FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES

First: (F1) Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.

Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, plus any unused first preference numbers:

A. (F2A) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents: 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;

B. (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation.

Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.

Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.

A. APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES

On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); \"C\" means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and \"U\" means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlierthan the final action date listed below.)

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	22MAY09	22MAY09	22MAY09	08MAR95	22MAR05
F2A	15NOV14	15NOV14	15NOV14	01SEP14	15NOV14
F2B	08JAN10	08JAN10	08JAN10	08SEP95	15SEP05
F3	01DEC04	01DEC04	01DEC04	22OCT94	15MAR94
F4	15SEP03	01JAN03	01JAN01	15APR97	01FEB93

*NOTE: For August, F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants from all countries with priority datesearlier than 01SEP14. F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning 01SEP14 and earlier than 15NOV14. (All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit; there are no F2A numbers for MEXICO subject to per-country limit.)

B. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED
VISA APPLICATIONS

The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart below may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of Stateâ€™s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated â€œcurrent,â€ all applicants in the relevant category may file applications, regardless of priority date.

The â€œCâ€ listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicantâ€™s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which isearlier than the listed date may file their application.

Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 4.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01JAN10	01JAN10	01JAN10	01APR95	22DEC05
F2A	22NOV15	22NOV15	22NOV15	22NOV15	22NOV15
F2B	08FEB11	08FEB11	08FEB11	22MAY96	01FEB06
F3	22AUG05	22AUG05	22AUG05	01MAY95	01AUG95
F4	15JUN04	15JUN04	01MAY04	01JUN98	15JUL93

5. Section 203(b) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Employment-based immigrant visas as follows:

EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES

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 Pub. L. 102-395.

A. APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

Employ- ment based	All Charge- ability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	01JAN10	C	01JAN10	C	C
2nd	01FEB14	01JAN10	01FEB14	15NOV04	01FEB14	01FEB14
3rd	15MAR16	01JAN10	15MAR16	08NOV04	15MAR16	15MAY09
Other Workers	15MAR16	01JAN04	15MAR16	08NOV04	15MAR16	15MAY09
4th	C	C	01JAN10	01JAN10	01JAN10	C
Certain Religious Workers	C	C	01JAN10	01JAN10	01JAN10	C
5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5)	C	15FEB14	C	C	C	C
5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)	C	15FEB14	C	C	C	C

*Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category: Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. Since the EW cut-off date reached November 19, 1997 during Fiscal Year 2001, the reduction in the EW annual limit to 5,000 began in Fiscal Year 2002.

B. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED
VISA APPLICATIONS

The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of Stateâ€™s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated â€œcurrent,â€ all applicants in the relevant category may file, regardless of priority date.

Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 5.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS.

Employment- based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	C	C	C	C
2nd	C	01JUN13	01JUL09	C	C
3rd	C	01MAY15	01JUL05	C	01JAN13
Other Workers	C	01AUG09	01JUL05	C	01JAN13
4th	C	C	C	C	C
Certain Religious Workers	C	C	C	C	C
5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5)	C	01MAY15	C	C	C
5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)	C	01MAY15	C	C	C

6. The Department of State has a recorded message with the cut-off date information for Final Application Action which can be heard at: (202) 485-7699. This recording is updated on or about the tenth of each month with information on final action dates for the following month.

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

Visa bulletin-August 2016