Every month the USCIS, in coordination with the Department of State, issues the Visa Bulletin. It indicates which green card applications can move forward based on when the petition was filed. It lets you estimate how long it will take to get your green card. Once your petition has been filed, you’ll be able to check the Visa Bulletin and watch your place in line.
Most recently, the U.S. government announced the Visa Bulletin for April 2023. The most recent bulletin sustained the EB-1 retrogression for India and China-born applicants introduced in the January 2023 bulletin. The Final Action Dates in 2nd category for most of the countries retrogressed to July 2022. Additionally, beginning with the April 2023 Visa Bulletin, USCIS bulletins will no longer contain a separate column for applicants chargeable to El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras in the employment-based preference “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing” charts.
We explain below everything you need to know about this critical monthly update for employment-based immigration applicants.
A) DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS
This chart indicates when the 2nd stage of your Green Card process (Adjustment of Status or NVC) can be submitted.
The Final Action Dates Chart remained the same as in January 2023.
- EB-2 remained the same as March 2023:
- China remained on July 8, 2019
- India stayed on May 1, 2012
- All other countries of chargeability: December 1, 2022
- EB-1 category also sees no change from last month’s visa bulletin:
- All Chargeability Areas are Current, which means that you can file and get approved with I-485 right away.
The date for filing for China and India is June 1, 2022. This means that India and China-born applicants can file I-485 if their priority date of the client is on or before June 1, 2022.
B) FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
This chart shows which priority dates have reached the front of the line. The green card applications are ready for approval right now.
Final action dates show no changes in 2nd preference and sustained retrogression for India and China in 1st preference introduced last month:
- EB-2 retrogressed for India and all other countries and remained the same for China:
- India: January 1, 2011
- China: June 8, 2019
- All other countries of chargeability: July 1, 2022
- EB-1: remained the same as last month:
- India: February 1, 2022
- China: February 1, 2022
All other countries of chargeability: remains Current
To learn more about your immigration options, don’t hesitate to contact us.
