Visa Bulletin for February 2023

What the State Department said

Family-sponsored second preference visa availability

Number use in the F2A category has remained steady throughout FY-2023 and it may be necessary to establish an F2A final action date as early as March to keep number use within the annual limit. This situation is being continually monitored and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

Retrogression in the worldwide final action and application filing dates in the employment third preference “other workers” (ew) category

Higher than expected number use in the Employment Third Preference “Other Workers” (EW) category, most notably amongst applicants with earlier priority dates, has necessitated further retrogressions in the worldwide final action date and application filing date for February to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the Fiscal Year 2023 annual limit. Except for China and India, all countries are subject to a final action date of 01JAN20 and an application filing date of 01FEB20. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

Extension of employment fourth preference certain religious workers (SR) category

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, enacted on December 29, 2022, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until September 30, 2023. As indicated in item E of the January 2023 Visa Bulletin, the extension resulted in this category immediately becoming available, subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.