Visa Bulletin Employment-based Preferences Cut-off Dates

The Visa Bulletin, published by United States Department Of State, summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers each month.

Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets an annual minimum family-sponsored preference limit of 226,000. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320.

The employment-based preferences are defined as follows:

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 (Public Law 102-395).

Data

This page tracks the Employment-based Preferences cut-off date movements for all oversubscribed countries and rest of the world.

Fiscal Year 2015

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3/EW Rest of world (including Mexico)	E3 China	EW China	E3/EW India	E3/EW Philippines	E4	E5
Sep 2015
Aug 2015
Jul 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014	Current	Current	08DEC09	15FEB05	01JUN12	01JAN10	22AUG05	22NOV03	01DEC11	Current	Current
October 2014	Current	Current	15NOV09	01MAY09	01OCT11	01APR09	22JUL05	15NOV03	01OCT11	Current	Current

Fiscal Year 2014

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3/EW Rest of world (including Mexico)	E3 China	EW China	E3/EW India	E3/EW Philippines	E4	E5
Sep 2014	Current	Current	08OCT09	01MAY09	01APR11	01NOV08	22JUL05	08NOV03	01APR11	Current	Current
Aug 2014	Current	Current	08OCT09	22JAN09	01APR11	01NOV08	22JUL05	08NOV03	01JUN10	Current	Current
Jul 2014	Current	Current	01JUL09	01SEP08	01APR11	01OCT06	01JAN03	01NOV03	01JAN09	Current	Current
June 2014	Current	Current	22MAY09	15NOV04	01APR11	01OCT06	01JAN03	15OCT03	01JAN08	Current	Current
May 2014	Current	Current	15APR09	15NOV04	01OCT12	01OCT12	01OCT12	01OCT03	01NOV07	Current	Current
April 2014	Current	Current	08MAR09	15NOV04	01OCT12	01OCT12	01OCT12	15SEP03	15JUN07	Current	Current
March 2014	Current	Current	15FEB09	15NOV04	01SEP12	01SEP12	01SEP12	15SEP03	15MAY07	Current	Current
February 2014	Current	Current	08JAN09	15NOV04	01JUN12	01JUN12	01JUN12	01SEP03	15APR07	Current	Current
January 2014	Current	Current	08DEC08	15NOV04	01APR12	01APR12	01APR12	01SEP03	15FEB07	Current	Current
December 2013	Current	Current	08NOV08	15NOV04	01OCT11	01OCT11	01OCT11	01SEP03	08JAN07	Current	Current
November 2013	Current	Current	08OCT08	15JUN08	01OCT10	01OCT10	01OCT10	22SEP03	15DEC06	Current	Current
October 2013	Current	Current	15SEP08	15JUN08	01JUL10	01JUL10	22SEP04	22SEP03	15DEC06	Current	Current

Notes for Fiscal Year 2014

Fiscal Year 2013

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3/EW Rest of world (including Mexico)	E3 China	EW China	E3/EW India	E3/EW Philippines	E4	E5
September 2013	Current	Current	08AUG08	15JUN08	01JUL10	01JUL10	15JUN04	22SEP03	01DEC06	Current	Current
August 2013	Current	Current	08AUG08	01JAN08	01JAN09	01JAN09	22MAR04	22JAN03	22OCT06	Current	Current
July 2013	Current	Current	08AUG08	01SEP04	01JAN09	01JAN09	22MAR04	22JAN03	01OCT06	Current	Current
June 2013	Current	Current	15JUL08	01SEP04	01SEP08	01SEP08	22OCT03	08JAN03	22SEP06	Current	Current
May 2013	Current	Current	15MAY08	01SEP04	01DEC07	01DEC07	01SEP03	22DEC02	15SEP06	Current	Current
April 2013	Current	Current	01APR08	01SEP04	01JUL07	22APR07	01AUG03	08DEC02	08SEP06	Current	Current
March 2013	Current	Current	15FEB08	01SEP04	01MAY07	22JAN07	01JUL03	22NOV02	01SEP06	Current	Current
February 2013	Current	Current	15JAN08	01SEP04	15MAR07	15NOV06	01JUL03	15NOV02	22AUG06	Current	Current
January 2013	Current	Current	08DEC07	01SEP04	01FEB07	22SEP06	01JUL03	08NOV02	15AUG06	Current	Current
December 2012	Current	Current	22OCT07	01SEP04	22DEC06	01JUL06	01JUL03	01NOV02	15AUG06	Current	Current
November 2012	Current	Current	01SEP07	01SEP04	22NOV06	15APR06	01JUL03	22OCT02	08AUG06	Current	Current
October 2012	Current	01JAN12	15JUL07	01SEP04	22OCT06	08FEB06	22JUN03	15OCT02	22OCT06	Current	Current

Notes for Fiscal Year 2013

Fiscal Year 2012

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China/India	E3 Rest of world (including Mexico)	EW Rest of world (including Mexico)	E3 China	EW China	E3 India	EW India	E3 Philippines	EW Philippines	E4	E5
September 2012	Current	01JAN09	Unavailable	01OCT06	01OCT06	15DEC05	22JUN03	01OCT02	01OCT02	01AUG06	01AUG06	Current	Current
August 2012	Current	01JAN09	Unavailable	08SEP06	08SEP06	08NOV05	15JUN03	01OCT02	01OCT02	15JUN06	08JUN06	Current	Current
July 2012	Current	01JAN09	Unavailable	22JUL06	22JUL06	22SEP05	15JUN03	22SEP02	22SEP02	08JUN06	08JUN06	Current	Current
June 2012	Current	Current	Unavailable	08JUN06	08JUN06	08AUG05	22APR03	15SEP02	15SEP02	22MAY06	22MAY06	Current	Current
May 2012	Current	Current	15AUG07	01MAY06	01MAY06	01APR05	22APR03	08SEP02	08SEP02	01MAY06	01MAY06	Current	Current
April 2012	Current	Current	01MAY10	08APR06	08APR06	01MAR05	22APR03	01SEP02	01SEP02	08APR06	08APR06	Current	Current
March 2012	Current	Current	01MAY10	15MAR06	15MAR06	01JAN05	22APR03	22AUG02	22AUG02	15MAR06	15MAR06	Current	Current
February 2012	Current	Current	01JAN10	22FEB06	22FEB06	01DEC04	22APR03	15AUG02	15AUG02	22FEB06	22FEB06	Current	Current
January 2012	Current	Current	01JAN09	01FEB06	01FEB06	15OCT04	22APR03	08AUG02	01AUG02	01FEB06	01FEB06	Current	Current
December 2011	Current	Current	15MAR08	15JAN06	01JAN06	08SEP04	22APR03	01AUG02	22JUL02	15JAN06	01JAN06	Current	Current
November 2011	Current	Current	01NOV07	22DEC05	15NOV05	22AUG04	22APR03	22JUL02	15JUN02	22DEC05	01JAN06	Current	Current
October 2011	Current	Current	15JUL07	08DEC05	15SEP05	08AUG04	22APR03	15JUL02	08JUN02	08DEC05	15SEP05	Current	Current

Notes for Fiscal Year 2012

Fiscal Year 2011

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3 Rest of world (including Philippines)	EW Rest of world (including Philippines)	E3 China	EW China	E3 India	EW India	E3 Mexico	EW Mexico	E4	E5
September 2011	Current	Current	15APR07	15APR07	22NOV05	01AUG05	15JUL04	22APR03	08JUL02	01JUN02	22NOV05	01AUG05	Current	Current
August 2011	Current	Current	15APR07	15APR07	01NOV05	01MAY05	08JUL04	22APR03	01JUN02	01JUN02	01NOV05	01MAY05	Current	Current
July 2011	Current	Current	08MAR07	08MAR07	08OCT05	22NOV04	01JUL04	22APR03	01MAY02	01MAY02	01JUL05	22NOV04	Current	Current
June 2011	Current	Current	15OCT06	15OCT06	15SEP05	08NOV03	15MAY04	22APR03	22APR02	22APR02	22DEC04	08NOV03	Current	Current
May 2011	Current	Current	01AUG06	01JUL06	22AUG05	08SEP03	15APR04	22APR03	15APR02	15APR02	08SEP04	08SEP03	Current	Current
April 2011	Current	Current	22JUL06	08MAY06	22JUL05	22JUL03	01MAR04	22APR03	08APR02	08APR02	08MAY04	22JUL03	Current	Current
March 2011	Current	Current	08JUL06	08MAY06	01JUL05	15JUN03	22JAN04	22APR03	15MAR02	15MAR02	08JAN04	01MAY03	Current	Current
February 2011	Current	Current	01JUL06	08MAY06	01APR05	01MAY03	01JAN04	22APR03	22FEB02	22FEB02	08JUL03	01MAY03	Current	Current
January 2011	Current	Current	22JUN06	08MAY06	22MAR05	22APR03	15DEC03	22APR03	01FEB02	01FEB02	15APR03	15APR03	Current	Current
December 2010	Current	Current	08JUN06	08MAY06	22FEB05	22APR03	08DEC03	22APR03	22JAN02	22JAN02	01JUL02	01JUL02	Current	Current
November 2010	Current	Current	01JUN06	08MAY06	22JAN05	01APR03	22NOV03	01APR03	22JAN02	22JAN02	01MAY01	01MAY01	Current	Current
October 2010	Current	Current	22MAY06	08MAY06	08JAN05	22MAR03	08NOV03	22MAR03	15JAN02	15JAN02	22APR01	22APR01	Current	Current

Visa Bulletin For May 2011 also has a note on allocation of “otherwise unused” numbers in accordance with Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Section 202(a)(5).

Notes for Fiscal Year 2011

Fiscal Year 2010

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3 Rest of world (including Philippines)	E3 Rest of world (including China and Philippines)	E3 China	E3 India	EW India	E3 Mexico	EW Mexico	E4	E5
September 2010	Current	Current	08MAY06	08MAY06	15DEC04	22MAR03	22OCT03	01JAN02	01JAN02	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current	Current
August 2010	Current	Current	01MAR06	01MAR06	01JUN04	15MAY02	22SEP03	01JAN02	01JAN02	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current	Current
July 2010	Current	Current	22NOV05	01OCT05	15AUG03	01JUN01	15AUG03	22NOV01	01JUN01	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current	Current
June 2010	Current	Current	22NOV05	01FEB05	22JUN03	01JUN01	22JUN03	22OCT01	01JUN01	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current	Current
May 2010	Current	Current	22SEP05	01FEB05	22APR03	01JUN01	22APR03	01OCT01	01JUN01	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current	Current
April 2010	Current	Current	22AUG05	01FEB05	01FEB03	01JUN01	01FEB03	08SEP01	01JUN01	01JUL02	01JUN01	Current	Current
March 2010	Current	Current	08JUL05	01FEB05	15DEC02	01JUN01	15DEC02	01JUL01	01JUN01	01JUL02	01JUN01	Current	Current
February 2010	Current	Current	22MAY05	22JAN05	22SEP02	01JUN01	22SEP02	22JUN01	01JUN01	01JUL02	01JUN01	Current	Current
January 2010	Current	Current	01MAY05	22JAN05	01AUG02	01JUN01	01AUG02	22JUN01	01JUN01	01JUL02	01JUN01	Current	Current
December 2009	Current	Current	01APR05	22JAN05	01JUN02	01JUN01	01JUN02	01MAY01	01MAY01	01JUN02	01JUN01	Current	Current
November 2009	Current	Current	01APR05	22JAN05	01JUN02	01JUN01	01JUN02	22APR01	22APR01	01JUN02	01JUN01	Current	Current
October 2009	Current	Current	22MAR05	22JAN05	01JUN02	01JUN01	22FEB02	15APR01	15APR01	01MAY02	01JUN01	Current	Current

Notes for Fiscal Year 2010

Fiscal Year 2009

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3 Rest of world (including Philippines)	EW Rest of world (including Philippines)	E3 China	EW China	E3 India	EW India	E3 Mexico	EW Mexico	E4	E5
September 2009	Current	Current	08JAN05	08JAN05	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current
August 2009	Current	Current	01OCT03	01OCT03	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current	Current
July 2009	Current	Current	01JAN00	01JAN00	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current	Current
June 2009	Current	Current	15FEB05	01JAN00	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current	Current
May 2009	Current	Current	15FEB05	15FEB04	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current	Current
April 2009	Current	Current	15FEB05	15FEB04	01MAR03	01MAR01	01MAR03	01MAR01	01NOV01	01MAR01	01MAR03	01MAR01	Current	Current
March 2009	Current	Current	15FEB05	15FEB04	01MAY05	15MAR03	22OCT02	22OCT02	15OCT01	15OCT01	15AUG03	15MAR03	Current	Current
February 2009	Current	Current	01JAN05	01JAN04	01MAY05	15MAR03	01OCT02	01OCT02	15OCT01	15OCT01	01APR03	15OCT01	Current	Current
January 2009	Current	Current	08JUL04	08JUL03	01MAY05	15MAR03	01JUN02	15MAR03	15OCT01	15MAR03	15NOV02	15MAR03	Current	Current
December 2008	Current	Current	01JUN04	01JUN03	01MAY05	15JAN03	01FEB02	15JAN03	01OCT01	15JAN03	01SEP02	15JAN03	Current	Current
November 2008	Current	Current	01JUN04	01JUN03	01MAY05	15JAN03	01FEB02	15JAN03	01OCT01	15JAN03	01SEP02	15JAN03	Current	Current
October 2008	Current	Current	01APR04	01APR03	01JAN05	01JAN03	01OCT01	01JAN03	01JUL01	01JAN03	01JUL02	01JAN03	Current	Current

Notes for Fiscal Year 2009

Fiscal Year 2008

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3 Rest of world (including Philippines)	EW Rest of world (including Philippines)	E3 China	EW China	E3 India	EW India	E3 Mexico	EW Mexico	E4	E5
September 2008	Current	Current	01AUG06	01AUG06	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current	Current
August 2008	Current	Current	01JUN06	01JUN06	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Current	Current
July 2008	Current	Current	01APR04	01APR04	Unavailable	01JAN03	Unavailable	01JAN03	Unavailable	01JAN03	Unavailable	01JAN03	Current	Current
June 2008	Current	Current	01APR04	01APR04	01MAR06	01JAN03	22MAR03	01JAN03	01NOV01	01JAN03	01JUL02	01JAN03	Current	Current
May 2008	Current	Current	01JAN04	01JAN04	01MAR06	01JAN03	22MAR03	01JAN03	01NOV01	01JAN03	01JUL02	01JAN03	Current	Current
April 2008	Current	Current	01DEC03	01DEC03	01JUL05	01MAR02	08FEB03	01MAR02	01OCT01	01MAR02	01OCT01	01MAR02	Current	Current
March 2008	Current	Current	01DEC03	Unavailable	01JAN05	01JAN02	01DEC02	01JAN02	01AUG01	01JAN02	01MAY01	01JAN02	Current	Current
February 2008	Current	Current	01JAN03	Unavailable	01NOV02	01OCT01	15NOV01	01OCT01	08MAY01	01OCT01	22APR01	01OCT01	Current	Current
January 2008	Current	Current	01JAN03	01JAN00	15OCT02	01OCT01	01NOV01	01OCT01	01MAY01	01OCT01	22APR01	01OCT01	Current	Current
December 2007	Current	Current	01JAN03	01JAN02	01SEP02	01OCT01	15OCT01	01OCT01	01MAY01	01OCT01	22APR01	01OCT01	Current	Current
November 2007	Current	Current	01JAN06	01APR04	01AUG02	01OCT01	01SEP01	01OCT01	22APR01	01OCT01	22APR01	01OCT01	Current	Current
October 2007	Current	Current	01JAN06	01APR04	01AUG02	01OCT01	01SEP01	01OCT01	22APR01	01OCT01	22APR01	01OCT01	Current	Current

Notes for Fiscal Year 2008

Fiscal Year 2007

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3 Rest of world (including Philippines)	E3 China	E3 India	E3 Mexico	EW	E4	E5
September 2007	01Jan07	01Jan07	01Jan06	01Apr04	01Aug02	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	01Jan07	01Jan07
August 2007	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable
July 2007	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Unavailable	Current	Current
June 2007	Current	Current	01Jan06	01Apr04	01Jun05	01Jun03	01Jun03	01Jun03	01Oct01	Current	Current
May 2007	Current	Current	22Apr05	08Jan03	01Aug03	01Aug02	08May01	15May01	Unavailable	Current	Current
April 2007	Current	Current	22Apr05	08Jan03	01Aug02	01Aug02	08May01	15May01	01Oct01	Current	Current
March 2007	Current	Current	22Apr05	08Jan03	01Aug02	01Aug02	08May01	15May01	01Oct01	Current	Current
February 2007	Current	Current	22Apr05	08Jan03	01Aug02	01Aug02	08May01	15May01	01Oct01	Current	Current
January 2007	Current	Current	22Apr05	08Jan03	01Aug02	01Aug02	08May01	15May01	01Oct01	Current	Current
December 2006	Current	Current	22Apr05	08Jan03	01Aug02	01Aug02	22Apr01	08May01	01Oct01	Current	Current
November 2006	Current	Current	15Apr05	01Jan03	01Jul02	01Jul02	22Apr01	08May01	01May01	Current	Current
October 2006	Current	Current	01Apr05	15Jun02	01May02	01May02	22Apr01	01May01	01Jan01	Current	Current

Notes for Fiscal Year 2007

Fiscal Year 2006

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3/EW Rest of world (including Mexico)	E3 China	EW China	E3/EW India	E3/EW Philippines	E4	E5
Sep 2006
Aug 2006
Jul 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005

Fiscal Year 2005

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3/EW Rest of world (including Mexico)	E3 China	EW China	E3/EW India	E3/EW Philippines	E4	E5
Sep 2005
Aug 2005
Jul 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Fiscal Year 2004

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3/EW Rest of world (including Mexico)	E3 China	EW China	E3/EW India	E3/EW Philippines	E4	E5
Sep 2004
Aug 2004
Jul 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003

Fiscal Year 2003

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3/EW Rest of world (including Mexico)	E3 China	EW China	E3/EW India	E3/EW Philippines	E4	E5
Sep 2003
Aug 2003
Jul 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002

Fiscal Year 2002

Month/Year	E1	E2 Rest of world (including Mexico and Philippines)	E2 China	E2 India	E3/EW Rest of world (including Mexico)	E3 China	EW China	E3/EW India	E3/EW Philippines	E4	E5
Sep 2002
Aug 2002
Jul 2002
June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002
December 2001
November 2001
October 2001