April 2006

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 of March 8, 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 ……….. April 22, 2001
2A* ……….. March 1, 2002
2B ………… July 15, 1996
3rd ……….. July 22, 1998
4th ……….. April 1, 1994

* Note: For April, 2A numbers exempt from per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than June 15, 1999. 2A numbers subject to per-country limit are available to applicants chargeable to all countries except Mexico with priority dates beginning June 15, 1999 and earlier than March 1, 2002.

EMPLOYMENT-BASEDVISA DATES

Preference Dates for India

1st ………. Jan. 1, 2005
2nd ………. July 1, 2002
3rd ………. Feb. 1, 2001

Schedule A … Current

Workers

Other……….. Oct. 1, 2001

Workers

4th……….. Current
Certain …… Current
Religious
Workers

5th ………. Current
Targeted ….. Current
Employment
Areas

U.S. State DepartmentVisa AvailabilityInformation Line(202) 663-1541

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...