Visa Bulletin for October 2023
Compared with September 2023: 34 lines moved forward, 0 retrogressed, current for all countries: EB-1, EB-5 Unreserved, EB-5 Rural, EB-5 High Unemployment, EB-5 Infrastructure.
Final action dates
| Family | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Jan 1, 2015 | Jan 1, 2015 | Jan 1, 2015 | Apr 22, 2001 | Mar 1, 2012 |
| F2A | Feb 8, 2019+13.2 mo | Feb 8, 2019+13.2 mo | Feb 8, 2019+13.2 mo | Feb 1, 2019+29.0 mo | Feb 8, 2019+13.2 mo |
| F2B | Sep 22, 2015 | Sep 22, 2015 | Sep 22, 2015 | Jan 1, 2002+5.0 mo | Oct 22, 2011 |
| F3 | Jan 8, 2009 | Jan 8, 2009 | Jan 8, 2009 | Mar 8, 1998+52 d | Jun 8, 2002 |
| F4 | Apr 22, 2007 | Apr 22, 2007 | Oct 8, 2005+23 d | Aug 1, 2000 | Aug 22, 2002 |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current+2.0 mo | Feb 15, 2022+14 d | Jan 1, 2017+60.0 mo | Current+2.0 mo | Current+2.0 mo |
| EB-2 | Jul 8, 2022+7 d | Oct 1, 2019+2.8 mo | Jan 1, 2012+12.0 mo | Jul 8, 2022+7 d | Jul 8, 2022+7 d |
| EB-3 | Dec 1, 2021+19.0 mo | Jan 1, 2020+4.0 mo | May 1, 2012+39.9 mo | Dec 1, 2021+19.0 mo | Dec 1, 2021+19.0 mo |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Aug 1, 2020+3.0 mo | Jan 1, 2016+4.0 mo | May 1, 2012+39.9 mo | Aug 1, 2020+3.0 mo | May 1, 2020 |
| EB-4 | Jan 1, 2019+4.0 mo | Jan 1, 2019+4.0 mo | Jan 1, 2019+4.0 mo | Jan 1, 2019+4.0 mo | Jan 1, 2019+4.0 mo |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | Oct 1, 2015+23 d | Dec 15, 2018+20.5 mo | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Rural | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 High Unemployment | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Infrastructure | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
Dates for filing
| Family | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Sep 1, 2017 | Sep 1, 2017 | Sep 1, 2017 | Apr 1, 2005 | Apr 22, 2015 |
| F2A | Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 1, 2023 |
| F2B | Jan 1, 2017 | Jan 1, 2017 | Jan 1, 2017 | Aug 1, 2004 | Oct 1, 2013 |
| F3 | Mar 1, 2010 | Mar 1, 2010 | Mar 1, 2010 | Jun 15, 2001 | Nov 8, 2003 |
| F4 | Mar 1, 2008 | Mar 1, 2008 | Feb 22, 2006 | Apr 15, 2001 | Apr 22, 2004 |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Aug 1, 2022+2.0 mo | Jul 1, 2019−35.0 mo | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Jan 1, 2023+31 d | Jan 1, 2020+2.8 mo | May 15, 2012+14 d | Jan 1, 2023+31 d | Jan 1, 2023+31 d |
| EB-3 | Feb 1, 2023−2.9 mo | Sep 1, 2020+10.0 mo | Aug 1, 2012 | Feb 1, 2023−2.9 mo | Jan 1, 2023−3.9 mo |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Dec 15, 2020+6.5 mo | Jun 1, 2017+17.0 mo | Aug 1, 2012 | Dec 15, 2020+6.5 mo | May 15, 2020−17 d |
| EB-4 | Mar 1, 2019+5.0 mo | Mar 1, 2019+5.0 mo | Mar 1, 2019+5.0 mo | Mar 1, 2019+5.0 mo | Mar 1, 2019+5.0 mo |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Mar 1, 2019+5.0 mo | Mar 1, 2019+5.0 mo | Mar 1, 2019+5.0 mo | Mar 1, 2019+5.0 mo | Mar 1, 2019+5.0 mo |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | Jan 1, 2017+12.0 mo | Apr 1, 2022+27.8 mo | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Rural | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 High Unemployment | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Infrastructure | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
What moved
Moved forward 34
- EB-1India+60.0 moJan 1, 2017
- EB-3India+39.9 moMay 1, 2012
- EB-3 Other WorkersIndia+39.9 moMay 1, 2012
- F2AMexico+29.0 moFeb 1, 2019
- EB-5 UnreservedIndia+20.5 moDec 15, 2018
- EB-3All countries+19.0 moDec 1, 2021
- EB-3Mexico+19.0 moDec 1, 2021
- EB-3Philippines+19.0 moDec 1, 2021
Show all 34
- F2AAll countries+13.2 moFeb 8, 2019
- F2AChina+13.2 moFeb 8, 2019
- F2AIndia+13.2 moFeb 8, 2019
- F2APhilippines+13.2 moFeb 8, 2019
- EB-2India+12.0 moJan 1, 2012
- F2BMexico+5.0 moJan 1, 2002
- EB-3China+4.0 moJan 1, 2020
- EB-3 Other WorkersChina+4.0 moJan 1, 2016
- EB-4All countries+4.0 moJan 1, 2019
- EB-4China+4.0 moJan 1, 2019
- EB-4India+4.0 moJan 1, 2019
- EB-4Mexico+4.0 moJan 1, 2019
- EB-4Philippines+4.0 moJan 1, 2019
- EB-3 Other WorkersAll countries+3.0 moAug 1, 2020
- EB-3 Other WorkersMexico+3.0 moAug 1, 2020
- EB-2China+2.8 moOct 1, 2019
- EB-1All countries+2.0 moCurrent
- EB-1Mexico+2.0 moCurrent
- EB-1Philippines+2.0 moCurrent
- F3Mexico+52 dMar 8, 1998
- F4India+23 dOct 8, 2005
- EB-5 UnreservedChina+23 dOct 1, 2015
- EB-1China+14 dFeb 15, 2022
- EB-2All countries+7 dJul 8, 2022
- EB-2Mexico+7 dJul 8, 2022
- EB-2Philippines+7 dJul 8, 2022
What the State Department said
Scheduled expiration of the employment fourth preference (SR) religious workers categoryThe Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, enacted on December 29, 2022, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until September 30, 2023. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight September 29, 2023. Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until September 29, 2023, 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, 2023.
The SR category is listed as “Unavailable” for all countries for October. In the event there is legislative action extending the category, it is likely it will become available effective immediately. If extended, the category will be subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.
Employment-based visa availability for FY-2024Final action dates across most employment-based visa categories have advanced, reflecting new visa numbers available for FY-2024. Date advancements reflect an intention to keep visa issuance within quarterly limits in accordance with INA sections 201(a)(2) and 203(g), with potential date advancements throughout the fiscal year. However, actual date movements will be dependent on visa demand and issuance patterns throughout FY-2024.
Released Sep 8, 2023. Official text: travel.state.gov.
Archive
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.