Visa Bulletin for July 2017: Claiming Your Visa

The Visa Bulletin summarizes immigrant numbers for each month for “Final Action Dates” and “Date for Filing Applications”.   The “Date for Filing” determines whether you can submit the final application for attaining a visa.  Similarly, the “Final Action Date” indicates whether a visa number is expected to be available.  Usually, the “Date for Filing” is before the “Final Action Date”.  This means that people seeking a visa can submit an application for permanent residence before it is possible for the government to approve the application.

How to Read the Visa Bulletin

Understanding how to read the Visa Bulletin can seem difficult; however, the good news is that once you understand what you are looking at, it is fairly simple.  You will need to know two things to know if you can claim your visa.

1. Priority Date

To find your priority date, you should review the I-797 Notice of Action (I-30 Approval Notice).  This should be in the top section of the document labeled “Priority Date”.

2.  Family-Preference Category

Additionally, you must also know your family preference category.  Your relationship with the person who filed your petition determines your family preference category.  Use the chart below to determine your family preference category:

F1: Unmarried, adult sons and daughters (age 21 or over) of U.S. citizens

F2A: Spouses and unmarried children (under 21) of permanent residents

F2B: Unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents

F3: Married sons and daughters (any age) of U.S. citizens

F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens

3. Reading the Bulletin

Once you find your family category, find the date in the chart.  If your priority date is before the date in the chart, then you can claim your visa!

Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 22DEC10 22DEC10 22DEC10 15JAN96 15SEP06
F2A 08SEP15 08SEP15 08SEP15 22AUG15 08SEP15
F2B 01NOV10 01NOV10 01NOV10 01JUN96 01NOV06
F3 08JUL05 08JUL05 08JUL05 22MAR95 15DEC94
F4 08MAY04 08MAY04 22SEP03 01AUG97 15FEB94

Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 22JUL11 22JUL11 22JUL11 01APR96 08SEP07
F2A 08APR16 08APR16 08APR16 08APR16 08APR16
F2B 01SEP11 01SEP11 01SEP11 08AUG96 22JUL07
F3 01DEC05 01DEC05 01DEC05 01MAY95 01FEB95
F4 15NOV04 15NOV04 22JUN04 08JAN98 08FEB95

If you would like check the bulletin click here.  If you are having trouble filing your visa application, please contact us.  We look forward to assisting you!