Applications

Cut Off/Qualifying Dates

Appointments for most non-immediate relative immigrant visa categories are scheduled according to the priority date. In family immigration the priority date is the date when the petition was filed at a Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). In employment immigration the priority date may be the date the labor certification application was received by the Department of Labor (DOL).  Applicants whose priority dates are prior to the cut-off dates listed on http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html, and who have completed the necessary forms and submitted documents to the National Visa Center (NVC) for their visa appointments, will be scheduled for interviews.

We cannot predict when a case will become current.  You should monitor the movement of the cutoff dates as announced by the Visa Office to learn when your priority date is reached.  Up-to-date information on priority dates and visa number availability may be obtained from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., by calling (202) 663-1541 or visiting the website at:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html.

IV APPOINTMENT REQUEST ONLY BY INTERNET FOR THE APPLICANTS WHO RECEIVED PACKET3 LETTER OR NOTICE OF ARRIVAL FROM SEOUL more

Every month, the Visa Office (VO) establishes Qualifying Dates that determine if a petition will be eligible for processing.  Qualifying Dates are the latest priority dates that can be processed for certain visa categories.  An immigrant visa petition can only become ready for further processing when the Qualifying Date in the appropriate visa category has advanced up to the priority date of the petition.  Petitions may remain at NVC for several months or for many years depending on the visa category and country of birth of the visa applicant.

When an applicant’s priority date meets the most recent Qualifying Date, the NVC will contact the applicant and petitioner with instructions for submitting the appropriate processing fees.  After the appropriate processing fees are paid, the NVC will again contact the applicant and petitioner to request the necessary immigrant visa documentation be submitted to the NVC.

For family-based petitions, the petitioner will have been sent instructions concerning completion of the Affidavit of Support (form I-864) and supporting documents needed for financial sponsorship.

The NVC will complete all necessary administrative processing of the applicant’s immigrant visa application.  Approximately one month before the applicant’s scheduled interview appointment with a consular officer, the applicant will receive an appointment letter from the NVC. 

NVC cannot guarantee how long it may be before the applicant is scheduled for an appointment for a visa interview.  Please call or write to the NVC (NVC Contact Information) if the circumstances of the applicant change.  For example:

• Change of address
• Change of marital status
• Death of petitioner
• Birth or adoption of additional children, or
• NVC has requested additional information

This is an official U.S. Government source of information on the WWW. Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links or information does not imply endorsement of contents.

The U.S. Embassy is closed on both U.S. and Korean holidays.

Updated April 11, 2008