US Visa Bulletin for December: Check where your Green Card application stands

The US Department of State has recently issued the December 2023 Visa Bulletin, a crucial document that delineates per-country priority date cutoffs governing immigrant visa availability and the process of adjustment of status applications.
On a monthly basis, the Department of State evaluates the accumulation of applications in different immigrant visa categories, using this information to anticipate priority dates. Individuals whose priority dates fall on or before the anticipated date can then advance to the subsequent stage in their immigration proceedings, be it submitting an adjustment of status application or initiating the process of obtaining an immigrant visa from a consulate overseas.

The bulletin comprises two essential charts – the Dates for Filing Visa Applications and the Application Final Action Dates. The former guides intending immigrants on when to file applications for adjustments of status or immigrant visas, while the latter indicates when these applications may be approved, leading to the grant of permanent residence.

USCIS Decision for December 2023:

Each month, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selects either the Dates for Filing or Application Final Action Dates chart to follow. For December 2023, the USCIS has chosen to adhere to the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based (EB) filings for adjustment of status.

Dates for Filing Final Cutoffs:

To be eligible for filing an EB adjustment application in December 2023, foreign nationals must possess a priority date earlier than the specified date for their preference category and country. A “C” listing denotes that the category is current, allowing applications to be filed irrespective of the priority date.

Here are the dates of filing for Employment-Based Green Cards in the December 2023 Visa Bulletin:
“Dates for Filing” are used to determine when individuals can begin the next step in their immigration process. Ensure that you meet the requirements and track these dates to proceed with your green card application or immigrant visa.

EB-1 Category:

  • India’s cutoff date remains July 1, 2019.
  • Mexico, the Philippines, and All Chargeability Areas remain current.
  • China’s cutoff date remains August 1, 2022
  • EB-2 Category
  • India’s cutoff date remains May 15, 2012.
  • All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines remain at January 1, 2023.
  • China’s cutoff date remains January 1, 2020.
  • EB-3 Category:
    • India’s cutoff date remains August 1, 2012.
    • All Chargeability Areas and Mexico remain at February 1, 2023.
    • China’s cutoff date remains September 1, 2020.
    • The Philippines’ cutoff date remains January 1, 2023.
    • Other Workers Category:
      • India’s cutoff date remains August 1, 2012.
      • Cutoff dates for all chargeability areas and Mexico remain at December 15, 2020.
      • China’s cutoff date remains June 1, 2017.
      • The Philippines’ cutoff date remains May 15, 2020.


      Dates of filing for Family-Based Green Card Backlogs for Indians

      • F-1: Unmarried children (age 21 and older) of US citizens – 1, Sept, 2017
      • F-2A: Spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) of US Green Card holders – 1, Sept, 2023
      • F-2B: unmarried children (age 21 or older) of US Green Card holders – 1, Jan, 2017
      • F-3: Married children of US citizens – 1, Mar, 2010
      • F-4: Siblings of US citizens – 22, Feb, 2006
      • Here are the final action dates for key employment-based visa categories in the November 2023 Visa Bulletin:
        Final action dates are used to determine when an immigrant visa or green card application can be adjudicated. Depending on your specific visa category and country of chargeability, these dates will determine the progress of your immigration process.

        EB-1 (Employment-Based First Preference):

        • All countries are current, except for China, which has a final action date of February 15, 2022
        • India has a final action date of January 1, 2017

        EB-2 (Employment-Based Second Preference):

        • China has a final action date of October 22, 2019
        • India has a final action date of January 1, 2012
        • All other countries remain on July 15, 2022

        EB-3 (Employment-Based Third Preference) for Professionals and Skilled Workers:

        • India has a final action date of May 1, 2012
        • China has a final action date of January 22, 2020
        • All other countries have a final action date of December 1, 2021

        EB-4 (Employment-Based Fourth Preference) and Certain Religious Workers:

        • All countries have a final action date of January 1, 2019
        • EB-4 for certain Religious workers is not yet authorized for issuance and unless extended is set to expire on November 17, 2023.

        EB-5 (Employment-Based Fifth Preference) for Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5):

        • India has a final action date of December 15, 2018
        • China has a final action date of October 1, 2015
        • All other countries remain current

        EB-5 Set-Aside Categories for Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure:

        • These categories remain current for all countries.

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