Visa Bulletin: January 2024

A.  FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); “C” means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and “U” means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.)

Employment-
based		All Chargeability 
Areas Except
Those Listed		CHINA-
mainland 
born		INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
1stC01JUL2201SEP20CC
2nd01NOV2201JAN2001MAR1201NOV2201NOV22
3rd01AUG2201SEP2001JUN1201AUG2201AUG22
Other Workers01SEP2001JAN1701JUN1201SEP2001MAY20
4th15MAY1915MAY1915MAY1915MAY1915MAY19
Certain Religious Workers15MAY1915MAY1915MAY1915MAY1915MAY19
5th Unreserved
(including C5, T5, I5, R5)		C08DEC1501DEC20CC
5th Set Aside:
Rural (20%)		CCCCC
5th Set Aside:
High Unemployment (10%)		CCCCC
5th Set Aside:
Infrastructure (2%)		CCCCC

*Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category: Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997, 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 final action date reached November 19, 1997 during Fiscal Year 2001, the reduction in the EW annual limit to 5,000 began in Fiscal Year 2002. For Fiscal Year 2024 this reduction will be limited to approximately 150.

B.  DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS

The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file, regardless of priority date.

The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.