priority date is 02/08/02
  i was in F2 wile in december2007 ,i receive my last peper befor sending the case to embassy at Port-au-prince for a appointment.i add my wrife in the case i become in F3.they informed that thre aren’t enough visa avalable to find one for my wrife, they aske to wait.how long may wait any more

• 64 John C // Feb 26, 2008 at 7:00 am

  @D.Rajeswari: My pleasure. I not think retrogression will be liefted in 2008. But that’s just my opinion. The April visa bulletin will be out soon and I’ll post it here the minute it’s out.

  @Patrick: Hi. The cutoff date for the F3 category is still far behind your priority date. It’s impossible to say when you and your wife will get their visas. The best we can do is keep monitoring the visa bulletin each month. Best of luck.

• 65 bharat // Feb 27, 2008 at 5:38 am

  My priority date ( Category F3) is 3rd March 2008. When I will call for Visa?

• 66 Aminh Zaher Mohamed // Feb 28, 2008 at 8:29 am

  Hi John, my priority date is Sep. 2000. F3 son/daughter. I am from Yemen. When will i get a call for visa?

• 67 John C // Feb 29, 2008 at 7:58 am

  @Bharat: I think might have mistyped… you said your priority date is March 2008. Which year did you mean?

  @Aminh Zaher Mohamed: Hi. It’s impossible to say. Those family categories have been very slow lately. The April visa bulletin will be out soon and hopefully it will tell us more.

• 68 pummy // Mar 3, 2008 at 4:08 am

  my priority date for f1 is nov 2002(india).when should i expect my priority date to be current(how much more time)?

• 69 pummy // Mar 3, 2008 at 4:28 am

  to add,unmarried over 21 son of citizens of usa category.family first

• 70 John C // Mar 5, 2008 at 9:09 am

  @Pummy: I’m not sure how much time. The April visa bulletin will be out soon, though, and maybe it will provide more insight. Good luck.