News
Annual Report of Immigrant Visa Applicants in the Family-sponsored and
Employment-based preferences Registered at the National Visa Center as of
November 1, 2011
Most prospective immigrant visa applicants qualify for status under the law on
the basis of family relationships or employer sponsorship. Entitlement to visa
processing in these classes is established ordinarily through approval by
Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) of a petition filed on the
applicant's behalf. The petitions of applicants who will be processed at an
overseas post are forwarded by CIS to the Department of State; applicants in
categories subject to numerical limit are registered on the visa waiting list.
Each case is assigned a priority (i.e., registration) date based on the filing
date accorded to the petition. Visa issuance within each numerically limited
category is possible only if the applicant's priority date is within the
applicable cut-off dates which are published each month by the Department of
State in the Visa Bulletin. Family and Employment preference applicants compete
for visa numbers within their respective categories on a worldwide basis
according to priority date; a per-country limit on such preference immigrants
set by INA 202 places a maximum on the amount of visas which may be issued in a
single year to applicants from any one country, however.
In October, the Department of State asked the National Visa Center (NVC) at
Portsmouth, New Hampshire to report the totals of applicants on the waiting list
in the various numerically-limited immigrant categories. Applications for
adjustment of status under INA 245 which are pending at CIS Offices are not
included in the tabulation of the immigrant waiting list data which is being
provided at this time. As such, the following figures ONLY reflect petitions
which the Department of State has received, and do not include the significant
number of applications held with the CIS Offices.
The following figures have been compiled from the NVC report submitted to the
Department on November 1, 2011, and show the number of immigrant visa applicants
on the waiting list in the various preferences and subcategories subject to
numerical limit. All figures reflect persons registered under each respective
numerical limitation, i.e., the totals represent not only principal applicants
or petition beneficiaries, but their spouses and children entitled to derivative
status under INA 203(d) as well.
|
Family-sponsored Preferences |
||||
|
Category |
FY 2011 |
FY 2012 |
Increase/Decrease From 2011 Totals |
(and % of change) |
|
FAMILY FIRST |
271,018 |
295,168 |
+ 24,150 |
(+ 8.9%) |
|
FAMILY SECOND TOTAL |
913,611 |
839,755 |
-73,856 |
(- 8.1%) |
|
2A-Spouses/Children: |
361,038 |
322,636 |
- 38,402 |
(-10.6%) |
|
2B- Adult Sons/Daughters: |
552,573 |
517,119 |
- 35,454 |
(- 6.4%) |
|
FAMILY THIRD |
853,083 |
846,520 |
-6,563 |
(- 0.8%) |
|
FAMILY FOURTH |
2,515,062 |
2,519,623 |
+4,561 |
(+ 0.2%) |
|
TOTAL |
4,552,774 |
4,501,066 |
-51,708 |
(- 1.1%) |
|
Employment-based Preferences |
||||
|
EMPLOYMENT FIRST |
2,961 |
2,118 |
-843 |
(- 28.5%) |
|
EMPLOYMENT SECOND |
6,738 |
6,888 |
+150 |
(+ 2.2%) |
|
EMPLOYMENT THIRD TOTAL |
119,183 |
112,023 |
-7,160 |
(- 6.0%) |
|
Skilled Workers: |
102,395 |
97,060 |
-5,335 |
(- 5.2%) |
|
Other Workers: |
16,788 |
14,963 |
-1,825 |
(- 10.9%) |
|
EMPLOYMENT FOURTH TOTAL |
554 |
498 |
-56 |
(- 10.1%) |
|
EMPLOYMENT FIFTH TOTAL |
1,183 |
1,806 |
+623 |
(+52.7%) |
|
TOTAL |
130,619 |
123,333 |
-7,286 |
(- 5.6%) |
|
GRAND TOTAL |
4,683,393 |
4,624,399 |
-58,994 |
(- 1.3%) |
Immigrant Waiting List By Country
Immigrant visa issuances during fiscal year 2012 are limited by the terms of INA
201 to no more than 226,000 in the family-sponsored preferences and
approximately 144,000 in the employment-based preferences. (Visas for "Immediate
Relatives" - i.e., spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21 years, and
parents - of U.S. citizens are not subject to numerical limitation, however.)
It should by no means be assumed that once an applicant is registered, the case
is then continually included in the waiting list totals unless and until a visa
is issued. The consular procedures mandate a regular culling of visa cases to
remove from the count those unlikely to see further action, so that totals are
not unreasonably inflated. If, for example, a consular post receives no response
within one year from an applicant to whom the visa application instruction
letter (i.e., the consular "Packet 3" letter) is sent when the movement of the
visa availability cut-off date indicates a visa may become available within a
reasonable time frame, the case is considered "inactive" under the consular
procedures and is no longer included in waiting list totals.
The fourteen countries with the highest number of waiting list registrants in FY
2012 are listed below; together these represent 79.5% of the total. This list
includes all countries with at least 60,000 persons on the waiting list. The
per-country limit in INA 202 sets an annual maximum on the amount of preference
visas which may be issued to applicants from any one country; the 2012
per-country limit will be approximately 25,900.
|
Country |
Applicants |
|
Mexico |
1,374,294 |
|
Philippines |
503,266 |
|
India |
343,401 |
|
Vietnam |
281,439 |
|
China-mainland born |
248,494 |
|
Dominican Republic |
171,217 |
|
Bangladesh |
161,769 |
|
Pakistan |
118,985 |
|
Haiti |
112,450 |
|
Cuba |
85,908 |
|
El Salvador |
83,221 |
|
Jamaica |
66,016 |
|
Korea, South |
64,020 |
|
Colombia |
61,430 |
|
All Others |
948,489 |
|
Worldwide Total |
4,624,399 |
Immigrant Waiting List By Preference Category
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
Family
FIRST Preference
The worldwide Family FIRST preference numerical limitation is 23,400. The top
ten countries with the highest F-1 waiting list totals are:
|
Country |
Family First Preference Total |
Percent of Category Waiting List |
|
Mexico |
90,546 |
30.7% |
|
Philippines |
29,529 |
10.0% |
|
Dominican Republic |
20,230 |
6.9% |
|
Jamaica |
19,669 |
6.7% |
|
Haiti |
16,412 |
5.6% |
|
El Salvador |
8,749 |
3.0% |
|
Vietnam |
8,106 |
2.7% |
|
Guyana |
8,098 |
2.7% |
|
Cuba |
7,476 |
2.5% |
|
Colombia |
6,353 |
2.1% |
|
All Others |
80,000 |
27.1% |
|
Total |
295,168 |
100% |
Cases are being added to the waiting list in this category not only by the
approval of new FIRST preference petitions, but also through automatic
conversion of pending 2B cases into FIRST preference upon the naturalization of
the petitioner.
Given the 517,119 Family 2B waiting list and the several years' interval between
2B petition filing and visa issuance, it is likely that increasing numbers of
petitioners will be naturalized and the petitions converted to Family FIRST
preference long before 2B visas become available. The prospect is for increasing
oversubscription in the FIRST preference, with slower advances in the worldwide
cut-off date the consequence. Only two countries, Mexico and the Philippines,
have FIRST preference cut-off dates which are earlier than the worldwide date.
Family SECOND Preference
The total Family SECOND preference waiting list figure is 839,755. Of these,
322,636 (38.4%) are spouses and children of permanent residents of the United
States (the 2A class), and 517,119 (61.6%) are adult unmarried sons/daughters of
permanent residents (the 2B class). The Family
SECOND preference represents 18.7% of the total Family preference waiting list.
It will receive 114,200 visa numbers for FY 2012, just over half of the 226,000
family preference total; 77% of SECOND preference numbers are provided to 2A
applicants, while the remaining 23% go to the 2B class.
2A: About 88,000 visa numbers are expected to be available during FY 2012. The
top five countries with the highest 2A waiting list totals are:
|
Country |
Family 2A Preference Total |
Percent of Category Waiting List |
|
Mexico |
138,628 |
43.0% |
|
Dominican Republic |
30,963 |
9.6% |
|
Cuba |
16,084 |
5.0% |
|
Haiti |
15,804 |
4.9% |
|
Philippines |
14,598 |
4.5% |
|
All Others |
106,559 |
33.0% |
|
Total |
322,636 |
100% |
Upon naturalization of the petitioner, a pending 2A case is converted
automatically into the "Immediate Relative" visa category, which is not subject
to numerical limit and therefore has no visa waiting period. As a result, the
amount of cases being processed in the "Immediate Relative" category may
increase and partially offset new F2A filings.
2B:
Visa numbers for this class of adult sons and daughters will be
approximately 26,250 during FY 2012. The waiting list far exceeds the annual
limit. The top ten countries with the highest 2B waiting list totals are:
|
Country |
Family 2B Preference Total |
Percent of Category Waiting List |
|
Mexico |
212,621 |
41.1% |
|
Dominican Republic |
57,385 |
11.1% |
|
Philippines |
52,823 |
10.2% |
|
Haiti |
25,851 |
5.0% |
|
El Salvador |
17,370 |
3.4% |
|
China-mainland born |
17,170 |
3.3% |
|
Cuba |
14,035 |
2.7% |
|
Vietnam |
9,442 |
1.8% |
|
Jamaica |
8,223 |
1.6% |
|
Guatemala |
7,610 |
1.5% |
|
All Others |
94,589 |
18.3% |
|
Total |
517,119 |
100% |
As noted above, some of the 2B cases are applicants converted from the 2A class
upon their turning 21.
Family THIRD Preference
The annual visa limit is 23,400. Two oversubscribed countries (Mexico and
Philippines) have sufficiently heavy demand in this preference to require a
cut-off date substantially earlier than the worldwide date. The top ten
countries with the highest F-3 waiting list totals are:
|
Country |
Family Third Preference Total |
Percent of Category Waiting List |
|
Mexico |
180,982 |
21.4% |
|
Philippines |
156,107 |
18.4% |
|
Vietnam |
77,653 |
9.2% |
|
India |
66,569 |
7.9% |
|
China-mainland born |
33,049 |
3.9% |
|
Cuba |
21,239 |
2.5% |
|
Pakistan |
16,896 |
2.0% |
|
Poland |
16,021 |
1.9% |
|
Dominican Republic |
15,204 |
1.8% |
|
Jamaica |
15,072 |
1.8% |
|
All Others |
247,728 |
29.2% |
|
Total |
846,520 |
100% |
Family FOURTH Preference
Applicants registered in the Family FOURTH preference total 2,519,623. Annual
visa issuances are limited to 65,000. The waiting period for the Family FOURTH
preference is longer than any other category because the demand severely exceeds
the number of available visas. The countries listed below have the largest
number of FOURTH preference applicants:
|
Country |
Family Fourth Preference Total |
Percent of Category Waiting List |
|
Mexico |
746,815 |
29.6% |
|
India |
237,445 |
9.4% |
|
Philippines |
205,342 |
8.2% |
|
Vietnam |
179,648 |
7.1% |
|
China-mainland born |
175,417 |
7.0% |
|
Bangladesh |
149,526 |
5.9% |
|
Pakistan |
92,458 |
3.7% |
|
Dominican Republic |
47,356 |
1.9% |
|
Haiti |
43,441 |
1.7% |
|
South Korea |
38,385 |
1.5% |
|
All Others |
603,790 |
24.0% |
|
Total |
2,519,623 |
100% |
The steadily growing waiting period in this preference is now more than eleven
years for countries of most favorable visa availability and even longer for some
oversubscribed countries.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
It is important to note that over eighty-five percent of all Employment
preference immigrants are currently being processed as adjustment of status
cases at CIS offices. Cases pending with CIS are not counted in the consular
waiting list tally which is presented below. Therefore, in several Employment
categories the waiting list totals being provided below understate real
immigrant demand. The Employment waiting list counts not only prospective
workers, but also their spouses and children entitled under the law to
derivative preference status.
Employment FIRST Preference
Top countries are:
|
Country |
Employment First Preference Total |
Percent of Category Waiting List |
|
China-mainland born |
268 |
12.7% |
|
Canada |
232 |
11.0% |
|
Great Britain & Northern Ireland |
222 |
10.5% |
|
India |
164 |
7.7% |
|
Venezuela |
107 |
5.0% |
|
Korea, South |
106 |
5.0% |
|
Japan |
80 |
3.8% |
|
Mexico |
57 |
2.7% |
|
Philippines |
57 |
2.7% |
|
France |
52 |
2.4% |
|
All Others |
773 |
36.5% |
|
Worldwide Total |
2,118 |
100% |
Visa availability is "current" for all countries.
Employment SECOND Preference
Top countries are:
|
Country |
Employment Second Preference Total |
Percent of Category Waiting List |
|
India |
3,705 |
53.8% |
|
China-mainland born |
1,053 |
15.3% |
|
Korea, South |
379 |
5.5% |
|
Philippines |
292 |
4.2% |
|
Canada |
161 |
2.3% |
|
All Others |
1,298 |
18.9% |
|
Worldwide Total |
6,888 |
100% |
This category is "current" at present for all but two countries.
Employment THIRD Preference:
Top countries are:
|
Country |
Employment Third Preference Total |
Percent of Category Waiting List |
|
Philippines |
42,872 |
44.2% |
|
India |
21,119 |
21.8% |
|
China-mainland born |
6,191 |
6.4% |
|
Korea, South |
2,955 |
3.0% |
|
Mexico |
2,271 |
2.3% |
|
All Others |
21,652 |
22.3% |
|
Worldwide Total |
97,060 |
100% |
Employment Third “Other Workers”
|
Country |
Employment Third Preference: Skilled Worker/Professional Components |
Percent of Category Waiting List in These Classes |
|
China-mainland born |
4,718 |
31.5% |
|
Korea, South |
3,051 |
20.4% |
|
Mexico |
2,277 |
15.2% |
|
Philippines |
1,615 |
10.8% |
|
India |
605 |
4.1% |
|
All Others |
2,697 |
18.0% |
|
Worldwide Total |
14,963 |
100% |
With visa demand well in excess of the Employment Third Preference annual
limits, a significant wait for a visa must be expected to continue for the
indefinite future.
Employment FOURTH Preference
Top countries are:
|
Country |
Employment Fourth Preference |
Percent of Percent of in These Classes |
|
India |
107 |
21.5% |
|
Korea, South |
32 |
6.5% |
|
Philippines |
27 |
5.4% |
|
Nigeria |
26 |
5.2% |
|
Colombia |
25 |
5.0% |
|
Israel |
21 |
4.2% |
| All Others | 260 | 52.2% |
|
Worldwide Total |
498 |
100% |
Visa availability is "current" for all countries.
Employment FIFTH Preference
Top countries are:
|
Country |
Employment Fifth Preference |
Percent of Percent of in These Classes |
|
China-mainland born |
1,157 |
64.1% |
|
Korea, South |
182 |
10.1% |
|
Venezuela |
58 |
3.2% |
|
Iran |
49 |
2.7% |
|
China-Taiwan born |
43 |
2.4% |
|
India |
31 |
1.7% |
|
All Others |
286 |
15.8% |
|
Worldwide Total |
1,806 |
100% |
Visa availability is "current" for all countries.
Family Immigrant Waiting List By Country
The seven countries with the highest number of Family-sponsored waiting list
registrants are listed below; together these represent 66.5% of the total. This
list includes all countries with at least 150,000 persons on the waiting list.
(The per-country limit in INA 202 sets an annual maximum on the amount of Family
preference visas which may be issued to applicants from any one country; the FY
2012 per-country limit will be 15,820.)
Family Preferences
|
Country |
Total |
|
Mexico |
1,369,592 |
|
Philippines |
458,399 |
|
India |
317,670 |
|
Vietnam |
281,221 |
|
China-mainland born |
235,106 |
|
Dominican Republic |
171,138 |
|
Bangladesh |
161,567 |
|
All Others |
1,506,373 |
|
Worldwide Total |
4,501,066 |
Family
Immigrant Waiting List
By Region
A breakdown of the NVC waiting list by region is:
|
Region |
Total |
| Africa | 122,725 |
| Asia | 1,915,772 |
| Europe | 160,899 |
| N. America* | 2,034,395 |
| Oceania | 12,046 |
| S. America | 255,229 |
|
Family Total |
4,501,066 |
*North America includes Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Employment Immigrant Waiting List By Country
The five countries with the highest number of Employment-based waiting list
registrants are listed below; together these represent 77.3% of the total. This
list includes all countries with at least 4,500 persons on the waiting list.
(The per-country limit in INA 202 sets an annual maximum on the amount of
Employment preference visas which may be issued to applicants from any one
country; the FY 2012 per-country limit will be approximately 10,080.)
Employment Preferences
|
Country |
Total |
| Philippines | 44,867 |
| India | 25,731 |
| China-mainland born | 13,388 |
| Korea, South | 6,705 |
| Mexico | 4,702 |
|
All Others |
27,940 |
|
Worldwide Total |
123,333 |
Employment
Immigrant Waiting List
By Region
A breakdown of the NVC waiting list by region is:
|
Region |
Total |
| Africa | 2,813 |
| Asia | 100,432 |
| Europe | 6,441 |
| N. America* | 9,007 |
| Oceania | 305 |
| S. America | 4,335 |
|
Worldwide Total |
123,333 |
*North America includes Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.