MAY VISA BULLETIN IS OUT
B. DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY
Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides a maximum of up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit immigration opportunities for persons from countries other than the principal sources of current immigration to the United States. The Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997 stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. This reduction has resulted in the DV-2010 annual limit being reduced to 50,000. DV visas are divided among six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year.
For May, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2010 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:
Region All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA 39,200 Except:
Egypt:
23,600
Ethiopia:
22,500
Nigeria:
16,200
ASIA 16,400
EUROPE 29,250
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) 4
OCEANIA 1,100
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN 1,200
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-2010 program ends as of September 30, 2010. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2010 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2010 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2010. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2010 cannot be taken for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30.
C. ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANT CATEGORY RANK
CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN JUNE
For June, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified
DV-2010 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:
Region All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA 45,600 Except:
Egypt:
24,200
Ethiopia:
25,100
Nigeria:
17,500
ASIA 19,550
EUROPE 31,000
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) 4
OCEANIA 1,175
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN 1,300
D. MEXICO EMPLOYMENT THIRD AND THIRD OTHER WORKER VISA AVAILABILITY
Due to continued heavy applicant demand, primarily by USCIS Offices for adjustment of status cases, the annual limits for the Mexico Employment Third and Third preference Other Worker categories have been reached. As a result, both categories have become “unavailable.” Visa numbers will become available once again in October with the start of the new fiscal year.
E. VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE COMING MONTHS
Family-sponsored: During the past fifteen months, the level of demand for numbers in the Family-sponsored preference categories has been very low. As a result, the cut-off dates for most Family preference categories have been advancing at a very rapid pace, in an attempt to generate demand so that the annual numerical limits may be fully utilized. If demand for numbers should begin to materialize cut-off date movements may begin to slow or stop.
Dominican Republic: Continued heavy applicant demand for Dominican Republic numbers is likely to result in the oversubscription of this chargeability in June. This would cause the cut-off dates for the Family second preference categories to be earlier than those which apply to most other countries.
Employment-based: Applicant demand for Employment Fourth preference numbers remains very heavy. It is likely that a cut-off date will need to be established in an effort to keep number use within the annual limits. Depending upon number use, this action could occur as early as June.
F. MONITORING CUT-OFF DATE MOVEMENT AND REPORTING CHANGES OF ADDRESS FOR CASES BEING PROCESSED OVERSEAS
This Visa Bulletin allows applicants in the numerically controlled immigrant visa categories to follow the movement of the monthly cut-off dates. The information is also available on-line at
www.travel.state.gov. The cut-off dates are used to determine which applicants may be entitled to either: 1) be scheduled for a formal visa interview if processing their case overseas at an Embassy or Consulate, or 2) file an adjustment of status application if they are already in the United States and eligible to have their case processed at a USCIS Office.
All readers should be aware that any changes of address for applicants processing their case overseas should always be reported to the National Visa Center. It is essential that the National Visa Center have the correct address so that information regarding the processing of the case at an overseas post may be sent to the applicant.
When contacting the National Visa Center (NVC) directly about an immigrant visa application case, always include the following information:
The NVC case number
Name of the principal applicant
Principal applicant’s date of birth
Name of the petitioner
Petitioner’s date of birth
E-Mail
The public may submit inquiries to the NVC via e-mail at:
nvcinquiry@state.gov
In order to ensure a prompt response:
Provide the relevant NVC Case Number on the subject line of the e-mail.
Provide the applicant’s name and date of birth, and the petitioner’s name and date of birth.
Provide the name of the law office requesting information.
Provide the name of the employer if the petition is employment based.
Refer to only one case per e-mail message.
Customer Service
Telephone operators are available to respond to inquiries Monday through Friday from 7:30am until 12:00am (EST). Please call (603) 334-0700
Postal Mail
National Visa Center
Attn: WC