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The September 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), shows that the EB-2 Cutoff dates for Indian and Mexico, has moved another few months forward. The rest of the employment based categories remain the same as last month. Mexico’s F-2A numbers and EB-3 continue to be unavailable. The September Visa Bulletin will come into effect from September 1, 2008.

Employment Based Categories

EMPLOYMENT CATEGORIES
Categories Worldwide China (PRC) India Mexico Philippines
1st Current Current Current Current Current
2nd Current 08-01-06 08-01-06 Current Current
3rd Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
Unskilled Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
4th Current Current Current Current Current
Religious Current Current Current Current Current
5th Current Current Current Current Current
  • EB-1 (Priority Workers)
  • EB-2 (Advanced Degrees Holders or Persons of Exceptional Ability)
  • · EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)
  • · EB-4 (Special Immigrants)
  • · EB-5 (Immigrant Investors)

Family Based Categories

FAMILY CATEGORIES
Categories Worldwide China (PRC) India Mexico Philippines
1st 04-01-02 04-01-02 04-01-02 09-08-92 04-01-93
2A 12-01-03 12-01-03 12-01-03 Unavailable 12-01-03
2B 12-15-99 12-15-99 12-15-99 04-22-92 04-08-97
3rd 06-15-00 06-15-00 06-15-00 09-15-92 04-22-91
4th 10-01-97 04-08-97 04-08-97 01-15-95 03-08-86

  • F – 1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
  • F – 2A (Spouses & Children)
  • · F – 2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters)
  • F – 3 (Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens)
  • F – 4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens)

Predictions

As predicted last month, the Mexico F2A and EB-3 cut-off dates remain “unavailable” as their annual limits have been reached for this fiscal year. However, contrary to the indications earlier, these categories may not revert back to their early dates on the start of the new fiscal year in October. Owing to heavy demand in these categories, retrogression in cut-off dates is being predicted.

The August Visa Bulletin also carries the family and employment preference limits for FY-2008 as follows – Worldwide Family-sponsored preference limit:  226,000; worldwide Employment-based preference limit:  162,704