The Visa Bulletin

Applicants Most Frequently Asked Question

Over the years, the number one question asked by those applying for U. S. immigrant visas has been: “When will my interview be?”. This question dominates Diversity Visa discussions whenever the DV results are released.

To answer this question, one is usually referred to the Visa Bulletin. So, what in essence is this “Visa Bulletin,” and how do you use it to know your ‘approximate’ interview date?

[CLICK HERE to jump to Visa Bulletin Cut-offs Tables] or continue reading the article below.

The Visa Bulletin (VB)

The Visa Bulletin is simply a chart/table that provides information regarding interview dates for cases of immigration to the United States.

The Visa Bulletin is published by the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the U. S. State Department and appears on their official website before the middle of each month (officially), although sometimes it is delayed, and appears on the website later than the usual time.

The Visa Bulletin published in a given month is intended for, and named after the month that follows the month it is published. For example, the VB for October is published in September; the one for November is published in October; for December is published in November; for January, in December; etc.

The Visa Bulletin concerns all the different types of immigrant visa applications. In this article, however, we concern ourselves ONLY with the section of the Visa Bulletin related to the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program.

DV Category of the Visa Bulletin

The DV Section of the Visa Bulletin (VB) displays up to what case number are to be interviewed in a two-consecutive-month period (considering the final case number interviewed the previous month). Simply put, it tells from what case number to what case number will be interviewed in the coming two months.

The DV Section, which is usually the final section of the three immigrant visa categories in the VB has two components, showing information for the two consecutive months that follow the month the VB is published.

The two components are:

  1. the DV Category for the Month of ______. (i.e. case numbers to be interviewed in the month immediately following the month the VB is released), and
  2. the DV Category rank cut-offs which will apply in the month of _______. (i.e. case numbers to be interviewed the month right after that).

Now, let’s go into that.

The first component in a given VB – Number 1 above – shows information for the month that immediately follows the month of publication of the VB in question – i.e. the month it is intended for and named after. Component 2 (Number 2 above), on the other hand provides the same type of information for the second month after the release of the VB in question.

More explanation

Component 1 in a given VB does not feature in the VB that follows. Component 2 in a given VB becomes Component 1 in the next VB, and the new Component 2 would be information about the next month in line. For example, the VB released in January (and referred to as “Visa Bulletin for February”), contains information for the month of February (and March).

Firstly, it will NOT show information about January, the month in which it was released (because it is NOT intended for that month). Instead, it will give information for February, the month it is inteded for (in its first component), and for March, the month that follows (in its second component). When the next VB is released in February, information about February will no longer feature on it. It’s now the “Visa Bulletin for March”, but will also highlight what is expected in April, and so on.

That is the sequence in which VBs are released. This allows a continuous “rolling out” of two consecutive months at a time, throughout the year.

Remember this

  1. the VB provides information about immigrant visa interview dates
  2. it is published during the second week of every month, but intended for and named after the following month
  3. the DV Category shows up to what case number is supposed to be interviewed in the next two months in each region
  4. it does not contain information about the month in which it is released
  5. it is rather about, and consequently contains information on:                                                                                                                    a. the month that immediately follows its month of release (in the first component)                                                                        b. the second month after its month of release (in the second component)

[Continue reading after Cut-off tables]

Past and Present VB Cut-offs for all regions

IMPORTANT: Diversity Visa applicants should follow the Visa Bulletin (as it’s published every month) to get to know/confirm the actual month in the fiscal year when their interview is to be conducted.

AFRICA

FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019
SEPTCurrent;
Except
Algeria: 45,000
Egypt: 43,200
Morocco: 63,400
 CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
AUG63,500;
Except
Algeria: 45,000
Egypt: 43,200
Morocco: 63,400
CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
JUL63,500;
Except
Algeria: 40,000
Egypt: 43,200
Morocco: 63,000
 Current;
Except
Egypt:
13,000
CurrentCurrent;
Except
Egypt: 42,000
Current; Except
Egypt: 23,400
JUN63,500;
Except
Algeria: 35,900
Egypt: 30,000
Morocco: 55,000
 Current;
Except
Egypt:
13,000
Current;
Except
Egypt:
18,900
Current;
Except
Egypt:
42,000
37,200; Except
Egypt: 21,110
MAY60,000;
Except
Algeria: 35,900
Egypt: 18,650
Morocco: 45,600
63,800 ;
Except
Egypt: 
13,000
34,000;
Except
Egypt: 
17,000
45,175;
Except
Egypt:
39,000
24,500
APR50,000;
Except
Algeria: 27,550
Egypt: 16,150
Morocco: 31,725
50,000 ;
Except
Egypt: 
12,500
22,000;
Except
Egypt: 
13,000
41,000;
Except
Egypt:
30,700
18,900
MAR45,000;
Except
Algeria: 18,425
Egypt: 16,150
Morocco: 31,725
21,000 ;
Except
Egypt: 
11,000
14,000;
Except
Egypt: 
10,000
31,500;
Except
Egypt:
22,000
15,300
FEB35,000;
Except
Algeria: 18,425
Egypt: 16,150
Morocco: 31,725
20,000 ;
Except
Egypt: 
11,000
12,000;
Except
Egypt: 
7,200
25,000;
Except
Egypt:
16,000
13,800
JAN20,000;
Except
Algeria: 11,000
Egypt: 7,000
Morocco: 12,000
13,500 ;
Except
Egypt: 
8,000
10,500;
Except
Egypt: 
6,000
19,000;
Except
Egypt:
10,000
13,100
DEC9,000;
Except
Algeria: 8,500
Egypt: 3,000
Morocco: 8,500
7,000 ;
Except
Egypt: 
4,700
7,000;
Except
Egypt:   
4,000
12,0009,800
NOV5,700;
Except
Algeria: 5,600
Egypt: 1,700
Morocco: 5,600
5,300 ;
Except
Egypt: 
3,000
5,100;
Except
Egypt: 
3,300
5,6006,400
OCT5,700;
Except
Algeria: 5,600
Egypt: 1,700
Morocco: 5,600
2,675 ;
Except
Egypt: 
1,850
2,900;
Except
Egypt: 
2,700
2,500;
Except
Egypt:
1,500
2,750
FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019

AMERICA, NORTH (BAHAMAS)

FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019
SEPTCurrent CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
AUGCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
JULCurrent10CurrentCurrentCurrent
JUN1510CurrentCurrent14
MAY151081713
APR131071612
MAR1386912
FEB585812
JAN564812
DEC554711
NOV44349
OCT43224
FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019

AMERICA, SOUTH and the CARIBBEAN

FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019
SEPT3,150 CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
AUG2,900CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
JUL2,900CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
JUN2,740CurrentCurrentCurrent1,150
MAY2,4001,3001,6501,875900
APR2,2501,3001,4001,560875
MAR2,1001,2001,1751,300750
FEB2,1001,2008751,150625
JAN1,2009007501,075550
DEC575625550850475
NOV500500475600355
OCT500275350225150
FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019

ASIA

FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019
SEPT21,000;
Except
Iran: 16,000
Nepal: 21,000
 CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
AUG21,000;
Except
Iran: 14,000
Nepal: 20,500
 CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
JUL21,000;
Except
Iran: 12,500
Nepal: 19,400
 Current;
Except
Nepal: 6,300
CurrentCurrent;
Except
Nepal: 13,500
Current;
Except
Nepal:
6,275
JUN18,750;
Except
Iran: 10,000
Nepal: 17,775
 Current;
Except
Nepal: 5,700
Current;
Except
Iran: 6,400
Nepal: 6,400
Current;
Except
Nepal: 13,500
10,000;
Except
Nepal:
5,775
MAY18,750;
Except
Iran: 6,000
Nepal: 17,775
30,000;
Except
Iran: 8,500
Nepal: 4,800
13,000;
Except
Iran: 6,000
Nepal: 5,100
18,450;
Except
Iran:11,550
Nepal: 11,700
7,800
APR18,750;
Except
Iran: 5,500
Nepal: 12,600
17,000;
Except
Iran: 6,100
Nepal: 4,350
9,000;
Except
Iran: 4,700
Nepal: 4,500
15,800;
Except
Iran:9,800
Nepal: 10,500
6,400
MAR18,750;
Except
Iran: 5,500
Nepal: 8,025
8,300;
Except
Iran: 6,000
Nepal: 4,200
6,200;
Except
Iran: 3,800
Nepal: 4,200
12,500;
Except
Iran:7,600
Nepal: 8,800
5,000
FEB15,500;
Except
Iran: 5,500
Nepal: 7,000
8,000;
Except
Iran: 6,000
Nepal: 4,200
5,000;
Except
Iran: 3,000
Nepal: 3,950
12,000;
Except
Iran: 6,500
Nepal: 7,575
4,400
JAN9,000;
Except
Iran: 5,500
Nepal: 5,500
6,000;
Except
Iran: 4,000
Nepal: 3,200
4,300;
Except
Iran: 2,400
Nepal: 2,825
8,200;
Except
Iran: 5,100
Nepal: 6,500
3,800
DEC3,300;
Except
Iran: 3,000
Nepal: 1,700
4,000;
Except
Iran: 2,150
Nepal: 2,200
3,500;
Except
Iran: 1,600       Nepal: 2,750
6,0002,900
NOV2,800;
Except
Iran: 2,500
Nepal: 1,450
2,700;
Except
Iran: 1,450
Nepal: 1,700
2,800;
Except
Iran: 1,300
Nepal: 2,700
3,5001,600
OCT2,800;
Except
Iran: 2,500
Nepal: 1,450
1,400;
Except
Iran: 800
Nepal: 900
1,600;
Except
Iran: 1,000
Nepal: 1,050
1,300;
Except
Iran: 750
Nepal: 1,000
1,000
FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019

EUROPE

FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019
SEPT32,000;
Except
Russia: 32,000
Uzbkst: 17,000
Current CurrentCurrentCurrent
AUG32,000;
Except
Russia: 32,000
Uzbkst: 15,000
CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
JUL32,000;
Except
Russia: 32,000
Uzbkst: 15,000
CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
JUN30,000;
Except
Russia: 29,350
Uzbkst: 12,500
CurrentCurrentCurrent26,800
MAY30,000;
Except
Russia: 29,350
Uzbkst: 10,140
27,00018,00030,00021,900
APR30,000;
Except
Russia: 25,750
Uzbkstn: 8,500
27,00012,00021,20018,500
MAR26,000;
Except
Russia: 14,660
Uzbkstn: 8,500
13,5009,40021,00013,500
FEB15,000;
Except
Russia: 12,000
Uzbkstn: 8,500
13,0008,20014,00010,000
JAN15,000;
Except
Russia: 12,000
Uzbkstn: 8,500
10,0007,50010,3008,800
DEC6,100;
Except
Russia: 6,000
Uzbkstn: 6,000
7,3006,0008,6006,600
NOV5,700;
Except
Russia: 5,600
Uzbkstn: 5,600
5,3004,8006,0004,400
OCT5,700;
Except
Russia: 5,600
Uzbkstn: 5,600
2,3002,5002,1002,000
FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019

OCEANIA

FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019
SEPT2,500 CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
AUG1,650CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
JUL1,650CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
JUN1,550Current CurrentCurrent1,025
MAY1,4501,2001,4002,150900
APR1,1501,2001,1001,975725
MAR1,1008509001,625550
FEB1,1008507251,350450
JAN6506506001,200350
DEC400450450800290
NOV375375350400200
OCT375190250175100
FISCAL YEAR20232022202120202019

What do the numbers in the tables mean?

Let’s consider information for Fiscal Year 2019 in the Oceania chart just above, for example. The first cut-off number in FY 2019 in this chart (i.e. for October 2018) is 100. It means, during the month of October 2018, only case numbers below 100 were interviewed in the Oceania Region. For the month of November 2018, case numbers interviewed there were the ones found in the range 100 to less than 200 (i.e. 199). For December 2018, those from 200 to less than 290 (i.e. 289), and so on.

Note: The United States Fiscal Year runs from October 1st of one year to September 30th of the following year as shown in the tables above; and not from January to December.

What is meant by ‘a case number is current’

We say a case number is ‘current’ when it is the ‘turn’ for that case to be interviewed. We get to know the case numbers to become current (cases to be interviewed) by means of the Visa Bulletin released two months before the month of interview.

As the Visa Bulletin announces the case numbers to become current (cases to be interviewed) in two months’ time, the cases concerned are notified at that same time – two months to their interview.

For example, if a case is to be interviewed in October, that case is notified in August. The Visa Bulletin published in August includes the regional / country cut-offs for the month of October.

And all cases whose case numbers are BELOW the cut-off for the month of October are notified in August of their interview to be held in October. Those to be interviewed in November are informed in September. December interviews are notified in October; and so on – always two months ahead.

The interview for a given case is conducted during the month that the Visa Bulletin says that case number will be current. Provided the DS-260 form(s) AND required documents of that case had been submitted several weeks – if not months – earlier.

Other VB realities to understand

You may have observed the word ‘Current’ in the tables above. Whenever that word appears in the Visa Bulletin for any region (we say that region is/has become current, which usually occurs in the second half of the fiscal year), it means interview in that region is open to ALL cases which have met the two requirements to be interviewed, namely they’ve submitted a complete and valid DS-260 application for each family member, and they’ve provided copies of all required documentation to the Kentucky Consular Center. When a region becomes current, case numbers no longer matter. What matters instead is being on record for having met both requirements spelled out above.

Another reality of the Visa Bulletin is regional exceptions (which are common in the Africa and Asia regions). This reality causes some countries to be dealt with apart from the rest of their region. Such countries have their own monthly cut-off numbers which are generally below that of their region (See Egypt in the Africa region; and Iran and Nepal in the Asia region, FY 2020). That is quite normal, and does not present any inconvenience to applicants from the countries concerned. It’s just a way of dealing with realities in those countries which are not the same as those in the rest of the region.

How to determine your approximate interview date

The way to determine your DV interview date approximately is by looking at VBs from recent years to see in which month case numbers close to yours were scheduled for interview. Once you determine that, you then extrapolate; i.e. you somewhat conclude that your case number would be scheduled for interview around the same time as other numbers close to it were, the year(s) before.

Let’s consider the above table for the the sake of explanation. When the results are released in just over a week’s time, we can say that someone in the Europe Region with a Case Number 3500 will most certainly be scheduled for interview in November. That is because case numbers around 3500 were scheduled in November during the DV 2018 and DV 2019 Programs. (Update: And that is what actually happened. See FY 2020).

This is how one goes about determining his/her interview month. That’s why we usually use the word “approximate” when predicting one’s interview time. When it comes to the exact date of the interview, you only get to know it when you receive your NL2 in which all your interview details will be spelt out.

Exercise Some Level of Caution

It could be tricky if your case number is close to a past cut-off number. In that case, it could fall in either of the months bordering that cut-off number this time around.

Moreover, whenever there is a major change in the DV procedure, it affects how cases are scheduled. Certain procedural changes may speed up the rate of interviews scheduled, thereby increasing the cut-off numbers during the fiscal year, while others tend to slow down that rate, and consequently reduce the cut-off numbers.

When procedural change occur in the DV process, a new cut-off numbers pattern takes place and continues until another major procedure comes into play some time down the road to establish a new trend.

Example of Effect Caused by Procedural Change

The latest major change in DV procedure (at the time of publishing this article) occurred at the beginning of this fiscal year (from October 2018). From the table above, one notices that this latest change in procedure mainly affected the Africa region. It is the only region among the six that experienced significant drop in its cut-off numbers at the beginning of the fiscal year. All others appear quite normal. The effect was however ‘normalized’ somewhere around the middle of the fiscal year.

 

SUGGESTED: OUR ARTICLE ON THE PROPER WAY TO PROCEED AFTER BEING SELECTED IN THE DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY .

17 thoughts on “What is Visa Bulletin?

  1. I found your article very very informative to understand the overall aspects of DV lottery process & VB .

    As per current VB for Nepal , I’m expecting to get my notification for my case number within December 2022 as my case number is 58xx . For job opportunity , I’m currently here in UAE. I decided to change my interview location & even wrote an email to KCC but it got denied . May I know is it possible to make request for change in interview location after getting NL2 or its better I proceed all my remaining qualification from here Abu Dhabi UAE ? I want to know a ver very convenient suggestion from you .

    Thank you

    1. Hi:
      1. Yes, it is possible.
      2. The decision regarding your interview location depends on what’s convenient for you – as I do not know what your circumstances are. So consider your circumstances (work, travel issues, etc.), decide consequently, and then go after it.
      All the best!

  2. Hi,
    My name is Lucy Muli, I am a Kenyan Certified Nurse Assistant .I am unable to fill the Visa bulletin December 2022 kindly assist me on how to do it.Thank you.

    Kind regards
    Lucy Muli.

    1. Hi Lucy:

      The Visa Bulletin is not to be filled. Instead, it is to be followed. Followed because it is by that means you’ll get to know when your case number will be current, which is one of the conditions for your case to be scheduled for interview.

  3. Hello Manish Raj Ghimire
    The month of November have been going on. Have you received any mails? What about the other processing?

  4. Hi,
    Your website has been very insightful and helpful !

    I would like to seek help in understanding my possibilities of being scheduled for DV2021 interview. I had submitted by DS 260 online in October, 2020, and mailed my additional documents on 1st week of November, 2020 to KCC. I have a case number 2021AS000074XX. I just received a mail confirming Additional Documents received from KCC today (14/07/21).

    Do you see my possibility to be scheduled for the visa interview ?

    1. Hi Ravi:

      Thank you for being one of our regular readers.

      We can not say that you will be scheduled for interview. The letter you just received is not a guarantee. It is however an indication that you are one of those ‘ready’ to be scheduled. Whether you will eventually – or not – actually depends on how lucky you are.

      There are many DV-2021 selectees like you who find themselves ‘set’ for interview. But as I’ve insisted for many months as highlighted in this article https://mydvprogram.com/dv-2021-program-whats-going-on, the fact remains that most of you will eventually not get an interview.

      With that, let’s hope – and pray – that you end up being one of the VERY LUCKY ones.

  5. hello! thanks for being a great source of information to me. I am great full!
    I am a winner of dv 2021 and I had submitted my ds260 form since last year. my case number is 2021AF70***
    I have not received any message from KCC yet and I wish to know if I must wait for their email before submitting my documents or I can go ahead and submit them without the email.
    and please I wish to be clarified on this as well, I entered the ds260 form without including the leading zeros on my case number (I. e 2021AF70*** instead of 2021AF00070***). please can this cause any problem? my mind hasn’t been at peace for a long time

    1. Hi. Sorry for the late response to your question. I have been ‘absent’ for a while so it’s just now I’m finding your questions. Hope my reply will still serve.

      1. Go ahead and submit them without receiving the email. Interviews are starting very late this year, so do not wait. Moreover, you won’t be penalized for doing so.
      2. Relax your mind. It doesn’t cause any problem.

      All the best!

  6. Hello Trodvies,
    I’m quite glad to find your article explaining in detail about the Visa Bulletin. I’m still unclear about the tentative date of interview. I would be thankful if you could explain my case. My case number is 2021AS450 from Nepal. So I guess that makes my rank number as 450. The VB for September 2020 says ” THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANT CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN OCTOBER” is 1050 for Nepal. So does this mean I will receive an email in October and interview will be scheduled for December, Or does it mean I should already have received an email on August for an interview on October?
    Thanks.

    1. Hi Raj, and thanks for stopping by.

      With 1050 as cut-off for Nepal for the month of October, under normal circumstances, you should have received your interview notification letter in August, scheduling you for interview in October. That would have been the case in the absence of COVID-19 and the consequent ban on immigration which is currently in place.

      But you are not the only one affected. Applicants from all over the world who should have received their interview notification letters in August and September HAVEN’T, due to the prevailing situation.

      1. Hi am trying to understand the visa bulletin n the number but I do nt understand it am DQ in March 2022 do you have any idea when will my interview take place 2022 r 2023

        1. In the past, it could be easily predicted when a case like yours would be scheduled. But due to the backlog of DV cases created at KCC as a result of COVID-19, being interviewed when you are supposed to be is no longer guaranteed. So just keep watch and hope for the best.

  7. Hello!
    I’ve read so much on your site and I’m so glad I was able to educate myself on the information you provided. I have a question though and it has to do with the scheduling of interview. My case number is 2021OC000028XX and I’ve seen that it’s most likely to become current in June or July. My question is, let’s say my case number becomes current in June, when will I receive an email for an interview and which month will my interview take place?

    Thanks

    1. Hi Ell:

      Thank you for taking the time to visit our website. You’re always welcome.

      Under normal circumstances, interview takes place during the month the case number becomes current. So, if your case number becomes current in June, it means your interview will normally be conducted in June. And you will normally receive the email and consequently your NL2 two months earlier, in April.

      (That is why the VB announces the case numbers to become current two months ahead. And it’s at that same time – when the case numbers to become current are announced in the VB – that the emails and NL2 are sent out to the applicants concerned). That is what happens under normal circumstances.

      But remember, these are not normal times. If the DV program remains in its current state of uncertainty (which we don’t hope for), then things may play out differently.

  8. Please the months that have current in them like
    africa fy2019 month of August and September means what?, Because my wife’s case numer is 37405 and still yet have not been scheduled for an interview, has it ended or there is still a possibility of been scheduled this year

    1. Hi Beni, and thanks for visiting our website to get some clarity.

      When a region has “current” in a given month, that means for that month, there’s no backlog of cases at KCC for that region. I intend to write an article to explain the entire process in a very simple manner. The “current’ issue will be largely discussed in it.

      Now, concerning your wife’s case, I’m afraid that it might be late. (Read my latest article; it deals with that issue). However, there may still be VERY LITTLE hope. I’m saying this because as I write this response, the September Visa Bulletin which should officially announce the beginning of interviews for DV-2020 has not yet been released (and it’s overdue).

      I do not know if the delay is meant to consider a number of DV-2019 cases, since this year is believed to be under-issued. But even that will be a miracle.

      So the answer to your question rests with the publication of the September VB. If it begins with the cut-off numbers for DV-2020, then there’s no hope for your wife. But if, on the other hand, it somehow refers to DV-2019 (which I insist is unheard of), then she may still be in. Only the Sept VB will provide a definite answer.

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