State Dept. Predicts Visa Availability in the Coming Months; Visa Bulletin Moved

Visa availability

In the Visa Bulletin for March 2014, the Department of State’s Visa Office makes the following estimates of visa availability in the coming months:

EMPLOYMENT-based categories (potential monthly movement)

Employment First: Current

Employment Second:

• Worldwide: Current
• China: Three to five weeks
• India: No forward movement

Employment Third:

Worldwide. This cut-off date has been advanced over four and one half years since last spring in an effort to generate new demand. After such a rapid advance of a cut-off date applicant demand for number use, particularly for adjustment of status cases, can be expected to increase significantly. Once such demand begins to materialize at a greater rate it could have a significant impact on this cut-off date situation. Little if any forward movement of this cut-off date is likely during the next few months.

• China: Will remain at the worldwide date
• India: Little if any movement
• Mexico: Will remain at the worldwide date
• Philippines: Three to six weeks

Employment Fourth: Current

Employment Fifth: Current

The above projections for the…Employment categories are for what is likely to happen during each of the next several months based on current applicant demand patterns. Readers should never assume that recent trends in cut-off date movements are guaranteed for the future, or that “corrective” action will not be required at some point in an effort to maintain number use within the applicable annual limits. The determination of the actual monthly cut-off dates is subject to fluctuations in applicant demand and a number of other variables. Unless indicated, those categories with a “Current” projection will remain so for the foreseeable future. 

Visa Bulletin moved.

The Department of State has redesigned and reorganized its website at https://travel.state.gov/. The Visa Bulletin is now found under “Law and Policy” in the Visas section of the website. Visitors to the website have several ways to access the Visa Bulletin.

From the homepage:

1. Click on the link for usvisas.state.gov, located on the upper right side of the main graphic, or the link “U.S. Visas” located at the bottom of the page. These links will take you to the Visas section of the website.
2. Once in the Visas section, scroll down the page to the “We Want You to Know” section.
3. Click on the icon, “Check the Visa Bulletin,” or click on the link for the Visa Bulletin in the Law and Policy box.
4. Alternately, once in the Visas section of the website, hover over the “Immigrate” icon along the top of the page. A drop-down menu will appear with a link to the Visa Bulletin.