Dept. of State Discusses Visa Number Availability

Due to continued heavy applicant demand, primarily by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service offices for adjustment of status cases, the annual limits for the Mexico employment third and “Other Worker” categories have been reached. As a result, both categories have become “unavailable,” the Department of State Visa Bulletin for May 2010 notes. Visa numbers will become available once again in October with the start of the new fiscal year.

The Visa Bulletin for May 2010 also notes that 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, the Visa Bulletin warns.

The May Visa Bulletin also notes that during the past 15 months, the demand for numbers in the family-sponsored preference categories has been very low. As a result, 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 used. The Visa Office warns that if demand for family-sponsored green cards begins to materialize, cut-off date movements may begin to slow or stop.
The May Visa Bulletin includes a reminder that any changes of address for applicants processing their case overseas should be reported to the National Visa Center so that information regarding the processing of the case at an overseas post may be sent to the applicant. The May Visa Bulletin notes:

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.
[T]o 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 7:30 am until 12:00 am (EST). Please call (603) 334-0700

Postal Mail

National Visa Center, Attn: WC, 31 Rochester Avenue, Suite 200