Visa Bulletin - February 2020

Below you will find an analysis of the Visa Bulletin issued by the Department of State, corresponding to the month of February 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	August 22, 2013	6 years and 5 months and 10 days	1 month and 7 days
F2A	Spouse or unmarried children under the age of 21	February 1, 2020	0 days	1 month
F2B	Unmarried children over 21 years of Legal Permanent Resident	August 22, 2014	5 years, 5 months and 10 days	14 days
F3	Married children of Citizen	November 22, 2007	12 years, 2 month and 9 days	7 days
F4	Citizen Brothers	July 1, 2006	13 years and 7 months	-7 months
MEXICO
F1	Children over 21 years of Citizen	August 22, 1997	22 years, 5 months and 10 days	14 ddays
F2A	Spouse or unmarried children under the age of 21 of Legal Permanent Resident	February 1, 2020	0 days	1 month
F2B	Unmarried children over 21 years of Legal Permanent Resident	September 15, 1998	21 years, 4 months and 16 days	24 days
F3	Married children of Citizen	March 22, 1996	23 years and 10 months and 10 days	21 days
F4	Citizen Brothers	January 15, 1998	21 years and 17 days	7 days

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	December 1, 2018	1 year and 2 months	2 months
E2	People of exceptional ability	February 1, 2020	0 days	1 month
E3	Experienced and professional workers	February 1, 2020	0 days	1 month
E3	Other workers	February 1, 2020	0 days	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.