Visa Bulletin For September 2023

Number 81
Volume X
Washington, D.C

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A. STATUTORY NUMBERS FOR PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT VISAS

This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during September for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.

Unless otherwise indicated on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo, individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with USCIS must use the “Final Action Dates” charts below for determining when they can file such applications. When USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for the fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, USCIS will state on its website that applicants may instead use the “Dates for Filing Visa Applications” charts in this Bulletin. 

1.  Procedures for determining dates. Consular officers are required to report to the Department of State documentarily qualified applicants for numerically limited visas; USCIS reports applicants for adjustment of status. Allocations in the charts below were made, to the extent possible, in chronological order of reported priority dates, for demand received by August 4th. If not all demand could be satisfied, the category or foreign state in which demand was excessive was deemed oversubscribed. The final action date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who could not be reached within the numerical limits. If it becomes necessary during the monthly allocation process to retrogress a final action date, supplemental requests for numbers will be honored only if the priority date falls within the new final action date announced in this bulletin. If at any time an annual limit were reached, it would be necessary to immediately make the preference category “unavailable”, and no further requests for numbers would be honored.

2.  The fiscal year 2023 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants determined in accordance with Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is 226,000.  The fiscal year 2023 limit for employment-based preference immigrants calculated under INA 201 is 197,091.  Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 29,616 for FY-2023.  The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 8,462.

3.  INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa demand exceeds the per-country limit. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas:  CHINA-mainland born, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES. 

4.  Section 203(a) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Family-sponsored immigrant visas as follows: 

FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES

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:

A. (F2A) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents:  77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;

B. (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.

A.  FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES

On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); "C" means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and "U" means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.)

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability 
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-mainland 
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 01JAN15
01JAN15 01JAN15 22APR01 01MAR12
F2A 01JAN18 01JAN18 01JAN18 01SEP16 01JAN18
F2B 22SEP15 22SEP15 22SEP15 01AUG01 22OCT11
F3 08JAN09 08JAN09 08JAN09 15JAN98 08JUN02
F4 22APR07 22APR07 15SEP05 01AUG00 22AUG02

22MAR05
22MAR05
22DEC10
01FEB16
01FEB16

For September, F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 01SEP16. F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO, with priority dates beginning 01SEP16 and earlier than 01JAN18. All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit.

B.  DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS

The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart below may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file applications, regardless of priority date.

The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.

Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 4.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. 

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability 
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland 
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 01SEP17 01SEP17 01SEP17 01APR05 22APR15
F2A 01SEP23 01SEP23 01SEP23 01SEP23 01SEP23
F2B 01JAN17 01JAN17 01JAN17 01AUG04 01OCT13
F3 01MAR10 01MAR10 01MAR10 15JUN01 08NOV03
F4 01MAR08 01MAR08 22FEB06 15APR01 22APR04

5.  Section 203(b) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Employment-based immigrant visas as follows: 

EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES

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.

A.  FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); "C" means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and "U" means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.)

Employment-
based
All Chargeability 
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland 
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES
1st 01AUG23 01FEB22 01JAN12 01AUG23 01AUG23
2nd 01JUL22 08JUL19 01JAN11 01JUL22 01JUL22
3rd 01MAY20 01SEP19 01JAN09 01MAY20 01MAY20
Other Workers 01MAY20 01SEP15 01JAN09 01MAY20 01MAY20
4th 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18
Certain Religious Workers 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18
5th Unreserved
(including C5, T5, I5, R5)
C 08SEP15 01APR17 C C
5th Set Aside:
Rural (20%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
High Unemployment (10%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
Infrastructure (2%)
C C C C C

*Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category: Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. L. 105139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. Since the EW final action date reached November 19, 1997 during Fiscal Year 2001, the reduction in the EW annual limit to 5,000 began in Fiscal Year 2002. For Fiscal Year 2023 this reduction will be limited to approximately 167.

B.  DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS

The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file, regardless of priority date.

The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.

Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 5.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. 

Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland 
born
INDIA MEXICO  PHILIPPINES 
1st C 01JUN22 01JUN22 C C
2nd 01DEC22 08OCT19 01MAY12  01DEC22 01DEC22
3rd 01MAY23 01NOV19 01AUG12 01MAY23 01MAY23
Other Workers 01JUN20 01JAN16 01AUG12 01JUN20 01JUN20
4th 01OCT18 01OCT18 01OCT18 01OCT18 01OCT18
Certain Religious Workers 01OCT18 01OCT18 01OCT18 01OCT18 01OCT18
5th Unreserved
(including C5, T5, I5, R5)
C 01JAN16 08DEC19 C C
5th Set Aside:
(Rural - 20%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
(High Unemployment - 10%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
(Infrastructure - 2%)
C C C C C

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

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 54,833.  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 September, 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 Current Except:  Algeria     45,000
              Egypt        43,200
              Morocco   63,400
ASIA 21,000

Except:  Iran     16,000
              Nepal  21,000

EUROPE 32,000 Except:  Russia         32,000
               Uzbekistan  17,000
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)  Current  
OCEANIA 2,500  
SOUTH AMERICA,
and the CARIBBEAN
3,150  

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 OCTOBER

For October, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2024 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 10,000 Except: Algeria     7,500
              Egypt       5,500
              Morocco  5,600
ASIA 2,000 Except:  Iran       1,750
              Nepal    1,300
EUROPE 4,500 Except:  Russia         4,400
              Uzbekistan   1,250
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)  2  
OCEANIA 225  
SOUTH AMERICA,
and the CARIBBEAN
375  

D.  DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY 2024 (DV-2024) RESULTS

The Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky has registered and notified the selectees who are eligible to participate in the DV-2024 Diversity Visa (DV) program.  Random selection of DV participants was conducted under the terms of section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which makes up to *55,000 permanent resident visas available annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.  Approximately 143,000 prospective applicants (i.e., selectees and their spouses and children) have been registered, can confirm their selection, and may be eligible to make an application for an immigrant visa. Since selection is random and blind to the number of family members who might immigrate with the selectee, and it is likely that some of the selectees will not complete their cases or will be found ineligible for a visa, this larger figure should ensure that all DV-2024 numbers can be used during fiscal year 2024 (FY24: October 1, 2023, until September 30, 2024).

Entrants registered for the DV-2024 program were selected at random from 22,185,619 qualified entries received during the 35-day application period that ran from noon, Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, until noon, Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.  The visas will be apportioned among the six geographic regions to ensure a maximum of seven percent are issued to persons chargeable to any single country.  During the visa interview, principal applicants must provide proof of a high school education or its equivalent, or two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience within the past five years.  Those selected will need to act on their immigrant visa applications quickly.  Applicants should follow the instructions in their notification letter and must fully complete all required steps.

Selectees who are physically present with legal status in the United States may apply to adjust their status by first contacting the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for information on the requirements and procedures.  Once the total *55,000 visa numbers have been used, the program for fiscal year 2024 will end.  Selectees who do not receive visas or status by September 30, 2024, will derive no further benefit from their DV-2024 registration.  Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2024 principal applicants are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2024.

Dates for the DV-2025 program registration period will be widely publicized in the coming months.  Those interested in entering the DV-2025 program should check the Department of State’s Diversity Visa web page in the coming months.

*The Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997 stipulated that up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas be made available for use under the NACARA program.  This will result in reduction of the DV-2024 annual limit to approximately 54,850.  

The following is the statistical breakdown by foreign state of chargeability of those registered for the DV-2024 program: 

AFRICA

ALGERIA  5,142

ERITREA  211

MOZAMBIQUE  7

ANGOLA  582

ESWATINI  2

NAMIBIA  10

BENIN  1,002

ETHIOPIA  3,034

NIGER  93

BOTSWANA  16

GABON  86

RWANDA  1,604

BURKINA FASO 191

GAMBIA, THE  156

SENEGAL  504

BURUNDI  876

GHANA  2,088

SIERRA LEONE  735

CABO VERDE  15

GUINEA  1,362

SOMALIA  2,383

CAMEROON  3,485

GUINEA-BISSAU  21

SOUTH AFRICA  199

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC  30

KENYA  3,760

SOUTH SUDAN  59

CHAD  490

LIBERIA  2,208

SUDAN  5,435

COMOROS  10

LIBYA  257

TANZANIA  348

CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE  2,580

MADAGASCAR  25

TOGO  2,105

CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE  660

MALAWI  42

TUNISIA  221

COTE D’IVOIRE  672

MALI  119

UGANDA  1,515

DJIBOUTI  333

MAURITANIA  274

ZAMBIA  85

EGYPT  5,509

MAURITIUS  4

ZIMBABWE  216

EQUATORIAL GUINEA  19

MOROCCO  4,250

 

 

 

 

ASIA

 

 

AFGHANISTAN  4,536

JORDAN  1,188

SAUDI ARABIA  619

BAHRAIN  8

KUWAIT  162

SINGAPORE  6

BHUTAN  347

LAOS  27

SRI LANKA  2,622

BURMA  1,667

LEBANON  214

SYRIA  692

CAMBODIA  340

MALAYSIA  32

TAIWAN  279

INDONESIA  104

MALDIVES  1

THAILAND  467

IRAN  5,077

MONGOLIA  300

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES  211

IRAQ  1,348

NEPAL  3,863

YEMEN  3,485

ISRAEL  71

OMAN  20

 

JAPAN  200

QATAR  74

 

 

 

 

EUROPE

 

 

ALBANIA  2,667

GREECE  66

NORWAY  9

ANDORRA  2

HUNGARY  102

POLAND  497

ARMENIA  3,869

ICELAND  5

PORTUGAL  39

AUSTRIA  34

IRELAND  18

  Macau  4

AZERBAIJAN  2,046

ITALY  256

ROMANIA  267

BELARUS  2,418

KAZAKHSTAN  2,728

RUSSIA  5,514

BELGIUM  35

KOSOVO  463

SERBIA  186

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA  31

KYRGYZSTAN  4,464

SLOVAKIA  33

BULGARIA  142

LATVIA  97

SLOVENIA  2

CROATIA  30

LITHUANIA  106

SPAIN  137

CYPRUS  25

MALTA  1

SWEDEN  31

CZECH REPUBLIC  46

MOLDOVA  950

SWITZERLAND  30

DENMARK  16

MONACO  1

TAJIKISTAN  3,580

ESTONIA  33

MONTENEGRO  21

TURKEY  3,684

FINLAND  29

NETHERLANDS  39

TURKMENISTAN  1,313

FRANCE  327

  Aruba  1

UKRAINE  4,286

  French Polynesia  1

  Curacao  1

UZBEKISTAN 5,555

  New Caledonia  4

  Sint Maarten  1

 

GEORGIA  3,194 NORTH MACEDONIA  258  
GERMANY  466 NORTHERN IRELAND  1  

 

 

 

NORTH AMERICA

 

 

BAHAMAS, THE  15

 

 

 

 

 

OCEANIA

 

 

AUSTRALIA  795

NAURU  32

SOLOMON ISLANDS  22

  Christmas Island  1

NEW ZEALAND  256

TONGA  246

  Cocos Keeling Islands  3

  Cook Islands  69

TUVALU  11

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA  1 PAPUA NEW GUINEA  15

VANUATU  29

FIJI  2,936

REPUBLIC OF PALAU  4

 
KIRABATI  21 SAMOA  9  

 

 

 

SOUTH AMERICA

 

 

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA  1

CUBA  3,081

PARAGUAY  9

ARGENTINA  127

DOMINICA  6

PERU  742

BARBADOS  4

ECUADOR  814

SAINT LUCIA  3

BELIZE  5

GUATEMALA  146

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES  2

BOLIVIA  85

GUYANA  9

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO  37

CHILE  51

NICARAGUA  117

URUGUAY  7

COSTA RICA  68

PANAMA  17

 

Natives of the following countries were not eligible to participate in DV-2024: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

E.  AVAILABILITY OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISAS DURING SEPTEMBER

Employment-based number use by both USCIS and Department of State has been steady during the fiscal year. As a result, most employment-based preference category limits and/or the overall employment-based preference limit for FY 2023 are expected to be reached during September. If at any time an annual limit were reached, it would be necessary to immediately make the preference category “unavailable”, and no further requests for numbers would be honored. 

F.  DETERMINATION OF THE NUMERICAL LIMITS ON IMMIGRANTS REQUIRED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT (INA)

The State Department is required to make the determination of the worldwide numerical limitations, as outlined in Section 201(c) and (d) of the INA, on an annual basis.  These calculations are based in part on data provided by U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the number of immediate relative adjustments in the preceding year and the number of aliens paroled into the United States under Section 212(d)(5) in the second preceding year.  Without this information, it is impossible to make an official determination of the annual limits.  To avoid delays in processing while waiting for the USCIS data, the Visa Office (VO) bases allocations on reasonable estimates of the anticipated amount of visa numbers to be available under the annual limits, in accordance with Section 203(g) of the INA.  On August 2nd, USCIS provided the required data to the VO.

The Department of State has determined the Family and Employment preference numerical limits for FY-2023 in accordance with the terms of Section 201 of the INA.  These numerical limitations for FY-2023 are as follows:

Worldwide Family-Sponsored preference limit:          226,000
Worldwide Employment-Based preference limit:        197,091

Under INA Section 202(a), the per-country limit is fixed at 7% of the family and employment annual limits.  For FY-2023 the per-country limit is 29,616.  The dependent area annual limit is 2%, or 8,462.

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: August 4, 2023