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Visa Bulletin

May 2023

Your priority date must be earlier than the date shown.

Month
2023
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA-mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Dec 15, 2014↑ 14 daysDec 15, 2014↑ 14 daysDec 15, 2014↑ 14 daysApr 1, 2001Mar 1, 2012
F2ASep 8, 2020Sep 8, 2020Sep 8, 2020Nov 1, 2018Sep 8, 2020
F2BSep 22, 2015Sep 22, 2015Sep 22, 2015Jun 1, 2001Oct 22, 2011
F3Dec 8, 2008↑ 16 daysDec 8, 2008↑ 16 daysDec 8, 2008↑ 16 daysNov 1, 1997Jun 8, 2002
F4Apr 8, 2007↑ 17 daysApr 8, 2007↑ 17 daysSep 15, 2005Aug 1, 2000Aug 22, 2002

Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Jan 1, 2017↑ 5 monthsJan 1, 2017↑ 5 monthsJan 1, 2017↑ 5 monthsDec 1, 2002Apr 22, 2015
F2ACurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
F2BJan 1, 2017Jan 1, 2017Jan 1, 2017Jan 1, 2002Oct 1, 2013
F3Feb 8, 2010↑ 3 monthsFeb 8, 2010↑ 3 monthsFeb 8, 2010↑ 3 monthsJun 15, 2001Nov 8, 2003
F4Feb 1, 2008↑ 2 monthsFeb 1, 2008↑ 2 monthsFeb 22, 2006Apr 1, 2001Apr 22, 2004

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
1stCurrentFeb 1, 2022Feb 1, 2022CurrentCurrent
2ndFeb 15, 2022↓ 4 monthsJun 8, 2019Jan 1, 2011Feb 15, 2022↓ 4 monthsFeb 15, 2022↓ 4 months
3rdJun 1, 2022No longer currentApr 1, 2019↑ 5 monthsJun 15, 2012Jun 1, 2022No longer currentJun 1, 2022No longer current
Other WorkersJan 1, 2020Apr 15, 2015↑ 6 monthsJun 15, 2012Jan 1, 2020Jan 1, 2020
4thSep 1, 2018Sep 1, 2018Sep 1, 2018Sep 1, 2018Sep 1, 2018
Certain Religious WorkersSep 1, 2018Sep 1, 2018Sep 1, 2018Sep 1, 2018Sep 1, 2018
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)CurrentSep 8, 2015↑ 2 monthsJun 1, 2018CurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: Rural (20%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
1stCurrentJun 1, 2022Jun 1, 2022CurrentCurrent
2ndDec 1, 2022Jul 8, 2019May 1, 2012Dec 1, 2022Dec 1, 2022
3rdMay 1, 2023No longer currentJun 1, 2019↑ 4 monthsAug 1, 2012May 1, 2023No longer currentMay 1, 2023No longer current
Other WorkersFeb 1, 2020Nov 1, 2015Aug 1, 2012Feb 1, 2020Feb 1, 2020
4thOct 1, 2018Oct 1, 2018Oct 1, 2018Oct 1, 2018Oct 1, 2018
Certain Religious WorkersOct 1, 2018Oct 1, 2018Oct 1, 2018Oct 1, 2018Oct 1, 2018
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)CurrentJan 1, 2016Dec 8, 2019CurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: (Rural - 20%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment - 10%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure - 2%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent

RegionAll DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA60,000Except: Algeria 35,900 Egypt 18,650 Morocco 45,600
ASIA18,750Except: Iran 6,000 Nepal 17,775
EUROPE30,000Except: Russia 29,350 Uzbekistan 10,140
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)15
OCEANIA1,450
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN2,400

RegionAll DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA63,500Except: Algeria 35,900 Egypt 30,000 Morocco 55,000
ASIA18,750Except: Iran 10,000 Nepal 17,775
EUROPE30,000Except: Russia 29,350 Uzbekistan 12,500
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)15
OCEANIA1,550
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN2,740

Reading this: your priority date must be earlier than the date shown for your category and country of chargeability - the country you are charged to, which is usually your country of birth, not your nationality or where you live now. Your priority date is on your receipt notice: for a family petition it is the day the petition was filed, and for most employment cases the day the labour certification or the petition was filed.

Two tables, two jobs: Final Action Dates decide when a visa can actually be issued or a green card approved. Dates for Filing decide when you may send in your application. They move independently, and Dates for Filing are usually the later of the two. USCIS says each month which of the two applies to adjustment of status - being past the Dates for Filing cut-off does not mean a decision is close.

C and U: C is current - no cut-off, everyone in that category may proceed. U is unavailable - no visas at all in that category this month, whatever your priority date.

Movement is measured against the previous month - it describes what already happened. Cut-off dates can and do move backwards, and no figure here predicts next month.

Published by the Department of State. Confirm on travel.state.gov.

About the Visa Bulletin

What is a priority date?

The date that holds your place in line for a green card with a yearly limit. For most family cases it is the date USCIS received the I-130. For most employment cases it is the date the labor certification was filed, or the I-140 if none was needed. It is printed on your I-797 notice.

What is the difference between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing?

Final Action Dates say when a green card can be issued. Dates for Filing are earlier and say when you may submit your application. Each month USCIS says which of the two charts it accepts for adjustment of status inside the US.

What do C and U mean in the chart?

C means current: there is no wait in that category this month, so any priority date qualifies. U means unavailable: no visas can be issued in that category this month.

Can a date move backward?

Yes. When demand is higher than the visas left for the year, the State Department can move a cutoff date back. This is called retrogression, and it is most common near the end of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30.