Visa Bulletin for January 2023

What the State Department said

Visa availability in the employment first category for China and India

As readers were warned may happen in Item E of the December 2022 Visa Bulletin, it has become necessary to establish Employment First Preference final action and application filing dates for China and India, effective in January, to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2023 annual limit. Applicants from China and India are subject to a final action date of 01FEB22 and an application filing date of 01JUN22. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

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

The continuing resolution signed on December 16, 2022 extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until December 23, 2022. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight December 22, 2022. Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until December 22, 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 22, 2022.

The final action date for this category has been listed as “Unavailable” for January.

If there is legislative action extending this category, it would immediately become available, subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.