Bad news for those who are waiting their turn to obtain visas through the family sponsorship preference category.
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has significantly pushed back the priority dates, as indicated in the visa bulletin of January 2011.
This means that starting in January, in many cases, they will have to wait up to 2 more years to obtain a visa number. In January 2011 the DOS will be processing family visa petitions with the following priority dates:
| Family (preferences) | Others countries | DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | MEXICO |
| 1st (unmarried children of citizens) | 01JAN05 | 01JAN05 | 08JAN93 |
| 2A (spouses and children of permanent residents) | 01JAN08 | 01JAN08 | 01APR05 |
| 2B (unmarried children of permanent residents, 21 years of age or older) | 15APR03 | 01MAR02 | 22JUN92 |
| 3rd (children of citizens) | 01JAN01 | 01JAN01 | 22OCT92 |
| 4th (siblings of citizens) | 01JAN02 | 01JAN02 | 22DEC95 |
Compare with the priority dates that were being processed in December 2010:
| Family (preferences) | Others countries | DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | MEXICO |
| 1st | 15FEB06 | 01JUN04 | 01JAN93 |
| 2A | 01AUG10 | 01AUG10 | 01MAR10 |
| 2B | 01JUN05 | 01JAN02 | 22JUN92 |
| 3rd | 01JUN02 | 01JUN02 | 22OCT92 |
| 4th | 01JAN02 | 01JAN02 | 22DEC95 |
The decline is most noticeable in the second preference, where the priority dates go back 2 years.
The DOS explains that a low demand for visa numbers in the family-sponsored preference categories from early 2009 through September 2010 caused the preference deadlines for most of the family categories to move quickly. But the situation took a turn in recent months, due to a sharp increase in visa applications. To such an extent that the over demand forced the DOS to push back the priority dates for available visas.
According to the DOS, further retrogression within the family sponsorship preference categories is possible if demand for these visas continues to increase.
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