VISA BULLETIN FOR MARCH 2009
**Family-Sponsored Categories Only.** To see the full bulletin including Employment-Based Visas and Diversity Lottery go to http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4427.html
If you have a pending family-based visa, your visa will be available when the date on your I-130 approval notice matches or is before the date listed in your preference category. The visa bulletin is updated monthly.
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of 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, and any unused first preference numbers:
A. Spouses and Children: 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;
B. Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older): 23% of the overall second preference limitation.
Third: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.
Fourth: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.
5. 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 available for all qualified applicants; and “U” means unavailable, i.e., no numbers are available. (NOTE: Numbers are available only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below.)
| All Charge- ability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES | |
| Family | |||||
| 1st | 22JUL02 | 22JUL02 | 22JUL02 | 08OCT92 | 15JUL93 |
| 2A | 01JUL04 | 01JUL04 | 01JUL04 | 15OCT01 | 01JUL04 |
| 2B | 22JUN00 | 22JUN00 | 22JUN00 | 01MAY92 | 01DEC97 |
| 3rd | 08AUG00 | 08AUG00 | 08AUG00 | 15OCT92 | 08JUN91 |
| 4th | 01MAR98 | 15NOV97 | 01MAR98 | 08APR95 | 15MAY86 |
*NOTE: For March, 2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 15OCT01. 2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are available to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning 15OCT01 and earlier than 01JUL04. (All 2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit; there are no 2A numbers for MEXICO subject to per-country limit.)
