August 2023 Visa Bulletin: Significant Retrogression in EB-1 India and EB-3 Worldwide, except India and China

By: Gilyana Dzhambulaeva and Angelita Chavez 

Introduction  

The United States State Department has released the August 2023 Visa Bulletin. Most employment-based categories see the same trajectory, as EB-3 continues to retrogress, and EB-2, EB-4, and EB-5 stay consistent. However, notably, EB-1 changes significantly, with India’s Final Action date retrogressing by more than 10 years. USCIS will accept adjustments of status based on the Final Action Dates chart.  

August 2023 Final Action Dates: 

• EB-1: China remains on February 1, 2022. India retrogresses by more than ten years to January 1, 2012. All other countries retrogress to August 1, 2023. 
• EB-2: China advances one month to July 8, 2019, and India remains on January 1, 2011. All other countries advance to April 1, 2022.  
• EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: China advances two months to June 1, 2019. India remains at January 1, 2009. All other countries retrogress to May 1, 2020 by almost 2 years.   
• EB-3 Other Workers: India’s cutoff date remains to January 1, 2009, and China remains on September 1, 2015. All other countries advance to May 1, 2020  
• EB-4:  The final action date for all countries remains on September 1, 2018.  
• EB-5 Non-Regional (C5, T5): For unreserved visas, the Final Action Date for China remains at September 8, 2015, and India remains at April 1, 2017. All other countries and categories remain current.   

August 2023 Dates for Filing: 

• EB-1:   
• China: June 1, 2022  
• India: June 1, 2022  
• All other countries: Current  
• EB-2:   
• China: October 8, 2019  
• India: May 1, 2012  
• All other countries: December 1, 2022  
• EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers:   
• China: September 1, 2019 
• India: August 1, 2012 
• All other countries: May 1, 2023 
• EB-3 Other Workers:   
• China: January 1, 2016  
• India: August 1, 2012 
• All other countries: February 1, 2020 
• EB-4:   
• All countries: October 1, 2018 
• EB-5 Unreserved:   
• China: January 1, 2016 
• India: December 8, 2019 
• All other countries: Current  

EB-1 India Retrogression 

This month the EB-1 visa category saw an alarming retrogression. However, the Department of State has released a statement indicating that it is likely that dates will return at least to February 1, 2022, in October 2023. The return will depend on the visa demands of that category at the time and the visa allocation numbers for fiscal year 2024.  

Conclusion 

For any questions or assistance regarding the August 2023 Visa Bulletin, contact your trusted Chugh, LLP immigration professional.