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Visa Bulletin For September 2020 USA, Visa Bulletin For october 2020 USA, Visa Bulletin For july 2020 USA
STATUTORY NUMBERS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during September for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.
Unless otherwise indicated on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo, individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with USCIS in the Department of Homeland Security must use the “Final Action Dates” charts below for determining when they can file such applications. When USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for the fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, USCIS will state on its website that applicants may instead use the “Dates for Filing Visa Applications” charts in this Bulletin.
1. Procedures for determining dates. Consular officers are required to report to the Department of State documentarily qualified applicants for numerically limited visas; USCIS reports applicants for adjustment of status. Allocations in the charts below were made, to the extent possible, in chronological order of reported priority dates, for demand received by August 10th. If not all demand could be satisfied, the category or foreign state in which demand was excessive was deemed oversubscribed. The final action date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who could not be reached within the numerical limits. If it becomes necessary during the monthly allocation process to retrogress a final action date, supplemental requests for numbers will be honored only if the priority date falls within the new final action date announced in this bulletin. If at any time an annual limit were reached, it would be necessary to immediately make the preference category “unavailable”, and no further requests for numbers would be honored.
2. The fiscal year 2020 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants determined in accordance with Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is 226,000. The fiscal year 2020 limit for employment-based preference immigrants calculated under INA 201 is 156,253. Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 26,758 for FY-2020. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,645.
3. INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa demand exceeds the per-country limit. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, INDIA, MEXICO, PHILIPPINES, and VIETNAM.
4. Section 203(a) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Family-sponsored immigrant visas as follows:
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First: (F1) Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.
Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, plus any unused first preference numbers:
A. (F2A) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents: 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;
B. (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation.
Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.
Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.
A. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); “C” means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and “U” means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.)
| Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA-mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 15SEP14 | 15SEP14 | 15SEP14 | 08JAN98 | 15DEC11 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | 08JUL15 | 08JUL15 | 08JUL15 | 08APR99 | 01AUG11 |
| F3 | 15JUN08 | 15JUN08 | 15JUN08 | 01AUG96 | 15FEB02 |
| F4 | 22SEP06 | 22SEP06 | 08MAR05 | 22JUN98 | 01JAN02 |
| 22MAR05 |
| 22MAR05 |
| 22DEC10 |
| 01FEB16 |
| 01FEB16 |
B. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS
The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart below may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file applications, regardless of priority date.
The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.
Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 4.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS.
| Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 22JUL15 | 22JUL15 | 22JUL15 | 22FEB00 | 08OCT12 |
| F2A | 01AUG20 | 01AUG20 | 01AUG20 | 01AUG20 | 01AUG20 |
| F2B | 01MAY16 | 01MAY16 | 01MAY16 | 01DEC99 | 01APR12 |
| F3 | 01JUN09 | 01JUN09 | 01JUN09 | 15AUG00 | 22DEC02 |
| F4 | 15SEP07 | 15SEP07 | 22NOV05 | 22APR99 | 01SEP02 |
5. Section 203(b) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Employment-based immigrant visas as follows:
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to “*Other Workers”.
Fourth: Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level.
Fifth: Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of Pub. L. 102-395.
A. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); “C” means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and “U” means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.)
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES | VIETNAM |
| 1st | C | 01MAR18 | C | 01MAR18 | C | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 15JAN16 | C | 08JUL09 | C | C | C |
| 3rd | 01APR19 | 15FEB17 | 01APR19 | 01OCT09 | 01APR19 | 01APR19 | 01APR19 |
| Other Workers | 01APR19 | 01AUG08 | 01APR19 | 01OCT09 | 01APR19 | 01APR19 | 01APR19 |
| 4th | C | C | 01APR17 | C | 15JUN18 | C | C |
| Certain Religious Workers | C | C | 01APR17 | C | 15JUN18 | C | C |
| 5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) |
C | 15AUG15 | C | C | C | C | 01AUG17 |
| 5th Regional Center (I5 and R5) |
C | 15AUG15 | C | C | C | C | 01AUG17 |
*Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category: Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. Since the EW final action date reached November 19, 1997 during Fiscal Year 2001, the reduction in the EW annual limit to 5,000 began in Fiscal Year 2002. For Fiscal Year 2020 this reduction will be limited to approximately 350.
B. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS
The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file, regardless of priority date. Visa Bulletin For September 2020 USA
The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application. Visa Bulletin For September 2020 USA
Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 5.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS.
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01JUL18 | C | 01JUL18 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01AUG16 | C | 15AUG09 | C | C |
| 3rd | 01APR20 | 01MAY17 | 01APR20 | 01FEB10 | 01APR20 | 01APR20 |
| Other Workers | 01APR20 | 01OCT08 | 01APR20 | 01FEB10 | 01APR20 | 01APR20 |
| 4th | C | C | 01OCT17 | C | C | C |
| Certain Religious Workers | C | C | 01OCT17 | C | C | C |
| 5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) |
C | 15DEC15 | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Regional Center (I5 and R5) |
C | 15DEC15 | C | C | C | C |
6. The Department of State has a recorded message with the Final Action date information which can be heard at: (202) 485-7699. This recording is updated on or about the seventeenth of each month with information on final action dates for the following month.
B. DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years. The NACARA 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 will result in reduction of the DV-2020 annual limit to approximately 54,650. 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. Visa Bulletin For September 2020 USA
For September, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2020 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 | CURRENT | |
| ASIA | CURRENT | |
| EUROPE | CURRENT | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | CURRENT | |
| OCEANIA | CURRENT | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN |
CURRENT |
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-2020 program ends as of September 30, 2020. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2020 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2020 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2020. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2020 cannot be taken for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30. Visa Bulletin For September 2020 USA
C. THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANT CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN OCTOBER
For October, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2021 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 | 2,900 | Except: Egypt 2,700 |
| ASIA | 1,600 | Except: Iran 1,000 Nepal 1,050 |
| EUROPE | 2,500 | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 2 | |
| OCEANIA | 250 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN |
350 |
D. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV
E. DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY 2021 (DV-2021) RESULTS
The Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky has registered and notified the winners of the DV-2021 diversity lottery. The diversity lottery was conducted under the terms of section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and makes available *55,000 permanent resident visas annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Approximately 132,404 applicants have been registered and notified and may now make an application for an immigrant visa. Since it is likely that some of the first *55,000 persons registered will not pursue their cases to visa issuance, this larger figure should insure that all DV-2021 numbers will be used during fiscal year 2021 (October 1, 2020 until September 30, 2021). Visa Bulletin For September 2020 USA
Applicants registered for the DV-2021 program were selected at random from 6,741,128 qualified entries (11,830,707 with derivatives) received during the 35-day application period that ran from noon, Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, October 2, 2019, until noon, Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, November 6, 2019. The visas have been apportioned among six geographic regions with a maximum of seven percent available to persons born in any single country. During the visa interview, principal applicants must provide proof of a high school education or its equivalent, or show two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience within the past five years. Those selected will need to act on their immigrant visa applications quickly. Applicants should follow the instructions in their notification letter and must fully complete the information requested.
Registrants living legally in the United States who wish to apply for adjustment of their status must contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for information on the requirements and procedures. Once the total *55,000 visa numbers have been used, the program for fiscal year 2021 will end. Selected applicants who do not receive visas by September 30, 2021 will derive no further benefit from their DV-2021 registration. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2021 principal applicants are only entitled to derivative diversity visa status until September 30, 2021.
Dates for the DV-2022 program registration period will be widely publicized in the coming months. Those interested in entering the DV-2022 program should check the Department of State’s Visa web page in the coming months.
*The Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997 stipulated that up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas be made available for use under the NACARA program. The reduction of the limit of available visas to 50,000 began with DV-2000. This will result in reduction of the DV-2021 annual limit to approximately 54,750.
The following is the statistical breakdown by foreign state of chargeability of those registered for the DV-2021 program:
| AFRICA | ||
| ALGERIA 6,001 | ESWATINI 3 | NAMIBIA 0 |
| ANGOLA 627 | ETHIOPIA 3,957 | NIGER 55 |
| BENIN 830 | GABON 65 | RWANDA 1,067 |
| BOTSWANA 3 | GAMBIA, THE 71 | SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE 0 |
| BURKINA FASO 83 | GHANA 3,284 | SENEGAL 167 |
| BURUNDI 398 | GUINEA 805 | SEYCHELLES 4 |
| CABO VERDE 6 | GUINEA-BISSAU 7 | SIERRA LEONE 504 |
| CAMEROON 3,686 | KENYA 2,777 | SOMALIA 217 |
| CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 22 | LESOTHO 3 | SOUTH AFRICA 510 |
| CHAD 191 | LIBERIA 1,858 | SOUTH SUDAN 40 |
| COMOROS 10 | LIBYA 259 | SUDAN 6,001 |
| CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE 4,503 | MADAGASCAR 23 | TANZANIA 184 |
| CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE 740 | MALAWI 32 | TOGO 1,118 |
| COTE D’IVOIRE 737 | MALI 103 | TUNISIA 173 |
| DJIBOUTI 175 | MAURITANIA 105 | UGANDA 908 |
| EGYPT 6,002 | MAURITIUS 12 | ZAMBIA 67 |
| EQUATORIAL GUINEA 6 | MOROCCO 4,458 | ZIMBABWE 276 |
| ERITREA 509 | MOZAMBIQUE 7 | |
| ASIA | ||
| AFGHANISTAN 2,189 | JAPAN 532 | QATAR 82 |
| BAHRAIN 19 | JORDAN 1,578 | SAUDI ARABIA 1,126 |
| BHUTAN 69 | KOREA, NORTH 3 | SINGAPORE 40 |
| BRUNEI 1 | KUWAIT 302 | SRI LANKA 1,566 |
| BURMA 776 | LAOS 43 | SYRIA 487 |
| CAMBODIA 1,174 | LEBANON 249 | TAIWAN 693 |
| HONG KONG S.A.R. 569 | MALAYSIA 95 | THAILAND 290 |
| INDONESIA 317 | MALDIVES 0 | TIMOR-LESTE 0 |
| IRAN 6,001 | MONGOLIA 496 | UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 282 |
| IRAQ 1,184 | NEPAL 3,801 | YEMEN 1,222 |
| ISRAEL 190 | OMAN 32 | |
| EUROPE | ||
| ALBANIA 3,962 | GREECE 71 | NORTHERN IRELAND 4 |
| ANDORRA 0 | HUNGARY 93 | NORWAY 7 |
| ARMENIA 2,293 | ICELAND 11 | POLAND 383 |
| AUSTRIA 35 | IRELAND 29 | PORTUGAL 24 |
| AZERBAIJAN 1,439 | ITALY 289 | Macau 6 |
| BELARUS 2,143 | KAZAKHSTAN 2,406 | ROMANIA 365 |
| BELGIUM 32 | KOSOVO 311 | RUSSIA 6,001 |
| BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 36 | KYRGYZSTAN 2,130 | SERBIA 239 |
| BULGARIA 348 | LATVIA 63 | SLOVAKIA 23 |
| CROATIA 32 | LIECHTENSTEIN 1 | SLOVENIA 6 |
| CYPRUS 2 | LITHUANIA 180 | SPAIN 114 |
| CZECH REPUBLIC 44 | LUXEMBOURG 0 | SWEDEN 41 |
| DENMARK 24 | MALTA 5 | SWITZERLAND 48 |
| ESTONIA 18 | MOLDOOVA 1,565 | TAJIKISTAN 2,332 |
| FINLAND 26 | MONACO 1 | TURKEY 2,874 |
| FRANCE 272 | MONTENEGRO 33 | TURKMENISTAN 870 |
| Saint Martin 6 | NETHERLANDS 43 | UKRAINE 5,604 |
| GEORGIA 1,899 | Curacao 1 | UZBEKISTAN 5,319 |
| GERMANY 563 | NORTH MACEDONIA 336 | VATICAN CITY 0 |
| NORTH AMERICA | ||
| BAHAMAS, THE 29 | ||
| OCEANIA | ||
| AUSTRALIA 1,130 | NAURU 11 | SAMOA 8 |
| Cocos Keeling Islands 19 | NEW ZEALAND 360 | SOLOMON ISLANDS 4 |
| FIJI 1,087 | Cook Islands 32 | TONGA 95 |
| KIRIBATI 12 | Tokelau 5 | TUVALU 2 |
| MARSHALL ISLANDS 0 | PAPUA NEW GUINEA 29 | VANUATU 7 |
| MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF 9 |
PALAU 5 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA | ||
| ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA 5 | DOMINICA 3 | PERU 1,559 |
| ARGENTINA 191 | ECUADOR 246 | SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS 1 |
| BARBADOS 5 | GRENADA 1 | SAINT LUCIA 2 |
| BELIZE 8 | GUYANA 5 | SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES 3 |
| BOLIVIA 38 | HONDURAS 74 | SURINAME 4 |
| CHILE 36 | NICARAGUA 69 | TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 44 |
| COSTA RICA 68 | PANAMA 10 | URUGUAY 19 |
| CUBA 1,235 | PARAGUAY 3 | VENEZUELA 1,872 |
Natives of the following countries were not eligible to participate in DV-2021: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.
F. DETERMINATION OF THE NUMERICAL LIMITS ON IMMIGRANTS REQUIRED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT (INA)
The State Department is required to make the determination of the worldwide numerical limitations, as outlined in Section 201(c) and (d) of the INA, on an annual basis. These calculations are based in part on data provided by U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the number of immediate relative adjustments in the preceding year and the number of aliens paroled into the United States under Section 212(d)(5) in the second preceding year. Without this information, it is impossible to make an official determination of the annual limits. To avoid delays in processing while waiting for the USCIS data, the Visa Office (VO) bases allocations on the minimum annual limits outlined in Section 201 of the INA. On July 31st, USCIS provided the required data to VO. Visa Bulletin For September 2020 USA
The Department of State has determined the Family and Employment preference numerical limits for FY-2020 in accordance with the terms of Section 201 of the INA. These numerical limitations for FY-2020 are as follows:
Worldwide Family-Sponsored preference limit: 226,000
Worldwide Employment-Based preference limit: 156,253
Under INA Section 202(a), the per-country limit is fixed at 7% of the family and employment annual limits. For FY-2020 the per-country limit is 26,758. The dependent area annual limit is 2%, or 7,645.
G. OBTAINING THE MONTHLY VISA BULLETIN
To be placed on the Department of State’s E-mail subscription list for the “Visa Bulletin”, please send an E-mail to the following E-mail address: Visa Bulletin For September 2020 USA