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 May 2007.

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 15, 2001

2A …………………………. April 8, 2002

2B ………………………….. Oct. 1, 1997

3rd …………………………. April 1, 1999

4th …………………………. Jan. 8, 1996

Note: For May, 2A numbers exempt from per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than Jan. 1, 2001. 2A numbers subject to per-country limits are available to applicants chargeable to all countries except Mexico with priority dates beginning Jan. 1, 2001 and earlier than April 8, 2002.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA DATES

Preference Dates for India

1st …………………………… Current

2nd ………………………….. Jan. 8, 2003

3rd ………………………….. May 8, 2001

Other ………………………. Unavailable

Workers

4th ………………………….. Current

Certain …………………….. Current

Religious

Workers

Iraqi and Sept. 18, 2006

Afghani

Translators

5th ………………………….. Current

Targeted ………………….. Current

Employment

Areas

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/

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...