What is 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 YEAR	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
SEPT	Current; Except Algeria: 45,000 Egypt: 43,200 Morocco: 63,400	Current	Current	Current	Current
AUG	63,500; Except Algeria: 45,000 Egypt: 43,200 Morocco: 63,400	Current	Current	Current	Current
JUL	63,500; Except Algeria: 40,000 Egypt: 43,200 Morocco: 63,000	Current; Except Egypt: 13,000	Current	Current; Except Egypt: 42,000	Current; Except Egypt: 23,400
JUN	63,500; 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
MAY	60,000; 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
APR	50,000; 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
MAR	45,000; 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
FEB	35,000; 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
JAN	20,000; 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
DEC	9,000; Except Algeria: 8,500 Egypt: 3,000 Morocco: 8,500	7,000 ; Except Egypt:  4,700	7,000; Except Egypt:    4,000	12,000	9,800
NOV	5,700; Except Algeria: 5,600 Egypt: 1,700 Morocco: 5,600	5,300 ; Except Egypt:  3,000	5,100; Except Egypt:  3,300	5,600	6,400
OCT	5,700; 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 YEAR	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019

AMERICA, NORTH (BAHAMAS)

AMERICA, SOUTH and the CARIBBEAN

FISCAL YEAR	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
SEPT	3,150	Current	Current	Current	Current
AUG	2,900	Current	Current	Current	Current
JUL	2,900	Current	Current	Current	Current
JUN	2,740	Current	Current	Current	1,150
MAY	2,400	1,300	1,650	1,875	900
APR	2,250	1,300	1,400	1,560	875
MAR	2,100	1,200	1,175	1,300	750
FEB	2,100	1,200	875	1,150	625
JAN	1,200	900	750	1,075	550
DEC	575	625	550	850	475
NOV	500	500	475	600	355
OCT	500	275	350	225	150
FISCAL YEAR	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019

ASIA

FISCAL YEAR	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
SEPT	21,000; Except Iran: 16,000 Nepal: 21,000	Current	Current	Current	Current
AUG	21,000; Except Iran: 14,000 Nepal: 20,500	Current	Current	Current	Current
JUL	21,000; Except Iran: 12,500 Nepal: 19,400	Current; Except Nepal: 6,300	Current	Current; Except Nepal: 13,500	Current; Except Nepal: 6,275
JUN	18,750; 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
MAY	18,750; 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
APR	18,750; 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
MAR	18,750; 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
FEB	15,500; 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
JAN	9,000; 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
DEC	3,300; 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	6,000	2,900
NOV	2,800; 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	3,500	1,600
OCT	2,800; 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 YEAR	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019

EUROPE

FISCAL YEAR	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
SEPT	32,000; Except Russia: 32,000 Uzbkst: 17,000	Current	Current	Current	Current
AUG	32,000; Except Russia: 32,000 Uzbkst: 15,000	Current	Current	Current	Current
JUL	32,000; Except Russia: 32,000 Uzbkst: 15,000	Current	Current	Current	Current
JUN	30,000; Except Russia: 29,350 Uzbkst: 12,500	Current	Current	Current	26,800
MAY	30,000; Except Russia: 29,350 Uzbkst: 10,140	27,000	18,000	30,000	21,900
APR	30,000; Except Russia: 25,750 Uzbkstn: 8,500	27,000	12,000	21,200	18,500
MAR	26,000; Except Russia: 14,660 Uzbkstn: 8,500	13,500	9,400	21,000	13,500
FEB	15,000; Except Russia: 12,000 Uzbkstn: 8,500	13,000	8,200	14,000	10,000
JAN	15,000; Except Russia: 12,000 Uzbkstn: 8,500	10,000	7,500	10,300	8,800
DEC	6,100; Except Russia: 6,000 Uzbkstn: 6,000	7,300	6,000	8,600	6,600
NOV	5,700; Except Russia: 5,600 Uzbkstn: 5,600	5,300	4,800	6,000	4,400
OCT	5,700; Except Russia: 5,600 Uzbkstn: 5,600	2,300	2,500	2,100	2,000
FISCAL YEAR	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019

OCEANIA

FISCAL YEAR	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
SEPT	2,500	Current	Current	Current	Current
AUG	1,650	Current	Current	Current	Current
JUL	1,650	Current	Current	Current	Current
JUN	1,550	Current	Current	Current	1,025
MAY	1,450	1,200	1,400	2,150	900
APR	1,150	1,200	1,100	1,975	725
MAR	1,100	850	900	1,625	550
FEB	1,100	850	725	1,350	450
JAN	650	650	600	1,200	350
DEC	400	450	450	800	290
NOV	375	375	350	400	200
OCT	375	190	250	175	100
FISCAL YEAR	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019

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 .