December 2022 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 Retrogresses / EB-1 Expected to Retrogress

                                         

In December's Visa Bulletin, there is no movement with family-based visas, and F2A remains current for all countries. Hence, green card holders can continue to petition for their spouses and minor children for adjustment of status.   

The following are the highlights for Employment Final Action Dates:

• EB-2 India retrogresses by 176 days to 10/08/2011.
• EB-2 for all countries (except India and China) will have a cut-off date of 11/01/2022.  
• Due to increased visa usage, EB-1 for India and China are expected to retrogress in FY2023. 
• EB-3 advances for both India and China. 
• The State Department estimated 197,000 employment-based visa numbers for FY-2023, after capturing approximately 57,000 unused family-based visa numbers from FY 2022. 

Please see the following movements for EB-2 and EB-3 India/China:

Employment-Based (Filing Dates)
EB2 China: No movement

EB2 India: No movement
EB3 China: Advances 78 days to 09/01/2018
EB3 Other workers India: Advances 31 days to 08/01/2012

Employment-Based (Final Action Dates)
EB2 China: No movement

EB2 India: Retrogresses 176 days to 10/08/2011
EB3 China: Advances 47 days to 06/08/2019
EB3 Other workers China: Advances 203 days to 06/22/2013
EB3 Other workers India: advances 75 days to 06/15/2012

 

 AD: Dates for Final Action (Green Card Approval)      FD: Dates for Filing Applications Only

Family		Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	AD	12/01/2014	12/01/2014	12/01/2014	11/15/2000	03/01/2012
	FD	08/08/2016	08/08/2016	08/08/2016	12/01/2002	04/22/2015
F2A	AD	C	C	C	C	C
	FD	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	AD	09/22/2015	09/22/2015	09/22/2015	06/01/2001	10/22/2011
	FD	01/01/2017	01/01/2017	01/01/2017	01/01/2002	10/01/2013
F3	AD	11/22/2008	11/22/2008	11/22/2008	11/01/1997	06/08/2002
	FD	11/08/2009	11/08/2009	11/08/2009	06/15/2001	11/08/2003
F4	AD	03/22/2007	03/22/2007	09/15/2005	08/01/2000	08/22/2002
	FD	12/15/2007	12/15/2007	02/22/2006	04/01/2001	04/22/2004

1st: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,400 per year).
2A: The 2 “A” preference is for Spouses and Children (under 21 & unmarried) of LPR's.
2B: The 2 “B” Preference is for Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 or older) of LPR's.
3rd: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,400 per year)
4th: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens. (about 65,000 per year)

Employment		Other Countries	China	El Salvador Guatemala Honduras	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB1	AD	C	C	C	C	C	C
	FD	C	C	C	C	C	C
EB2	AD	11/01/2022	06/08/2019	11/01/2022	10/08/2011	11/01/2022	11/01/2022
	FD	12/01/2022	07/08/2019	12/01/2022	05/01/2012	12/01/2022	12/01/2022
EB3	AD	C	08/01/2018	C	06/15/2012	C	C
	FD	C	09/01/2018	C	08/01/2012	C	C
Other Workers	AD	06/01/2020	06/22/2013	06/01/2020	06/15/2012	06/01/2020	06/01/2020
	FD	09/08/2022	11/01/2015	09/08/2022	08/01/2012	09/08/2022	09/08/2022
EB4	AD	06/22/2022	06/22/2022	03/15/2018	06/22/2022	09/15/2020	06/22/2022
	FD	07/22/2022	07/22/2022	04/15/2018	07/22/2022	10/15/2020	07/22/2022
EB5	AD	C	03/22/2015*	C	11/08/2019	C	C
	FD	C	01/01/2016*	C	12/08/2019	C	C

1st: Priority Workers (Extraordinary ability aliens, multinational companies executives/managers, outstanding prof./researchers)
2nd: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability.
3rd: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers (Unskilled.)
4th: “Special Immigrants” (Religious & others)
5th: Employment Creation (Investors)

*China EB-5 visa numbers for rural, high unemployment & infrastructure areas/projects are current.

 

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule a legal consultation.)