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Archive · fiscal year 2023

Visa Bulletin for March 2023

Compared with February 2023: 2 lines moved forward, 11 retrogressed, current for all countries: F2A, EB-1, EB-3, EB-5 Unreserved, EB-5 Rural, EB-5 High Unemployment, EB-5 Infrastructure.

Chart A

Final action dates

FamilyAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
F1Dec 1, 2014Dec 1, 2014Dec 1, 2014Apr 1, 2001Mar 1, 2012
F2ACurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
F2BSep 22, 2015Sep 22, 2015Sep 22, 2015Jun 1, 2001Oct 22, 2011
F3Nov 22, 2008Nov 22, 2008Nov 22, 2008Nov 1, 1997Jun 8, 2002
F4Mar 22, 2007Mar 22, 2007Sep 15, 2005Aug 1, 2000Aug 22, 2002
EmploymentAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1CurrentFeb 1, 2022Feb 1, 2022CurrentCurrent
EB-2Nov 1, 2022Jun 8, 2019Oct 8, 2011Nov 1, 2022Nov 1, 2022
EB-3CurrentAug 1, 2018Jun 15, 2012CurrentCurrent
EB-3 Other WorkersJan 1, 2020Jul 1, 2014+6.3 moJun 15, 2012Jan 1, 2020Jan 1, 2020
EB-4Feb 1, 2022−4.6 moFeb 1, 2022−4.6 moMar 1, 2021−15.7 moAug 1, 2020−45 dFeb 1, 2022−4.6 mo
EB-4 Religious WorkersFeb 1, 2022−4.6 moFeb 1, 2022−4.6 moMar 1, 2021−15.7 moAug 1, 2020−45 dFeb 1, 2022−4.6 mo
EB-5 UnreservedCurrentJul 8, 2015+3.5 moJun 1, 2018−17.2 moCurrentCurrent
EB-5 RuralCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5 High UnemploymentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5 InfrastructureCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
Chart B

Dates for filing

FamilyAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
F1Aug 8, 2016Aug 8, 2016Aug 8, 2016Dec 1, 2002Apr 22, 2015
F2ACurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
F2BJan 1, 2017Jan 1, 2017Jan 1, 2017Jan 1, 2002Oct 1, 2013
F3Nov 8, 2009Nov 8, 2009Nov 8, 2009Jun 15, 2001Nov 8, 2003
F4Dec 15, 2007Dec 15, 2007Feb 22, 2006Apr 1, 2001Apr 22, 2004
EmploymentAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1CurrentJun 1, 2022Jun 1, 2022CurrentCurrent
EB-2Dec 1, 2022Jul 8, 2019May 1, 2012Dec 1, 2022Dec 1, 2022
EB-3CurrentSep 1, 2018Aug 1, 2012CurrentCurrent
EB-3 Other WorkersFeb 1, 2020Nov 1, 2015Aug 1, 2012Feb 1, 2020Feb 1, 2020
EB-4Mar 1, 2022−4.7 moMar 1, 2022−4.7 moApr 1, 2021−15.7 moSep 1, 2020−44 dMar 1, 2022−4.7 mo
EB-4 Religious WorkersMar 1, 2022−4.7 moMar 1, 2022−4.7 moApr 1, 2021−15.7 moSep 1, 2020−44 dMar 1, 2022−4.7 mo
EB-5 UnreservedCurrentJan 1, 2016Dec 8, 2019CurrentCurrent
EB-5 RuralCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5 High UnemploymentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5 InfrastructureCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent

What moved

Moved forward 2

Retrogressed 11

What the State Department said

Visa availability in the employment-based second preference category for all countries (including China and India)

Since December 2022, there has been higher than expected number use and demand, mostly due to continued new filings by applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than the established final action dates. This will necessitate corrective action in the coming months to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the Fiscal Year 2023 annual limit. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for March 2023
Visa availability in the employment-based third (EB-3) preference category

Increased demand in the Employment Third category may necessitate the establishment of a worldwide final action date (including Mexico and Philippines) in the coming months to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the Fiscal Year 2023 annual limit. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for March 2023
Further retrogression in employment-based fourth (EB-4) category

In the December 2022 Visa Bulletin, EB-4 final action and application filing dates were established for Rest of World countries, China, India, and Philippines in response to high demand. Number use and demand in this category have continued to increase, which necessitates further retrogression of the final action dates and application filing dates for Rest of World countries as well as China, India, Mexico, and Philippines, to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the Fiscal Year 2023 annual limit. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for March 2023
Retrogression of the employment-based fifth (EB-5) preference category final action date for India

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 FY-2023 annual limit. Number use and demand has been higher than anticipated at the start of this fiscal year, so further retrogression has become necessary. For March, the final action date for the EB-5 Unreserved category for India is set at 01JUN18. The situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments made accordingly.

U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for March 2023
Annual waiting list report of immigrant visa applicants in the family-sponsored and employment-based preferences registered at the national visa center as of november 1, 2022

The National Visa Center has provided the totals of applicants who are registered in the various numerically-limited immigrant categories for processing at overseas posts. This information is available on the Consular Affairs www.travel.state.gov website. The direct link to the item is:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics.html

U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for March 2023

Released Feb 9, 2023. Official text: travel.state.gov.

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Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin (travel.state.gov), every monthly bulletin since 2003, parsed by 77.today. A bulletin can be revised after release; the State Department's page is the binding text. Not legal advice.

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