Visa Bulletin - March 2020

Below you will find an analysis of the Visa Bulletin issued by the Department of State, corresponding to the month of March 2020, which determines what is the availability of immigrant visas for the different categories of petitions by family and work, as well as general information that will help you understand how it works.

PETITION PER FAMILY
FOR MOST COUNTRIES (except: China, India, Mexico and the Philippines)
CAT.	BENEFICIARIES	PRIORITY DATE	WAIT TIME	DIFFERENCE FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH
F1	Children over 21 years of Citizen	October 8, 2013	6 years, 4 months and 24 days	1 month and 17 days
F2A	Spouse or unmarried children under the age of 21	March 1, 2020	0 days	1 month
F2B	Unmarried children over 21 years of Legal Permanent Resident	September 15, 2014	5 years, 5 months and 16 days	24 days
F3	Married children of Citizen	December 15, 2007	12 years, 2 month and 17 days	23 days
F4	Citizen Brothers	Julio 1, 2006	13 years and 8 months	0 days
MEXICO
F1	Children over 21 years of Citizen	September 15, 1997	22 years, 5 months and 16 days	24 ddays
F2A	Spouse or unmarried children under the age of 21 of Legal Permanent Resident	March 1, 2020	0 days	1 month
F2B	Unmarried children over 21 years of Legal Permanent Resident	October 15, 1998	21 years, 4 months and 17 days	1 month
F3	Married children of Citizen	8 April, 1996	23 years, 10 months and 23 days	17 days
F4	Citizen Brothers	February 15, 1998	22 years and 14 days	1 month

PETITION FOR JOB
FOR MOST COUNTRIES I INCLUDE MEXICO (except: China, India, and the Philippines)
CAT.	BENEFICIARIES	PRIORITY DATE	WAIT TIME	DIFFERENCE FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH
E1	Priority Workers	March 1, 2019	1 year and 2 months	3 months
E2	People of exceptional ability	March 1, 2020	0 days	1 month
E3	Experienced and professional workers	Enero 1, 2017	3 years and 2 months	-3 years and 1 month
E3	Other workers	Enero 1, 2017	3 years and 2 months	-3 years and 1 month

What is the Visa Bulletin?

The Visa Bulletin (BV) is a guide that the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the United States Department of State have to define who can or cannot receive an immigrant visa, depending on the date the person you have submitted your application. This date is called the Priority Date and it determines the beneficiary's place on the waiting list.

The reason for the Visa Bulletin is that immigration law limits the number of people per category who can immigrate to the United States each year. When the number of applicants is greater than the number of available visas, a delay is generated.

Each month the Visa Bulletin announces the priority or cut-off date, which means that in order for an immigrant to adjust status, in other words obtain residency, the immigrant must have a priority date prior to the closing date of the visa. category in the Newsletter.

In a family petition-based immigration case, the priority date is the date that the USCIS receives the petition. In an employment-based case, the priority date is the date the Department of Labor receives the request to certify that the worker is eligible for permanent residence. When the law does not require a labor certification, it is the day the USCIS receives the petition.

Generally, the Visa Bulletin date works forward, but if the State Department determines that visas for a certain category or country are being used faster than expected, the cut-off date may be delayed or stalled.

Disclaimer:

The sole purpose of this newsletter is to provide general information, therefore it does not establish an attorney-client relationship and should not be construed as legal advice. Any decision you make based on this information is at your own risk and responsibility.