The U.S. Department of State, on February 09, 2023, released the March 2023 visa bulletin. In the latest visa bulletin, the priority dates have remained the same. There has been a retrogression of the priority dates in the Employment-Based Fourth (EB-4) preference category.

The final action dates and the dates for filing for the Employment-Based First, Second, Third (except other workers), and Fourth preference categories for individuals from India, China, and all around the world remained the same as that of the February 2023 visa bulletin. However, due to the higher-than-expected number use and demand, the priority date for the Employment-Based Second preference category might retrogress in the coming months to hold green card number use within the maximum allowed under the Fiscal Year 2023 annual limit.

Furthermore, the increased demand in the Employment-Based Third (EB-3) Preference category may necessitate establishing a worldwide final action date (including Mexico and the Philippines) in the coming months to hold the number use within the maximum allowed under the Fiscal Year 2023 annual limit. In addition, Further Retrogression of the Employment-Based Fifth (EB-5) Preference category Final Action Date for India is possible in the coming months.

Moreover, as previously stated, most importantly, number use in the F2A category has remained steady throughout FY-2023, and it may be necessary to establish an F2A final action date as early as April to keep number use within the annual limit.

1.      Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases

• C – Means Current.

Please note, there are following Employment Based Green Card Categories:

First:  Priority Workers:  28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.

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.

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".

Fourth:  Certain Special Immigrants:  7.1% of the worldwide level.

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. The remaining 68% are unreserved and are allotted for all other qualified immigrants.

2.      Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications

For all employment-based preference categories, one must use the Dates for Filing Chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for March 2023. (**Per USCIS)

3.     Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases:

For all family-sponsored preference categories, one must use the Dates for Filing Chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for March 2023. (**Per USCIS)

Please note, there are the following Family Based Categories:

First: (F1) Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens:  23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.

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:

1. (F2A) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents:  77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;
2. (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents:  23% of the overall second preference limitation.

Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens:  23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.

Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens:  65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.

4.       Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications:

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