The U.S. Department of State has released its November 2023 Visa Bulletin which summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers for “Final Action Dates” for November and “Dates for Filing Applications” to notify the immigrant visa applicants to submit their required documentation to the National Visa Center (NVC).
Final Action Cut-off Dates
The recent visa bulletin shows minimal changes. All mentioned cutoff dates pertain to the final action chart, commonly known as Chart A, unless stated differently.
Employment-Based First Preference (EB1)
The EB1 category remains unchanged. China’s cutoff is still February 15, 2022, and India’s cutoff remains January 1, 2017. All other chargeable countries are currently up-to-date in the EB1 category.
Employment-Based Second Preference (EB2)
Both EB2 China and EB2 India remain static, with China’s cutoff at October 1, 2019, and India’s at January 1, 2012. The cutoff for EB2 in other chargeable countries advances to July 15, 2022.
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB3)
The EB3 category stays the same. China’s cutoff is January 1, 2020, while India’s is May 1, 2012. For other chargeable countries, the EB3 cutoff remains December 1, 2021.
Other Workers
In the EB3 other workers segment, there’s no variation. China’s cutoff persists at January 1, 2016, and India’s at May 1, 2012. The Philippines has a cutoff of May 1, 2020. The cutoff for other chargeable countries in this category remains August 1, 2020.
Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications
To be eligible to file an EB adjustment application for November 2023, a foreign individual should possess a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their designated country and category. The “C” listing denotes a current category, thus allowing submissions without concern for the priority date of the individual. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date that is earlier than the listed date may file their applications.
Employment-Based
All Chargeability Areas Except those listed
China-Mainland born
India
Mexico
Philippines
1st (EB-1: Extraordinary People, Outstanding Researchers and Professors, and Multinational Executives, and Managers)
C
01AUG22
01JUL19
C
C
2nd (EB-2: Exceptional People and Advanced Degree Holders)
01JAN23
01JAN20
15MAY12
01JAN23
01JAN23
3rd (EB-3: Bachelor’s Degree Holders, Skilled Workers, and Unskilled Workers)
01FEB23
01SEP20
01AUG12
15DEC20
15MAY20
Other Workers
15DEC20
01JUN17
01AUG12
15DEC20
15MAY20
Source: U.S Department of State November 2023 Visa Bulletin
Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1)
All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and Philippines’ EB-1 will become current while China and India will remain August 1, 2022 and July 1, 2019, respectively. This means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before August 1, 2022 and July 1, 2019 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2)
The EB-2 cutoff application date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will remain January 1, 2023 which means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 1, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
Further, EB-2 cut off dates for India and China will remain January 1, 2020, and May 15, 2012, respectively.
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3)
The EB-3 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will remain February 1, 2023 which means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before February 1, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
On the other hand, the EB-2 cut off dates for India and China will remain August 1, 2012, and December 15, 2020, respectively.
Other Workers
All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines whose applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before December 15, 2020 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
The Other Workers cutoff dates for China will remain June 1, 2017 while the cut off date for India will also remain August 1, 2012.
