Call us today for a consultation (206) 292-5237

June 2023 Visa Bulletin

The June 2023 Visa Bulletin was released. There was little movement in this month’s Visa Bulletin.

Commentary:

June 2023

Final Action Dates Update

For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F1 category remains at December 15 2014; F2A category priority date remains at September 08 2020, F2B remains at September 22 2015, F4 category remains April 08 2007; EB1 remains current; EB2 remains at February 15 2022; and EB3 remains at June 01 2022. 

For India only: F2A category remains current, F2B remains at January 01 2017, F4 remains at February 22 2006; EB1 remains at February 01 2022; EB2 remains at January 01 2011; EB3 remains at June 15 2012; All EB5 visas are current except for Unreserved which has regressed 426 days to April 01 2017.

For China only: EB1 remains February 01 2022; EB2 remains at June 08 2019; EB3 remains at April 01 2019; All EB5 visas are current except for the Unreserved (I5 and R5) which remains at September 08 2015.

Vietnam is not individually listed and should use all countries category.

Can file your immigrant applications if PD before: 

F2A Current; F2B remains at January 01 2017 for All Areas, China, and India except Mexico remains at January 01 2002 and Philippines remains at October 01 2013 ; F4 remains at February 01 2008 for All Areas, except India remains at February 22 2006, Mexico remains at April 01 2001, and Philippines remains April 22 2004.

EB1 PDs are Current for all countries, Mexico, and Philippines except for China and India which have PDs of June 01 2022; EB2 PDs remain at December 01 2022 for all countries, Mexico, and Philippines except for India whose PD remains at May 01 2012 and China whose PD remains at remain at July 08 2019; EB3 PDs remain at May 01 2023 for all countries, Mexico, and Philippines except for India whose PD remains at August 01 2012 and China whose PD remains at June 01 2019; EB2 India remains at May 01 2012; EB3 India remains at August 01 2012; EB2 China remains at July 08 2019; EB3 China remains at June 01 2019; EB5 China (C5, T5, I5, R5) remains at January 01 2016All other EB5 China remain Current; Vietnam is not individually listed and should use the all countries category.

Additional Notes copied from USCIS:

B.  DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE

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. 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.  This will result in reduction of the DV-2023 annual limit to approximately 54,850. DV visas are divided among six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year.

For June, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2023 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:

Region All DV Chargeability Areas Except
Those Listed Separately
AFRICA 63,500 Except:  Algeria     35,900
Egypt         30,000
Morocco   55,000
ASIA 18,750 Except:  Iran     10,000
Nepal  17,775
EUROPE 30,000 Except:  Russia        29,350
Uzbekistan  12,500
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) 15
OCEANIA 1,550
SOUTH AMERICA,
and the CARIBBEAN
2,740

Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2023 program ends as of September 30, 2023. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2023 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2023 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2023. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2023 cannot be taken for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30.

C.  THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANT CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN JULY

For July, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2023 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:

Region All DV Chargeability Areas Except
Those Listed Separately
AFRICA 63,500 Except: Algeria     40,000
Egypt       43,200
Morocco  63,000
ASIA 21,000 Except:  Iran       12,500
Nepal   19,400
EUROPE 32,000 Except:  Russia        32,000
Uzbekistan   15,000
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) Current
OCEANIA 1,650
SOUTH AMERICA,
and the CARIBBEAN
2,900

D.  FAMILY-SPONSORED SECOND PREFERENCE AVAILABILITY

In the April 2023 Visa Bulletin, it was necessary to establish a final action date in the F2A category.  Number use has continued to remain steady, and it may become necessary to retrogress the final action date to keep number use within the FY-2023 annual limit.

Additionally, number use in the F2B category has been steady throughout the fiscal year, and it may become necessary to retrogress the final action dates for Rest of World countries, India, and China to keep number use within the FY-2023 annual limit.  These situations will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

E.  VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED THIRD PREFERENCE (EB-3) FOR INDIA

Steady number use and high demand in the EB-3 category for India will most likely necessitate retrogression of the EB-3 final action date for India as early as next month to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2023 annual limit. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

F.  RETROGRESSION IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIFTH PREFERENCE (EB-5) FOR INDIA

As readers were informed was possible in Item F of the May 2023 Visa Bulletin, it has become necessary to retrogress the EB-5 final action date for India effective in June. India’s number use in the family and employment preference categories for FY-2023 is subject to prorating under INA 202(e). Number use has been consistently robust throughout the fiscal year in the family and employment preference categories, and it has been determined that India is approaching its prorated limit for EB-5 numbers. Thus, applicants from India are subject to a final action date of 01APR17. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

G.  FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV

 

Department of State Publication 9514

CA/VO: May 4, 2023″