The November 2022 Visa Bulletin is now available. The new tables include dates for consular filing and final visa issuance action by U.S. embassies or consulates.
If you want to see the tables of the Visa Bulletin November 2022 on Filing for Adjustment of Status (immigrant visa applications filed within the U.S.) of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) click here.
What is the Visa Bulletin?
Each month, the U.S. Department of State publishes a report that specifies the availability and priority date of immigrant visas that are ready for processing and establishes the cut-off date after which visas will no longer be available for each visa category.
The Visa Bulletin The program orders applicants' priority dates according to visa categories: family-based, employment-based, and diversity visa program (visa lottery) petitions. It also updates the dates for the various categories based on the immigrants' countries of origin, the number of visas that have been issued so far, and an estimate of the demand for visas.
The information in the Visa Bulletin may change from month to month. It is useful to find out how much of a delay there is for different types of visa applications.
This monthly visa bulletin serves as a guide for the National Visa Center (NVC) for visa processing and visa issuance in the United States. U.S. consulates and embassies. USCIS also uses the Visa Bulletin to determine whether it can accept or adjudicate an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
If you are waiting your turn for a visa, this document allows you to monitor and check the progress, delay or non-movement of deadlines to know when your priority date is being processed.
How to read the November 2022 Visa Bulletin priority tables and dates
The U.S. Department of State and USCIS publish two tables for all visa preference categories with the following information:
In sections where a "C" is marked, it means that the category is current or available, and applications may be filed regardless of the applicant's priority date. If your priority date is current, you may apply for a visa upon qualifying.
In the sections where a "U" is marked, it means that the category is "not current" or "unavailable", and that "no" applications can be filed regardless of the applicant's priority date.
Final Action Dates: dates on which immigrant visas can finally be issued.
Dates for Filing: earliest date a person can file an application for a visa.
An immigrant's country of birth is also a factor in determining the availability of a visa.
The NVC notifies immigrants by email or regular mail about how to apply for a visa through the consular channel. You should review and follow their instructions carefully.
Visa Bulletin November 2022
These are the tables of the Visa Bulletin for November 2022 of the U.S. Department of State published for cases based on the family, employment and the fiscal year 2023 visa lottery:
Final Action Dates for Family Based Case Requests
Types of Family Preference
- First preference (F1): unmarried children, over the age of twenty-one, of U.S. citizens.
- Second preference A (F2A): spouses of permanent residents and unmarried children, under the age of twenty-one, of permanent residents.
- Second preference B (F2B): unmarried children, over the age of twenty-one, of permanent residents.
- Third preference (F3): married children of U.S. citizens, their spouses and unmarried children under the age of twenty-one.
- Fourth preference (F4): Siblings of U.S. citizens, their spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age.
All countries except those listed
| Family-based preference | All countries except those listed | MEXICO |
| F1 | 01DEC14 | 15NOV00 |
| F2A | C | C |
| F2B | 22SEP15 | 01JUN01 |
| F3 | 22NOV08 | 15NOV97 |
| F4 | 22MAR07 | 01AGO00 |
Mainland China, India and the Philippines
| Family-based preference | CHINA - mainland | INDIA | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01DEC14 | 01DEC14 | 01MAR12 |
| F2A | C | C | C |
| F2B | 22SEP15 | 22SEP15 | 22OCT11 |
| F3 | 22NOV08 | 22NOV08 | 08JUN02 |
| F4 | 22MAR07 | 15SEP05 | 22 AUG02 |
Dates for submitting family-based case applications
All countries except those listed
| Family-based preference | All countries except those listed | MEXICO |
| F1 | 08AUG16 | 01DEC02 |
| F2A | C | C |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN02 |
| F3 | 08NOV09 | 15JUN01 |
| F4 | 15DEC07 | 01ABR01 |
Mainland China, India and the Philippines
| Family-based preference | CHINA - mainland | INDIA | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 08AUG16 | 08AUG16 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | C | C | C |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 08NOV09 | 08NOV09 | 08NOV03 |
| F4 | 15DEC07 | 22FEB06 | 22ABR04 |
Final action dates for employment-based case applications
Types of Employment Preference:
- First preference (EB-1): priority workers.
- Second preference (EB-2): professionals with advanced degrees and persons of exceptional ability.
- Third preference (EB-3): skilled workers, professionals and unskilled workers.
- Fourth preference (EB-4): certain special immigrants.
- Fifth preference (EB-5): immigrant investors.
All countries except those listed
| Category based on employment | All countries except those listed | EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS | MEXICO |
| 1st | C | C | C |
| 2nd | C | C | C |
| 3rd | C | C | C |
| Other Workers | 01JUN20 | 01JUN20 | 01JUN20 |
| 4th | C | 15MAR18 | 15SEP20 |
| Certain Religious Workers | C | 15MAR18 | 15SEP20 |
| 5th No Reservations (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Rural (20%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: High Unemployment Rate (10%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C |
Mainland China, India and the Philippines
| Category based on employment | CHINA mainland | INDIA | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | C | C |
| 2nd | 08JUN19 | 01ABR12 | C |
| 3rd | 15JUN18 | 01ABR12 | C |
| Other Workers | 01DEC12 | 01ABR12 | 01JUN20 |
| 4th | C | C | C |
| Certain Religious Workers | C | C | C |
| 5th No Reservations (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | 22MAR15 | 08NOV19 | C |
| 5th Reserve: Rural (20%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: High Unemployment Rate (10%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C |
Dates for submitting applications for employment-based cases
All countries except those listed
| Category based on employment | All countries except those listed | EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS | MEXICO |
| 1st | C | C | C |
| 2nd | C | C | C |
| 3rd | C | C | C |
| Other Workers | 08SEP22 | 08SEP22 | 08SEP22 |
| 4th | C | 15ABR18 | 15OCT20 |
| Certain Religious Workers | C | 15ABR18 | 15OCT20 |
| 5th No Reservations (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Rural (20%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: High Unemployment Rate (10%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C |
Mainland China, India and the Philippines
| Category based on employment | CHINA mainland | INDIA | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | C | C |
| 2nd | 08JUL19 | 01MAY12 | C |
| 3rd | 15JUL18 | 01JUL12 | C |
| Other Workers | 01NOV15 | 01JUL12 | 08SEP22 |
| 4th | C | C | C |
| Certain Religious Workers | C | C | C |
| 5th No Reservations (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | 01JAN16 | 08DEC19 | C |
| 5th Reserve: Rural (20%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: High Unemployment Rate (10%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C |
How to read the table of cases based on the FY 2023 Diversity Visa Program (DV, visa lottery).
Below are the allocation cut-off numbers for diversity visas, based on region or eligible countries, for applicants who meet all requirements. When a maximum number is shown, it means that there are only visas available for DV applicants below the number specifically allocated in the region.
The person who "wins the lottery" is only entitled to receive immigrant status in the DV category until the end of the visa fiscal year for which he or she was selected. For all applicants registered in the FY 2023 visa lottery, that entitlement ends on September 30, 2023.
DV visas may not be issued to DV-2023 lottery participants after that date. This also applies to spouses and children of FY 2023 visa lottery winners, who are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2023.
There can be no guarantee that DV visas will be available until the end of fiscal year 2023, because they could be exhausted before September 30, 2023.
Dates for submitting applications for cases based on the FY 2023 visa lottery by November 2022
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 5.700 | Excluding: Algeria 5,600 Egypt 1,700 Morocco 5,600 |
| ASIA | 2.800 | Except: Iran 2,500 Nepal 1,450 |
| EUROPE | 5.700 | Except: Russia 5,600 Uzbekistan 5,600 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 4 | |
| OCEANIA | 375 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 500 |
Dates for submitting applications for cases based on the FY 2023 visa lottery by December 2022
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 9.000 | Excluding: Algeria 8,500 Egypt 3,000 Morocco 8,500 |
| ASIA | 3.300 | Except: Iran 3,000 Nepal 1,700 |
| EUROPE | 6.100 | Except: Russia 6,000 Uzbekistan 6,000 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 5 | |
| OCEANIA | 400 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 575 |
Extension of the scheduled extension of the fourth employment preference (EB-4) religious worker (RH) category.
The Fourth Preference Employment Certain Religious Workers (SR) category was extended through December 16, 2022, by H.R. 6833, which was passed on September 30, 2022. After December 15, 2022, at midnight, no SR visas may be issued abroad and no final decisions may be made on adjustment of status matters.
All non-minister special immigrant applicants must be "admitted" to the United States by December 15, 2022, at midnight. Visas issued before that date will only be valid until December 15, 2022.
The SR category is subject to the same final action deadlines as the other fourth preference employment categories (EB-4) according to the corresponding country of chargeability.
Forecasts of visa availability based on second employment category (EB-2) for fiscal year 2023
In order to keep the use of numbers within the maximum allowed by the FY 2023 annual cap, high demand in the second employment category (EB-2) may require the adoption of a final global action date in the coming months.
The U.S. Department of State will be attentive to this matter and will make the necessary adjustments as needed.
Immigration consultation
Anyone who has questions about U.S. immigration law, including how to read the Visa Bulletin and apply for an immigrant visa through consular channels or adjustment of status, should immediately consult with a licensed and experienced U.S. immigration attorney to determine their legal immigration options.
Avoid being victim of immigration fraud and never consult with notaries, immigration consultants, paper-fillers, multi-services and others. unlicensed persons to obtain immigration legal advice.
Dr. Nelson A. Castillo is an immigration attorney with over 20 years of legal experience and author of La Tarjeta Verde: Cómo Obtener la Residencia Permanente en los Estados Unidos (Green Card: How to Obtain Permanent Residence in the United States). He is a former President of the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Westlake South Neighborhood Council of Los Angeles.
For information on how to consult with Dr. Castillo, click here. click here.