Program / Formula to Figure out Ceiling
Family Sponsored Immigrants / 480,000– (Number of immediate relatives admitted in the preceding fiscal year) + (Employment-based visas that were available in the preceding year but were not used) / Ceiling Must be at least 226,000
Employment Based Immigrants / 140,000 + (Family-sponsored visast that were available in the preceding year but were not used)
Diversity Immigrants / Annual Ceiling of 55,000
FY 1 / FY 2 / FY 3
Visas Available / Visas Applicants / Unsused Visas / Visas Applicants / Visas Available / Unused Visas / Visas Issued / Visa Applicants / Unused Visas
Immediate Relatives
Family Sponsored
Employment Based

FAMILY SUBCEILING TABLE

Statutory Quota / Unused Visas / Subtract if Used Elsewhere / Qualified Visa Applicants / Visas Issued
Family 1st
Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens / 23,400 + (Unused 4th)
Family 2nd
2A – Spouses & “Children” of LPR’s
2B Over age 21 sons and daughters of LPR’s / 114,200 + (Unused 1st) + (Total Family Sponsored Visas Available [ceiling] - 226,000) / 77% of total goes to 2A
23% of total goes to 2B
Family 3rd
Married Sons and Daughters of LPRs / 23,400 + (Unused 1st) + (Unused 2nd)
Family 4th
Siblings of over age 21 citizens / 65,000 + (Unused 1st) + (Unused 2nd) + (Unused 3rd)

** Start with one in which there is no excess, and then go from there

***Unused are cumulative (i.e. if you borrow from one group, then only the amount not borrowed carries over to the next group)

EMPLOYEE SUBCEILING TABLE

Quota / Applicants / Unused / Subtract if used elsewhere / Issued
1st / 28.6% Total +(Unused 4th) + (Unused 5th)
2nd / 28.6% Total + (Unused 1st)
3rd / 28.6% Total + (Unused 1st) + (Unused 2nd)
4th / 7.1 % Total
5th / 7.1% Total

**First, figure out Total from ceiling from above table

*** Start with 4th because there is no excess to compile

E1 – Treaty Traders

E2 – Investors

H1B – Agricultural Workers

O – Athletes

P – Entertainers

H2A – Agricultural Workers

H2B – Other Temporary Laborers

F1 Full Time Student

M1 Vocational/Nonacademic Study

J1 Exchange Visitors

B1 Business Tourists

B2 Pleasure Tourists

K1 Fiances

T Victims of Trafficking

U Victims of Abuse

V Long Divided Families