Visa Bulletin & Priority Date Questions?

[maynoc 0]

Hi there, 

This is my step-son's (age 12) case. My wife is a permanent resident and her son is in the Philippines. We've been waiting for a long time for the interview to be scheduled. 

 

On Nov. 16, 2021, his case was documentarily approved. All that is needed in the interview. 

 

VISA CLASS:    F22
YOUR CASE IS CURRENTLY AT:    NVC
FOREIGN STATE OF CHARGEABILITY:    PHILIPPINES
INTERVIEW LOCATION:    MANILA
PRIORITY DATE:    30-SEP-2019

 

The Visa Bulletin For October 2023 (state.gov) shows for F2A in Philippines this: Feb, 8, 2019. 

 

If my step-son's case priority date is Sept. 30, 2019, how do I interpret what the bulletin says, and approximately how much longer could we be waiting for an interview to be scheduled? 

 

Many thanks to all who can help us understand the VISA bulletin. 

 

 

[Boiler 45,458]

Why did you not petition him?

 

The PD is not current yet, a year?

[maynoc 0]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

Why did you not petition him?

 

The PD is not current yet, a year?

Had we known that at the time it would've been quicker, I would've petition him. But obviously that didn't happen.

 

What do you mean by PD is not current yet and why do you say a year? based on what?

[appleblossom 2,464]

12 minutes ago, maynoc said:

Had we known that at the time it would've been quicker, I would've petition him. But obviously that didn't happen.

 

What do you mean by PD is not current yet and why do you say a year? based on what?

 

He won't be scheduled for an interview until his PD is current (i.e. before the date on the Visa Bulletin) - his PD is 30th Sept 2019 and the current date is 8th Feb 2019. There's no visa available to him until that happens.

 

So it's about 8 months before his date at the moment, but it's not linear so may not advance at the same rate. And then once his PD is current and a visa is available, he'll be added to the queue for an interview so you need to add on time for that wait too.

 

HTH explain it a bit, good luck.

Edited October 17, 2023 by appleblossom

[manyfudge 291]

If you can afford the fees, file a petition for him.  It will be faster even if you file now.

[Boiler 45,458]

6 minutes ago, manyfudge said:

If you can afford the fees, file a petition for him.  It will be faster even if you file now.

I think I may have been optimistic thinking it would be a year.

[maynoc 0]

3 hours ago, manyfudge said:

If you can afford the fees, file a petition for him.  It will be faster even if you file now.

where do I find the current priority date for US citizens who filed a petition for a minor child? 

[Boiler 45,458]

2 minutes ago, maynoc said:

where do I find the current priority date for US citizens who filed a petition for a minor child? 

There isn't one.

[maynoc 0]

17 minutes ago, Boiler said:

There isn't one.

hmm, wonder why. so what is the average length of time then?

[Boiler 45,458]

It is not numerically capped

 

Manilla 18m to 2 years.

[appleblossom 2,464]

1 hour ago, maynoc said:

hmm, wonder why. so what is the average length of time then?

Immediate relatives of citizens don’t have a Priority Date as there is no limit on the number of visas available to them, unlike other relative categories. So no wait for a visa to become available and just the processing time. 

Edited October 18, 2023 by appleblossom

[SalishSea 17,818]

3 hours ago, maynoc said:

where do I find the current priority date for US citizens who filed a petition for a minor child? 

You should google the visa bulletin and familiarize yourself with it a bit.   I know it’s confusing.

[manyfudge 291]

9 hours ago, maynoc said:

so what is the average length of time then?

So, Manila takes (anecdotally) almost 2 years even with NO quota and NO priority dates.

 

If you, @maynoc file for your stepson now, it is possible that you will be granted an interview before his petition through your wife.

 

It could take over a year, maybe even 2 years for his date to be current and then even longer to be scheduled.  

 

[mariaozawa 1]

On 10/17/2023 at 1:18 PM, maynoc said:

. My wife is a permanent resident and her son is in the Philippines. We've been waiting for a long time for the interview to be scheduled. 

 

On Nov. 16, 2021, his case was documentarily approve

 

So from my understanding, if the petitioner is only a permanent resident then we follow the visa bulletin but if the petitioner is a citizen then visa bulletin is irrelevant - am I correct?

[Boiler 45,458]

1 minute ago, mariaozawa said:

 

So from my understanding, if the petitioner is only a permanent resident then we follow the visa bulletin but if the petitioner is a citizen then visa bulletin is irrelevant - am I correct?

Yes