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 September 2006.

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 PREFERENCEVISA DATES

Preference…………Dates for India

1st………………Jan. 1, 1998
2A……………….Sept. 22, 1999
2B……………….Dec. 1, 1996
3rd………………Oct. 1, 1998
4th………………July 1, 1995

Note: For September, 2A numbers exempt from per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than Sept. 22, 1999. 2A numbers subject to per-country limits are “Unavailable.”

EMPLOYMENT-BASEDVISA DATES

Preference…………Dates for India

1st……………….Current
2nd……………….Unavailable
3rd……………….April 15, 2001
Schedule A…………Current
Workers
Other……………..Unavailable
Workers
4th……………….Current
Certain Current
Religious
Workers
5th……………….Current
Targeted…………..Current
Employment
Areas

The Department of State has available a recorded message with visa availability information which can be heard at: (202) 663-1541. This recording is updated in the middle of each month with information on cut-off dates for the following 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...