The US visa bulletin for July has been released by the Department of State. The final filing action dates for the Third preference (EB-3) visa for Indians have advanced slightly. The EB-3 visa is used by skilled workers, professionals, or other workers to immigrate to America.
One is eligible for the EB-3 immigrant visa preference category if they are a skilled worker with at least two years of experience, professionals who hold at least a U.S. bachelor’s or foreign equivalent degree, or other workers whose job requires less than 2 years of training or experience.
The US visa bulletin shows the deadlines for Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications by immigrant visa applicants for submitting necessary paperwork to the National Visa Center.
The Final Action cutoff dates will be crucial for the issuance of an immigrant visa or the approval of an adjustment of status application.
Except for EB-3, which will benefit Professionals, Skilled Workers, and Other Workers by one week, all employment-based Final Action Dates for India will stay the same in July.
In July, the EB-1 Final Action Date, EB-2 Final Action Date, and EB-3 Professional/Skilled Worker Final Action Date for China will all advance by one week, two weeks, and one week, respectively.
With the exception of the Philippines, which will not advance, the Final Action Dates for the majority of the remaining nations will advance by seven weeks in the EB-3 Professional and Skilled Worker subcategory.
For the EB-1 category, India will remain at February 15, 2022, while China will advance one week to November 15, 2022. All other countries will remain current.
For the EB-2 category, India will remain at January 1, 2013, but China will advance two weeks to December 15, 2020. All other countries will stay the same in July.
For the EB-3 category, India will move one week to April 22, 2013, China will advance one week to December 1, 2020, while the Philippines will remain unchanged in July. All other countries will advance seven weeks to April 1, 2023.
For the EB-5 Unreserved category, China will remain at January 22, 2014, and India at May 1, 2019. All other countries will stay current. The EB-5 set-aside categories (rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure) will also continue in effect.
The July filing deadlines for EB-3 professionals and skilled workers have been extended for all countries except China and India.
Final Action Dates for Employment-based
EB-1
China: November 15, 2022
India: February 15, 2022
All other countries: Current
EB-2
China: December 15, 2020
India: January 1, 2013
All other countries: October 15, 2023
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: December 1, 2020
India: April 22, 2013 from April 15, 20213
Mexico: April 1, 2023
Philippines: February 8, 2023
All other countries: April 1, 2023
EB-3 Other Workers
China: May 1, 2017
India: April 22, 2013
All other countries: July 8, 2021
EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
China: January 22, 2014
India: May 1, 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
Dates for Filing for Employment-based Applications
EB-1
China: January 1, 2023
India: April 15, 2022
All other countries: Current
EB-2
China: January 1, 2021
India: February 1, 2013
All other countries: November 15, 2023
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: December 22, 2020
India: June 8, 2013
All other countries: May 1, 2023
EB-3 Other Workers
China: January 1, 2018
India: June 8, 2013
All other countries: July 22, 2021
EB-4
All countries: February 1, 2021
EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
China: October 1, 2016
India: April 1, 2022
All other countries: Current
EB-5 Set-Asides
Rural: Current for all countries
High Unemployment: Current for all countries
Infrastructure: Current for all countries
The fiscal year 2025 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants is 226,000. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. The per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320.
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 the first three preferences.
According to USCIS regulations, the category or foreign state with the highest demand was considered oversubscribed if not all of the demand could be met. The priority date of the first applicant, which was not achievable within the numerical constraints, is the final action date for an oversubscribed category.
Allocations in the charts below were made, to the extent possible, in chronological order of reported priority dates, for demand received by January 6th.
A. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
B. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS
A. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
B. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS
