LAW OFFICES OF NORKA M. SCHELL'S BLOG
11 Broadway, Suite 615
New York, New York 10004
Tel. (212)564-1589
The following is the summary of the visas numbers available for July 2015.
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.
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 available for all qualified applicants; and "U" means unavailable, i.e., no numbers are available. (NOTE: Numbers are available only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below.)
| Family-Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01OCT07 | 01OCT07 | 01OCT07 | 15NOV94 | 15MAR00 |
| F2A | 08NOV13 | 08NOV13 | 08NOV13 | 15SEP13 | 08NOV13 |
| F2B | 15OCT08 | 15OCT08 | 15OCT08 | 08APR95 | 15MAY04 |
| F3 | 15MAR04 | 15MAR04 | 15MAR04 | 22APR94 | 22AUG93 |
| F4 | 22OCT02 | 22OCT02 | 22OCT02 | 01MAR97 | 08DEC91 |
NOTE: For July, F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 15SEP13. F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are available to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning 15SEP13 and earlier than 08NOV13. (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.)
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.
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 available for all qualified applicants; and "U" means unavailable, i.e., no numbers are available. (NOTE: Numbers are available only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below.)
| Employment- Based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed
| CHINA - mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | C | C | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01OCT13 | 01OCT08 | C | C |
| 3rd | 01APR15 | 01SEP11 | 01FEB04 | 01APR15 | U |
| Other Workers | 01APR15 | 01JAN06 | 01FEB04 | 01APR15 | U |
| 4th | C | C | C | C | C |
| Certain Religious Workers | C | C | C | C | C |
5th
Targeted
EmploymentAreas/
Regional Centers
and Pilot Programs
| C | 01SEP13 | C | C | C |
U.S. Department of State June 9, 2015
