Please see below for more details or click here to view in PDF format. Dates For Filing Applications "Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. The C listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicants priority date. Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year. Employment-based visas In 2021 there are approximately 262,000 employment-based visas. this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. "Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. This will result in reduction of the DV-2022 annual limit to approximately 54,850. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa demand exceeds the per-country limit. ), B. H. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV, Department of State Publication 9514 The SR category is listed as current for all countries for January except El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, which are subject to a March 15, 2019 final action date, and Mexico, which is subject to an April 1, 2020 final action date. Rapid forward movements of the India E2 final action and application filing dates during FY-2022 were made to maximize number use under the unprecedented high employment limit of 281,507. Open App in new Window > Visit the My Green Card Estimate App here. If there is legislative action extending this category for January, the final action dates would immediately become Current for January for all countries except China-mainland born I5 and R5, which would be subject to a November 22, 2015 final action date. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES. Procedures for determining dates. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year. Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbersBELOWthe specified allocation cut-off number: Except: Iran 4,000 DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2023 cannot be taken for granted. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES. Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences. Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 5.A.) Section 203(b) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Employment-based immigrant visas as follows: First: Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences. Under INA Section 202(a), the per-country limit is fixed at 7% of the family and employment annual limits. Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences. For Fiscal Year 2022 this reduction will be limited to approximately 150. For Fiscal Year 2022 this reduction will be limited to approximately 150. Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences. this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. J. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30. B. Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, enacted on March 15, 2022, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until September 30, 2022. 6833, enacted on September 30, 2022, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until December 16, 2022. If it becomes necessary during the monthly allocation process to retrogress a final action date, supplemental requests for numbers will be honored only if the priority date falls within the new final action date announced in this bulletin. Fourth: Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level. Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until December 15, 2022, and all individuals seeking admission in the non-minister special immigrant category must be admitted (repeat admitted) into the United States no later than midnight December 15, 2022. We provide regular monthly updates on the most recent visa bulletin, analyze the date movements, and predict upcoming months to help answer these questions. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. *Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category: Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. If a category is designated current, all applicants in the relevant category may file applications, regardless of priority date. Readers were advised in item G of the June 2022 Visa Bulletin that due to steady number use in the F2A category, a final action date might need to be established as early as August. ForSeptember, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2022 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. However, higher than expected levels of demand in the Employment First and Employment Second categories has materialized this year, and as a result, fewer additional numbers will be available to India in the Employment Second category than originally estimated when the October and November final action and application filing dates were established. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2023 cannot be taken for granted. You can leave the options as default. The C listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicants priority date. If a category is designated current, all applicants in the relevant category may file, regardless of priority date. Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 4.A.) The key of our short-term prediction is that there will be no 'forward movement' for F4-All Countries until at least the summer of 2022, and most likely no movement until the end of fiscal year 2022 in September 2022. The Department of State has determined the Family and Employment preference numerical limits for FY-2022 in accordance with the terms of Section 201 of the INA. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website atwww.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo,individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with USCIS in the Department of Homeland Security must use the Final Action Dates charts below for determining when they can file such applications. Your priority date should be before this date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2023 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2023. Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference. Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 4.A.) B.DIVERSITYIMMIGRANT(DV)CATEGORY FOR THE MONTHOF JANUARY. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2023 cannot be taken for granted. INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. This will result in reduction of the DV-2023 annual limit to approximately 54,850. The situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments made accordingly. The fiscal year 2022 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants determined in accordance with Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is 226,000. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of States National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. *Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category: Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. To avoid delays in processing while waiting for the USCIS data, the Visa Office (VO) bases allocations on reasonable estimates of the anticipated amount of visa numbers to be available under the annual limits, in accordance with Section 203(g) of the INA. A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. If a category is designated current, all applicants in the relevant category may file, regardless of priority date. There has been a steady increase in both USCIS and Department of State demand patterns for employment-based visas during the fiscal year. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart below may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of States National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. 2. Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 5.A.) (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASEDVISAAPPLICATIONS. 2. Visa Bulletin Application Final Action Dates March 2023 Shown below are the visa bulletin cutoff dates for the last 12 months from today. B. Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, plus any unused first preference numbers: A. this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. Section 203(a) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Family-sponsored immigrant visas as follows: First:(F1)Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. *Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category: Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. The final action date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who could not be reached within the numerical limits. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application. SCHEDULED EXPIRATION OF EMPLOYMENT FOURTH PREFERENCE CERTAIN RELIGIOUS WORKERS (SR) CATEGORY. A. 2. The SR category is subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability. Allocations in the charts below were made, to the extent possible, in chronological order of reported priority dates, for demand received by August3rd. L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. Unless otherwise indicated on the U.S. January 2022 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from January 1 to January 31 only). Consular officers are required to report to the Department of State documentarily qualified applicants for numerically limited visas; USCIS reports applicants for adjustment of status. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. 3. If there is legislative action extending the category, it will become available effective immediately and will be subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability. As a result, the estimated employment-based annual limit will be 197,000 for FY-2023. C.THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANTCATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFSWHICH WILL APPLY IN NOVEMBER. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated current, all applicants in the relevant category may file applications, regardless of priority date. In the November 2022 Visa Bulletin, there were no changes seen to the priority dates for both India EB2 and EB3. Fifth:Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, of which 32% are reserved as follows: 20% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in a rural area; 10% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in a high unemployment area; and 2% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in infrastructure projects. CA/VO:August 3, 2022. The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly. A. The State Department is required to make the determination of the worldwide numerical limitations, as outlined in Section 201(c) and (d) of the INA, on an annual basis. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. August 2023 Visa Bulletin Predictions. Talk to thousands of members on our discussion forums. India EB2. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. In addition, sufficient India demand has materialized in the Employment-Based Fifth Preference unreserved categories to require the imposition of a final action date for October. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSOREDVISA APPLICATIONS. 5. H.R. The C listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicants priority date. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. This month, we'll go over the March 2023 visa bulletin. USCIS Visa Bulletin for India, China employment, family - EB2 to EB3 downgrade decisions. The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Based on litigation filed to prevent green . Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to "*Other Workers". For all family-sponsored preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for February 2023. Back to Green Card Discussion Forum (I-140) Ask a Lawyer. Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference. Please see September 2022 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based categories for all countries): Family Based: Final Action Dates Dates For Filing Applications "Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES. Allocations in the charts below were made, to the extent possible, in chronological order of reported priority dates, for demand received by November 10th. 3. B.DIVERSITYIMMIGRANT(DV)CATEGORY FOR THE MONTHOF NOVEMBER. 4. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320. If at any time an annual limit were reached, it would be necessary to immediately make the preference category unavailable, and no further requests for numbers would be honored. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year. During the program, Mr. Oppenheim provided updated predictions for fiscal year 2022 (FY22), which begins on October 1, 2021. If at any time an annual limit were reached, it would be necessary to immediately make the preference category unavailable, and no further requests for numbers would be honored. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa demand exceeds the per-country limit. Preliminary consolidated number use by State and USCIS for all of FY-2022 shows there were approximately 57,000 unused family-sponsored visa numbers. Division O, Title 1, Section 104 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 extended the immigrant investor pilot program until June 30, 2021. Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASEDVISAAPPLICATIONS. Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 35,525 for FY-2022.