Visa Bulletin for March 2023

Visa Bulletin for March 2023

Notes D-G

D.  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.

E.  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.

F.  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.

G.  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."