July 2023 Visa Bulletin – Most Employment-Based Categories Hold Steady; EB-3 India Retrogresses Steeply and EB-3 Rest of World, Mexico, and Philippines Retrogress Moderately
In July, EB-3 India will retrogress by more than three years to January 1, 2009. EB-3 for all other countries except China will retrogress by four months to February 1, 2022. EB-1, EB-2, and EB-5 cutoff dates for all countries will remain the same in July. The Dates for Filing chart cutoff dates will remain the same in July.
A closer look
According to the State Department’s July Visa Bulletin, Final Action cutoff dates for issuance of an immigrant visa or approval of an adjustment of status application will be as follows:
- EB-1: All countries will remain current except for India and China, which will have a cutoff date of February 1, 2022.
- EB-2: India will remain at January 1, 2011. China will remain at June 8, 2019. All other countries will remain at February 15, 2022.
- EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers: India will retrogress by three and a half years to January 1, 2009, and China will remain at April 1, 2019. All other countries will retrogress by four months to February 1, 2022.
- EB-5: For the EB-5 Unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5), India will remain at April 1, 2017. China will remain at September 8, 2015. All other countries will remain current. The EB-5 set-aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will remain current.
The July Dates for Filing cutoff dates remain unchanged from last month.
In the coming days, USCIS is expected to announce on its own Visa Bulletin web page the cutoff dates for acceptance of adjustment of status applications next month. That announcement will clarify whether USCIS will accept adjustment of status applications based on the Final Action Dates chart or the Dates for Filing chart.
Retrogressions
As predicted in the May 2023 and June 2023 Visa Bulletins, due to increased immigrant visa use, the State Department has retrogressed the EB-3 Final Action cutoff dates for all countries except China. The State Department will continually monitor immigrant visa use for these EB-3 countries; further retrogressions cannot be ruled out.
Final Action Dates for July 2023
EB-1
China: February 1, 2022
India: February 1, 2022
All other countries: Current
EB-2
China: June 8, 2019
India: January 1, 2011
All other countries: February 15, 2022
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: April 1, 2019
India: January 1, 2009
All other countries: February 1, 2022
EB-3 Other Workers
China: September 1, 2015
India: January 1, 2009
All other countries: January 1, 2020
EB-4
All countries: September 1, 2018
EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
China: September 8, 2015
India: April 1, 2017
All other countries: Current
EB-5 Set-Asides
Rural: Current for all countries
High Unemployment: Current for all countries
Infrastructure: Current for all countries
Dates for Filing for July 2023
EB-1
China: June 1, 2022
India: June 1, 2022
All other countries: Current
EB-2
China: July 8, 2019
India: May 1, 2012
All other countries: December 1, 2022
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: June 1, 2019
India: August 1, 2012
All other countries: May 1, 2023
EB-3 Other Workers
China: January 1, 2016
India: August 1, 2012
All other countries: February 1, 2020
EB-4
All other countries: October 1, 2018
EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
China: January 1, 2016
India: December 8, 2019
All other countries: Current
EB-5 Set-Asides
Rural: Current for all countries
High Unemployment: Current for all countries
Infrastructure: Current for all countries