Chart 1: Application Final Action Dates For Employment-Based Preference Cases
If a category in the Visa Bulletin indicates that the category is Current (C), there is no backlog for that category for that month. If a category is Unavailable (U), then no applications for permanent residence will be accepted in that category during the month. If the foreign national’s country of chargeability (country of birth) is other than India, China, Mexico or Philippines, use the “World-wide” dates to determine whether a priority date is current.
In order to be granted an immigrant visa or adjustment of status, your priority date must be before the date listed for your category and country in this chart.
| Employment-Based | World-wide | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01 FEB 22 | 01 FEB 22 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15 FEB 22 | 08 JUN 19 | 01 JAN 11 | 15 FEB 22 | 15 FEB 22 |
| 3rd | 01 JUN 22 | 01 APR 19 | 15 JUN 12 | 01 JUN 22 | 01 JUN 22 |
| Other Workers | 01 JAN 20 | 15 APR 15 | 15 JUN 12 | 01 JAN 20 | 01 JAN 20 |
| 4th | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 |
| 5th Unreserved (C5, T5, and all others) | C | 08 SEP 15 | 01 JUN 18 | C | C |
| 5th Unreserved (I5 and R5) | C | 08 SEP 15 | 01 JUN 18 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside:High Unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
“C” means current and “U” means unavailable.
Chart 2: Dates For Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications
If a category in the below chart indicates that the category is Current (C), all applicants in that category may file their immigrant visa applications regardless of priority date. If the foreign national’s country of chargeability (country of birth) is other than India, China, Mexico or Philippines, use the “World-wide” dates to determine the cut-off date.
In order to file an application for immigrant visa or adjustment of status, your priority date must be before the date listed for your category and country in this chart.
| Employment-Based | World-wide | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01 JUN 22 | 01 JUN 22 | C | C |
| 2nd | 01 DEC 22 | 08 JUL 19 | 01 MAY 12 | 01 DEC 22 | 01 DEC 22 |
| 3rd | 01 MAY 23 | 01 JUN 19 | 01 AUG 12 | 01 MAY 23 | 01 MAY 23 |
| Other Workers | 01 FEB 20 | 01 NOV 15 | 01 AUG 12 | 01 FEB 20 | 01 FEB 20 |
| 4th | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 |
| 5th Unreserved (C5, T5, and all others) | C | 01 JAN 16 | 08 DEC 19 | C | C |
| 5th Unreserved (I5 and R5) | C | 01 JAN 16 | 08 DEC 19 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Rural – 20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment – 10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure – 2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Are You Experiencing Immigration Issues?
Get answers to your immigration questions to work, invest, marry or live in the U.S.
Start My Phone ConsultationThe Department of State (DOS) issues the Visa Bulletin monthly on the availability of immigrant visas. Because U.S. regulations have capped the number of foreign nationals that can immigrate to the U.S. each year, an immigrant visa number is required for each person immigrating permanently to the United States. This applies whether the foreign national is seeking an Immigrant Visa at a U.S. Consulate outside the U.S., or through Adjustment of Status with USCIS inside the U.S.
Immigrant visas are numerically limited by both the category and by the country of chargeability (usually the country of birth of the immigrant). Individuals who are the beneficiaries of employment based immigrant visa petitions (I-140, I-360, I-526) fall into “preference” categories and must wait in line for their particular category and country of chargeability to become “current”.
First Preference:
Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second Preference:
Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
Third Preference:
Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to “Other Workers”.
Third Preference Other Workers Category:
Section 203(e) of the NACARA, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. Since the EW cut-off date reached November 19, 1997 during Fiscal Year 2001, the reduction in the EW annual limit to 5,000 began in Fiscal Year 2002.
Fourth Preference:
Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level.
Fifth Preference:
Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of P.L. 102-395.
INA Section 203(e) provides that employment-based preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa demand exceeds the per-country limit. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES.
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Chart 1: Application Final Action Dates For Employment-Based Preference Cases
If a category in the Visa Bulletin indicates that the category is Current (C), there is no backlog for that category for that month. If a category is Unavailable (U), then no applications for permanent residence will be accepted in that category during the month. If the foreign national’s country of chargeability (country of birth) is other than India, China, Mexico or Philippines, use the “World-wide” dates to determine whether a priority date is current.
In order to be granted an immigrant visa or adjustment of status, your priority date must be before the date listed for your category and country in this chart.
| Employment-Based | World-wide | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01 FEB 22 | 01 FEB 22 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15 FEB 22 | 08 JUN 19 | 01 JAN 11 | 15 FEB 22 | 15 FEB 22 |
| 3rd | 01 JUN 22 | 01 APR 19 | 15 JUN 12 | 01 JUN 22 | 01 JUN 22 |
| Other Workers | 01 JAN 20 | 01 SEP 15 | 15 JUN 12 | 01 JAN 20 | 01 JAN 20 |
| 4th | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 | 01 SEP 18 |
| 5th Unreserved (C5, T5, and all others) | C | 08 SEP 15 | 01 APR 17 | C | C |
| 5th Unreserved (I5 and R5) | C | 08 SEP 15 | 01 APR 17 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside:High Unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
“C” means current and “U” means unavailable.
Chart 2: Dates For Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications
If a category in the below chart indicates that the category is Current (C), all applicants in that category may file their immigrant visa applications regardless of priority date. If the foreign national’s country of chargeability (country of birth) is other than India, China, Mexico or Philippines, use the “World-wide” dates to determine the cut-off date.
In order to file an application for immigrant visa or adjustment of status, your priority date must be before the date listed for your category and country in this chart.
| Employment-Based | World-wide | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01 JUN 22 | 01 JUN 22 | C | C |
| 2nd | 01 DEC 22 | 08 JUL 19 | 01 MAY 12 | 01 DEC 22 | 01 DEC 22 |
| 3rd | 01 MAY 23 | 01 JUN 19 | 01 AUG 12 | 01 MAY 23 | 01 MAY 23 |
| Other Workers | 01 FEB 20 | 01 JAN 16 | 01 AUG 12 | 01 FEB 20 | 01 FEB 20 |
| 4th | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 | 01 OCT 18 |
| 5th Unreserved (C5, T5, and all others) | C | 01 JAN 16 | 08 DEC 19 | C | C |
| 5th Unreserved (I5 and R5) | C | 01 JAN 16 | 08 DEC 19 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Rural – 20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment – 10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure – 2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Are You Experiencing Immigration Issues?
Get answers to your immigration questions to work, invest, marry or live in the U.S.
Start My Phone ConsultationThe Department of State (DOS) issues the Visa Bulletin monthly on the availability of immigrant visas. Because U.S. regulations have capped the number of foreign nationals that can immigrate to the U.S. each year, an immigrant visa number is required for each person immigrating permanently to the United States. This applies whether the foreign national is seeking an Immigrant Visa at a U.S. Consulate outside the U.S., or through Adjustment of Status with USCIS inside the U.S.
Immigrant visas are numerically limited by both the category and by the country of chargeability (usually the country of birth of the immigrant). Individuals who are the beneficiaries of employment based immigrant visa petitions (I-140, I-360, I-526) fall into “preference” categories and must wait in line for their particular category and country of chargeability to become “current”.
First Preference:
Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second Preference:
Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
Third Preference:
Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to “Other Workers”.
Third Preference Other Workers Category:
Section 203(e) of the NACARA, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. Since the EW cut-off date reached November 19, 1997 during Fiscal Year 2001, the reduction in the EW annual limit to 5,000 began in Fiscal Year 2002.
Fourth Preference:
Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level.
Fifth Preference:
Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of P.L. 102-395.
INA Section 203(e) provides that employment-based preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa demand exceeds the per-country limit. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES.
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