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 March 2009.

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……………………………..          July 22, 2002
2A ……………………………..         July 1, 2004
2B……………………………..          June 22, 2000
3rd……………………………..          August 8, 2000
4th……………………………..          March 1, 1998

Note: For March, 2A numbers subject to per-country limit are available to applicants with priority dates beginning October 15, 2001 and earlier than July 1, 2004.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA DATES

Preference Dates for India

1st……………………………..          Current
2nd……………………………..          February 15, 2004
3rd……………………………..          October 15, 2001
Other Workers……………………… October 15, 2001

4th…………………………………………..Current
Certain Religious Workers …………….Current
5th …………………………………………Current
Targeted Employment Areas………..Current

Vandana Kumar is a publishing executive with a 35-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...