This column carries priority dates and other transitional information as taken from the U.S. State Depart­ment’s Visa Bulletin. The information below is from the Visa Bulletin for December 2008.
In the tables below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed. “Current” means that numbers are available for all qualified applicants. “Unavailable” means no numbers are available.

FAMILY PREFERENCE VISA DATES
Preference    Dates for India

1st ………………………………        May 22, 2002
2A………………………………          April 1, 2004
2B………………………………          February 15, 2000
3rd………………………………         July 22, 2000
4th………………………………         September 15, 1997

Note: For December, 2A numbers subject to per-country limit are available to applicants with priority dates beginning August 1, 2001 and earlier than April 1, 2004.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA DATES
Preference    Dates for India

1st………………………………          Current
2nd………………………………          June 1, 2003
3rd ………………………………         October 1, 2001
Other workers…………………………. January 15, 2003
4th………………………………          Current
Certain Religious worker ……      Current
5th………………………………          Current
Targeted Employment Areas…….Current

The Department of State has a recorded message with visa availability information  at (202) 663-1541, which is updated in the middle of each month.
Source: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4384.html

Vandana Kumar is a publishing executive with a 36-year track record in the industry. She leads the India Currents Foundation as President and CEO. As a new immigrant, she co-founded India Currents magazine...