August 2016 Visa Bulletin

D.  OVERSUBSCRIPTION OF THE INDIA EMPLOYMENT-BASED FOURTH (E4) AND CERTAIN RELIGIOUS WORKERS (SR) PREFERENCE CATEGORIES

As readers were advised in the May Visa Bulletin number 92, there has been extremely high demand in the E4 and SR categories, primarily for Juvenile Court Dependent cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for adjustment of status. Pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act, this has now required the implementation of E4 and SR Application Final Action Dates for India, which has reached its per-country limit.  This action will allow the Department to hold worldwide number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2016 annual limits.

The India E4 and SR dates will become CURRENT for October.

E.  OVERSUBSCRIPTION OF THE CHINA AND INDIA EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIRST (E1) PREFERENCE CATEGORIES

Readers were advised in item F of the July Visa Bulletin number 94, that it would be necessary to impose a date for these two countries no later than September.  The continued high level of demand for E1 numbers for USCIS adjustment of status applicants has required the establishment of a date for August.  This has been done in an attempt to hold number use within the Worldwide E1 annual limit.  The E1 date for these two countries will once again become CURRENT for October, the first month of fiscal year 2017. 

F.  OVERSUBSCRIPTION OF THE WORLDWIDE, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, MEXICO, AND PHILIPPINES EMPLOYMENT-BASED SECOND (E2) PREFERENCE CATEGORIES

Readers were advised in item F of the July Visa Bulletin number 94, that it was likely that a date would be imposed by September.  Continued high demand for numbers for USCIS adjustment of status applicants has required the establishment of a date for August.  This action has been required to hold number use within the Worldwide E2 annual limit.  The date for these countries will once again become CURRENT for October, the first month of fiscal year 2017.

G.  VISA AVAILABILITY

Number use in the Worldwide F2A and F3 preference categories has increased dramatically, and is quickly approaching those fiscal year 2016 annual limits.  Therefore, it may be necessary to retrogress those final application dates for the month of September.  Any retrogression in the F2A and F3 preference categories would be temporary, with those dates returning to the latest reached during FY-2016 when the October dates are announced