Visa Bulletin – August 2020

The Visa Bulletin provides information regarding the cut-off dates which govern visa availability in the numerically limited visa categories and other immigrant visa related information. August 2020.

FAMILY SPONSORED
FOR MOST COUNTRIES (except: China, India, Mexico and Philippines)
CAT.	BENEFICIARIES	PRIORITY DATE	WAIT TIME	DIFFERENCE FROM PREVIOUS MONTH
F1	Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens	August 15, 2014	5 years, 11 months, and 17 days	1 month and 7 days
F2A	Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents	August 1, 2020	0 days	1 month
F2B	Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents	June 8, 2015	5 years, 1 month, and 23 days	1 month and 7 days
F3	Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens	June 1, 2008	12 years and 2 months	24 days
F4	Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens	September 8, 2006	13 years, 10 months and 23 days	17 days
MEXICO
F1	Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens	December 22, 1997	22 years, 7 months and 10 days	14 days
F2A	Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters	August 1, 2020	0 days	1 month
F2B	Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents	March 22, 1999	21 years, 4 months and 10 days	14 days
F3	Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens	July 15, 1996	24 years and 17 days	7 days
F4	Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens	June 15, 1998	22 years, 1 month, and 16 days	14 days

EMPLOYMENT BASED PREFERENCES
FOR MOST COUNTRIES INCLUDING MEXICO (except: China, India, and Philippines)
CAT.	BENEFICIARIES	PRIORITY DATE	WAIT TIME	DIFFERENCE FROM PREVIOUS MONTH
E1	Priority Workers	August 1, 2020	0 days	1 month
E2	Persons of Exceptional Ability	August 1, 2020	0 days	1 month
E3	Skilled Workers, Professional, and Other Workers	April 1, 2019	1 year and 4 months	11 months and 16 days
E3	Other Workers	April 1, 2019	1 year and 4 months	11 months and 16 days

What is the Visa Bulletin?

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly statement by the U.S. Department of State of visa numbers available in specific categories for all countries. The Bulletin is a guide that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) States has to define who may or may not receive an immigrant visa, depending on the date on which the person submitted his application. This date is called the priority date and it determines the place of that person in the waiting list

Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) limits the number of people that per category may immigrate to the United States each year. When the number of applicants is greater than the number of visas available it generates a delay.

Each month, the Visa Bulletin announces the priority date or cutting, which means that an immigrant can adjust status, in other words get the residency. The immigrant must have a priority date earlier than the date of closing in the Bulletin

In a family-based petition, the priority date is the day the USCIS receives the petition. In an employment based category, the priority date is the day on which the Labor Department receives the request to certify that the employee is eligible for permanent residence. When the law does not require a labor certification, the priority date is the day that USCIS receives the petition.

Generally the date of the Visa Bulletin moves forward, but if the State Department determines that visas for certain categories or country are being used faster than expected, the priority date may be delayed or stand-still.

Disclaimer:

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