October 06, 2023
Visa Bulletin October 2023 Update
The Department of State releases the Visa Bulletin every month summarizing the availability of immigrant visa numbers for the upcoming month. Typically, the October visa bulletin moves quite a bit with the onset of the new federal fiscal year and release of new numbers. However, this October, the priority dates only advanced moderately, not becoming fully current as many thought or predicted based on recent comments from legislators.
Here is what you need to know about the October 2023 visa bulletin:
Employment-based
There are continued backlogs in employment-based categories. As the U.S. embassies abroad continue to enter resume normal operations, fewer unused family-based immigrant visa numbers are carrying over to increase the number of available employment-based immigrant visas in FY 2024. There are about 165,000 available visas for FY 2024.
- Almost all categories advance moderately.
- EB1 becomes current again for all countries except China and India.
- EB2 All Chargeability Areas saw a one-week movement, however, it is not current. This is a change from previous years when EB2 became current for All Chargeability Areas in October. Please note your priority date prior to filing any green card applications.
- EB3 India – Advances beyond the EB2 category. However, please keep in mind that the priority dates in the two categories change places frequently. What may appear as an advantage this month may not be in subsequent months or years. While we don’t necessarily recommend changing categories, it is easier to downgrade an EB2 petition to an EB3 petition than to upgrade an EB3 petition to an EB2 petition. USCIS has stated that it has enough applications pending decision for EB2 and EB3 from India for FY 2024, so we do not anticipate large movements within those categories anytime soon.
- Religious workers category remains unchanged.
- USCIS has indicated that applicants should use the Dates for Filing chart, which allows applicants to apply before their priority dates are current for final action but will be current in the near future.
Family-based
Backlogs inch forward in some categories and remain unchanged in others.
- USCIS has indicated that applicants should use the Dates for Filing chart, which allows applicants to apply before their priority dates are current for final action but will be current in the near future.