Analysis of February 2013 Visa Bulletin
The February 2013 Visa Bulletin does not provide predictions for cutoff date movement later in the year. Let’s hope that the highly anticipated Immigration Reform which President Obama says must happen this year---will bring current the wait times for visas in both the employment and family based categories.
Family-based categories:
- First (F1): This preference is for unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (21 years of age and older).
- The priority dates for China, India and "Other Countries" have progressed approximately 1 month.
- There is slight movement in this category for Mexico.
- The priority date for Philippines has progressed approximately 2 months.
- Second:
- A. (F2A) This preference is for spouses and children (under 21 years of age) of legal permanent residents.
- The priority dates for all countries have progressed approximately 1 month.
- B. (F2B) This preference is for unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age or older) of legal permanent residents.
- The priority dates for all countries have progressed approximately 1 month.
- Third (F3): This preference is for married sons and daughters of US citizens.
- The priority dates for China, India, The Philippines and “Other Countries” have progressed approximately 2 weeks.
- The priority date for Mexico remains the same.
- Fourth (F4): This preference is for brothers and sisters of adult US citizens.
- There is slight movement in this category for China, India, Mexico and “Other Countries”.
- The priority date for Philippines has progressed approximately 2 weeks.
Employment-based categories (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 & "Other Workers"):
- EB-1: This preference is reserved for persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; outstanding professors or researchers; and multinational executives and managers.
- This category remains current for all countries.
- EB-2: This preference is reserved for persons who are members of the professions holding advanced degrees or for persons with exceptional ability in the arts, sciences, or business.
- The priority date for China has progressed approximately 1 month to January 15, 2008.
- The priority date for India, established in the October 2012 bulletin remains the same.
- The priority dates for Mexico, Philippines and “Other Countries” remain current.
- EB-3: This preference is reserved for professionals, skilled workers, and other workers.
- The priority dates for China, Mexico, and “Other Countries” - There is slight movement in this category for India and The Philippines.
- "Other workers".
- The priority date for China remains the same at July 1, 2003.
- There is slight movement in this category for India and The Philippines.
- The priority dates for Mexico and “Other Countries” have progressed 1 month.
Cut-off Dates for Employment-Based Immigrant Visas
| Employment-Based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
China-Mainland Born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
| 1st | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 2nd | Current | 01/15/08 | 09/01/04 | Current | Current |
| 3rd | 03/15/07 | 11/15/06 | 11/15/02 | 03/15/07 | 08/22/06 |
| Other Workers | 03/15/07 | 07/01/03 | 11/15/02 | 03/15/07 | 08/22/06 |
| 4th | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| Certain Religious Workers | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
|
5th |
Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
|
5th Pilot Programs |
Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
"1st" refers to the First Preference in Employment-Based Immigration category (EB-1), i.e., persons of "extraordinary ability" in the sciences, arts, education, business, and athletics, outstanding professors and researchers and certain executives and managers;
"2nd" refers to the Second Preference in Employment-Based Immigration category (EB-2), i.e., professionals holding advanced degrees, or persons of exceptional ability in the arts, sciences, or business (NIW applicants);
"3rd" refers to the Third Preference in Employment-Based Immigration category (EB-3), i.e., skilled workers and professionals holding baccalaureate degrees;
"Other Workers" refers to the unskilled worker under the Third Preference in Employment-Based Immigration category;
"4th" refers to the Fourth Preference in Employment-Based Immigration category (EB-4), i.e., religious workers, certain overseas employees of the U.S. Government, former employees of the Panama Canal Company, retired employees of international organizations, certain dependents of international organization employees and certain members of the U.S. Armed Forces; and
"5th" refers to the Fifth Preference in Employment-Based Immigration category (EB-5), i.e., employment creation investors.
Cut-off Dates for Family-Based Immigrant Visas
| Family-Based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
China-Mainland Born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
| 1st | 01/15/06 | 01/15/06 | 01/15/06 | 07/15/93 | 09/08/98 |
| 2A* | 10/22/10 | 10/22/10 | 10/22/10 | 10/08/10 | 10/22/10 |
| 2B | 01/15/05 | 01/15/05 | 01/15/05 | 12/15/92 | 05/15/02 |
| 3rd | 07/08/02 | 07/08/02 | 07/08/02 | 03/08/93 | 08/22/92 |
| 4th | 04/15/01 | 04/15/01 | 04/15/01 | 08/01/96 | 06/01/89 |
*NOTE: For February, F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 08OCT10. F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are available to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning 08OCT10 and earlier than 22OCT10. (All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit; there are no F2A numbers for MEXICO subject to per-country limit.)
Note:
"1st" refers to the First Preference in Family-Based Immigration category, i.e., unmarried children of U.S. citizens over age of 21;
"2A" refers to the first subcategory of the Second Preference in Family-Based Immigration category, i.e., spouses or unmarried children under age 21 of permanent residents;
"2B" refers to the second subcategory of the Second Preference in Family-Based Immigration category, i.e., unmarried children of 21 years of age or older of permanent residents;
"3rd" refers to the Third Preference in Family-Based Immigration category, i.e., married children of U.S. citizens; and
"4th" refers to the Fourth Preference in Family-Based Immigration category, i.e., brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens.
Immediate family members of U.S. citizens, i.e., spouses, parents and unmarried children under age of 21, are not subject to the numerical restriction of visa quotas
