The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. Please see below for more details or click here to view in PDF format. March 2023 Visa Bulletin | Analysis and Prediction | VisaNation 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. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. 1. The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSOREDVISA APPLICATIONS. If a category is designated current, all applicants in the relevant category may file, regardless of priority date. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below. The C listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicants priority date. 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. Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to "*Other Workers". 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. 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. *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. (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation. 4. If it becomes necessary during the monthly allocation process to retrogress a final action date, supplemental requests for numbers will be honored only if the priority date falls within the new final action date announced in this bulletin. * Note: Dates in red indicate that priority went backwards instead of forwards which is known as retrogression. I.VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT FOURTH CATEGORY FOR EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, AND HONDURAS. India EB2. 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. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. Visa Bulletin Login Add another account . Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. *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. INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. For Fiscal Year 2022 this reduction will be limited to approximately 150. 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. USCIS | Visa Bulletin November 2022 Predictions The fiscal year 2022 limit for employment-based preference immigrants calculated under INA 201 is 281,507. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly. United States: October 2021 Visa Bulletin - Most Employment-Based Employment Family . Visa Bulletin For October 2022 - travel.state.gov The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320. India EB2 has been moving slightly each month, so we do expect to see another movement in this category. This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during Novemberfor: 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. January 2022 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from January 1 to January 31 only). A. If this pattern continues, we likely will see no movement in dates for EB2 India, and a slight movement for EB3 India of 1 to 3 months. 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. 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. 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 visa availability through the very end of FY-2023 cannot be taken for granted. Mr. Charlie Oppenheim, the chief of the visa control unit, provided predictions for the end of the fiscal year 2021 and the fiscal year 2022. Except for China and India, all countries are subject to a final action date of 01NOV22 and an application filing date of 01DEC22. Preliminary consolidated number use by State and USCIS for all of FY-2022 shows there were approximately 57,000 unused family-sponsored visa numbers. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year. Let's take a deeper dive into the results of the bulletin and what this means for green card hopefuls. Allocations in the charts below were made, to the extent possible, in chronological order of reported priority dates, for demand received by November 10th. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2023 cannot be taken for granted. There has been a steady increase in both USCIS and Department of State demand patterns for employment-based visas during the fiscal year. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320. Register Now Login Sign Up Login Back to Green Card Discussion Forum (I-140) Ask a Lawyer Show decent postsShow all posts L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2023 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2023. The SR category is subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability. 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.) ForFebruary, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2022 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year. 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 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. November 2022 Visa Bulletin Predictions. If a category is designated current, all applicants in the relevant category may file applications, regardless of priority date. 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 Pursuant to the continuing resolution, the non-minister special immigrant program expires on February 18, 2022. A. Visa Bulletin dates are based on supply and demand. This will result in reduction of the DV-2022 annual limit to approximately 54,850. The situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments made accordingly. High demand in the Employment Fourth 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. 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 L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. Due to heavy applicant demand and significantly lower visa number availability for India E2 for FY-2023, corrective action was taken in October to keep number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2023 annual limits. C.THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANTCATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFSWHICH WILL APPLY IN DECEMBER. 7 eleven store locations; (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation. 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.) 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. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight September 29, 2022. INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. If a category is designated current, all applicants in the relevant category may file applications, regardless of priority date. The remaining 68% are unreserved and are allotted for all other qualified immigrants. 1. L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. For Fiscal Year 2022 this reduction will be limited to approximately 150. 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. Except for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, all countries are subject to a final action date of 22JUN22 and an application filing date of 22JUL22. March 2023 Visa Bulletin Predictions Here are our predictions for the March 2023 visa bulletin: India EB2 will remain the same India EB3 will advance by 1 month Family-based preference categories will begin advancing again, possibly by 1 month for some countries Will India EB2 Receive Spillover Numbers? 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. 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. Get Your Timeline or Message Us Immigration Planner: Results in Minutes not Months FAQ 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. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year. 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. No I5 or R5 visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases after June 30, 2021. 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. When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family - USCIS Visa Bulletin Range * to Categories to Graph Category 1 * Category 2 * Category 3 Category 4 Fields marked as * are required. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2022 program ends as of September 30, 2022. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. 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. The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. 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. Talk to thousands of members on our discussion forums. USCIS Visa Bulletin for India, China employment, family - EB2 to EB3 downgrade decisions. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. 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. 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. Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets an annual minimum family-sponsored preference limit of 226,000. (F2A) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents: 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit; B. Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years. 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. Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years. During the program, Mr. Oppenheim provided updated predictions for fiscal year 2022 (FY22), which begins on October 1, 2021. For October, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2023 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. ), B. Visa Bulletin Predictions For April 2023 - Shusterman Law E.EXTENSION OF EMPLOYMENT FOURTH PREFERENCE CERTAIN RELIGIOUS WORKERS (SR) CATEGORY. com/visa-bulletin/2022/visa . A. Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years. Date of Filing Application - Feb 15, 2012. 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. ForNovember, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2023 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. B.DIVERSITYIMMIGRANT(DV)CATEGORY FOR THE MONTHOF DECEMBER. Due to patterns we have seen in the past, the USCIS typically tries to narrow the gap between India EB2 and EB3 priority dates. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. L. 102-395. 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. Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until December 15, 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 15, 2022. 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. Visa Bulletin February 2023 - Trackitt Allocations in the charts below were made, to the extent possible, in chronological order of reported priority dates, for demand received by August3rd. E.VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT FIRST CATEGORY FOR CHINA AND INDIA.