FY 2012 Visa wastage count - 10,326

[kumbahara 3]

For what it is worth, while the predictions continue on how many weeks/month the PD will move over the next quarter, here is an important statistic to be noted. In FY 2012 (Oct 2011 to Sept 2012), the DOS/Visa office wasted 10,326 visas, per their only visa issuance statistic (http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY12AnnualReport-TableV-PartI.pdf).

Per INA law each year allocates 87,634 visas for F2A per numerical limitations.
While here is the actual number based on released statistics 
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/statistics/statistics_1476.html

FY 2012 : 77,308
FY 2011 : 81,728
FY 2010 : 60,700
FY 2009 : 75,000

This wastage has been on for years, more pronounced in 2010 and is increasing due to lack of accountability. Whats more frustrating is the fact that neither the Oct 2011 saw any jump in the priority dates and based on their prediction of movement on supposed demand, the allocation of visa may see similar pattern or wastage.

So, either you can choose to ignore it or at least voice your opinion on why even the numerical numbers allocated by INA laws for family quota is being wasted(a total of 18000 visas wasted for the total family category) and pushed to employment quota the next year.

So is an email at least something you can write?

Below is the email I sent

To: cisombudsman <cisombudsman@HQ.DHS.GOV>

Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 3:52 PM

Subject: Re: Correspondence Regarding Family Visa Numbers

Dear Sir/Madam

I have been writing in as a hopeful petitioner in the F2A category so as to highlight the amount of visa wastage in F2A category ( (Family Preference - Spouses of LPR) . I had earlier attempted to contact the visa office through CIS Ombudsman requesting for more transparency in terms of instituting demand data as it is done for Employment based (EB) immigrant visas and also requested for more proper efficient allocation and usage of the INA allocated visas.

The Department of State, visa office quietly released its FY 2012 visa number allocations(http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY12AnnualReport-TableV-PartI.pdf) and not surprisingly out of 87,634 visas allocated by INA regulations, it issued 77,308 visas, effectively wasting (or utilized by F2A) 10,326 visas , while the priority dates for the same inch just a few weeks citing demand from NVC . This has been characteristic as FY2011 saw around 6400 visas and FY2010 saw a whopping 26,934 visas wasted.

I have made efforts to contact the visa office without any relief, and the CIS Ombudsman with more hope based on its reply, little has been the outcome to alleviate the glaring inefficiency in the visa allocation and priority date movement of the beneficiaries of F2A, who cannot even apply for tourist visas.

While the administration considers even undocumented aliens, a chance to live together with their families, can the small community of F2A petitioners/beneficiaries hope the CIS Ombudsman to establish visa office to

1. Stop visa wastage by advancing the priority dates and and increase accountability of supposed demand while visa wastage is evident.

2. Provide a means for beneficiaries in the US to apply for I485, by advancing the Priority Dates to near current so as to fill up for visas wasted year over year.

3. Provide demand data on a monthly or at least quarterly basis for F2A so as to provide a meaningful way to extrapolate their wait times based on visa issuance at different consular posts.

I would appreciate if CIS Ombudsman can take up this issue and help the LPRs by following up with the Visa Office and Department of State.

Thank you.

A Backlogged F2A Petitioner

[loudoff 25]

I admire your courage in writing the email to the Department.