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. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2023 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2023. Procedures for determining dates. 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.) The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2023 program ends as of September 30, 2023. The C listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicants priority date. 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. When USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for the fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, USCIS will state on its website that applicants may instead use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications charts in this Bulletin. Refresh . 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. 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.) 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. 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. 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. Enjoy the benefits of tracking, analyzing, estimating and discussing your immigration matters. E. DETERMINATION OF THE NUMERICAL LIMITS ON IMMIGRANTS REQUIRED UNDER THETERMS OF THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT (INA). If a category is designated current, all applicants in the relevant category may file applications, regardless of priority date. "In the October 2022 Visa Bulletin, a final action date and application filing date were established in the Employment Fifth Preference Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, and R5) category for India to keep number use within the maximum allowed under the FY2023 annual limit. 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. B. As a result, most employment-based preference category limits and/or the overall employment-based preference limit forFY 2022 are expected to be reached during September. This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during Septemberfor: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications, indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center. *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 chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. This will result in reduction of the DV-2023 annual limit to approximately 54,850. Without this information, it is impossible to make an official determination of the annual limits. The dependent area annual limit is 2%, or 10,150. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. Heavy China-mainland born and India demand along with lower visa number availability for FY-2023 as compared to FY-2021 and FY-2022 has made these corrective actions necessary to keep number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2023 annual limits. If not all demand could be satisfied, the category or foreign state in which demand was excessive was deemed oversubscribed. 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. It marked the beginning of the government's 2023 fiscal year, and a retrogression in India's EB2 category of over 2 years and 8 months was simply not expected, even by experts in the field. 4. Open App in new Window > Visit the My Green Card Estimate App here. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2022 program ends as of September 30, 2022. 27 Aug 2021 The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently held its monthly YouTube program with Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division. H.ESTABLISHMENT OF EMPLOYMENT FOURTH CATEGORY FINAL ACTION AND APPLICATION FILING DATES FOR DECEMBER. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly. FINAL ACTION DATES FORFAMILY-SPONSOREDPREFERENCE CASES, On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); "C" means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and "U" means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. Procedures for determining dates. 3. October 2022 Visa Bulletin Predictions. *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 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. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES. Please see below for more details or click here to view in PDF format. *NOTE: For September, F2A numbersEXEMPT from per-country limitare authorized for issuance to applicants from all countries with priority datesearlierthan 22APR19. DV visas are divided among six geographic regions. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of February 17, 2022, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight February 17, 2022. 2. 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., 25,620. FINAL ACTION DATES FORFAMILY-SPONSOREDPREFERENCE CASES, On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); "C" means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and "U" means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. 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. B. 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. Preliminary consolidated number use by State and USCIS for all of FY-2022 shows there were approximately 57,000 unused family-sponsored visa numbers. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. The October 2022 Visa Bulletin has been released by the USCIS, with new priority dates listed for the month of October. 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. FINAL ACTION DATES FORFAMILY-SPONSOREDPREFERENCE CASES, On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); "C" means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and "U" means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. The H1B Guy Forecasts: March 2022 Visa Bulletin Predictions. 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.) Procedures for determining dates. Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2022 cannot be taken for granted. It does not include future demand (which can increase or decrease anytime). F.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 Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. 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. November 2022 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from November 1 to November 30 only). Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences. 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. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2022 applicants after that date. 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. (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation. Increased demand in the Employment Second category may necessitate the establishment of a worldwide final action date in the coming months to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the Fiscal Year 2023 annual limit. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320. This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during January for: "Final Action Dates" and "Dates for Filing Applications," indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center. Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until September 29, 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 September 29, 2022. As readers were warned may happen in Item G of the October 2022 Visa Bulletin, high demand in the Employment Fourth category has necessitated the establishment of a worldwide final action date and application filing date for December to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2023 annual limit. As a result, heavy applicant demand has materialized and coupled with significantly lower visa number availability for India E2 for FY-2023 as compared to FY-2022, corrective action was required to keep number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2023 annual limits. 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. 3. A. 5. 6833, enacted on September 30, 2022, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until December 16, 2022. 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. 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. 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. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. C.THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANTCATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFSWHICH WILL APPLY IN FEBRUARY. E.RETROGRESSION OF CHINA-MAINLAND BORN FINAL ACTION DATE AND IMPOSITION OF INDIAFINAL ACTION DATE IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIFTH PREFERENCE UNRESERVED CATEGORIES(INCLUDING C5, T5, I5, AND R5). 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. 1. Reset Update Tracker Graph Results New Immigrants Insurance Get Quotes New Immigrants Insurance Overview Read Article Visitors Insurance Get Quotes No Results Found Legend (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation. November 2022 Visa Bulletin Predictions. 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: D.SCHEDULED EXPIRATION OF EMPLOYMENT FOURTH PREFERENCE (SR) RELIGIOUS WORKERSCATEGORY. Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences. "Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASEDVISAAPPLICATIONS. Get Your Timeline or Message Us Immigration Planner: Results in Minutes not Months FAQ 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. "Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications.