October 2023 Visa Bulletin: Navigating the Start of a New Fiscal Year with Major Shifts and Surprises

Welcome to the first Visa Bulletin of the new fiscal year! The October 2023 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State, marks the official start of Fiscal Year 2024 (FY2024). For millions of aspiring immigrants and their families, this bulletin is a critical roadmap, dictating when they can finally move forward with their green card applications.

After a year of significant fluctuations, including widespread retrogressions in the latter half of FY2023, many were holding their breath for October's release. The good news is that the new fiscal year brings a fresh allocation of immigrant visa numbers, often leading to some forward movement. However, this bulletin is a true "mixed bag," delivering both welcome advancements and some deeply concerning news for specific categories and countries.

At ImmiBook, we understand the anxiety and anticipation that comes with checking the Visa Bulletin each month. Our goal is to break down these complex changes into clear, actionable insights, helping you understand exactly what the October 2023 bulletin means for *your* immigration journey. Let's dive into the details, examine the biggest winners and losers, and equip you with the knowledge to navigate these shifts.

Understanding the Visa Bulletin: Your Green Card Roadmap

Before we delve into the specifics, let's quickly review the fundamental components of the Visa Bulletin. This monthly publication determines visa availability based on your:

1. Preference Category: Whether you're applying through a family member (e.g., F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4) or an employer (e.g., EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, EB-5).
2. Country of Chargeability: Typically your country of birth.
3. Priority Date: This is the date your petition was first filed and accepted by USCIS (e.g., I-130 for family, I-140 for employment, or PERM filing date).

The bulletin presents two crucial charts:

• Final Action Dates (Chart A): This is the most important chart. Your priority date must be earlier than the date listed in Chart A for your category and country for your green card application (I-485 Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing) to be *approved*. If your priority date is "current" (marked with a 'C'), it means a visa is immediately available for final processing.
• Dates for Filing (Chart B): This chart indicates when applicants can *file* their Adjustment of Status application (I-485) if they are already in the U.S., or submit documentation to the National Visa Center (NVC) for consular processing abroad. USCIS decides each month whether applicants should use Chart A or Chart B for filing I-485. For October 2023, USCIS has indicated that **applicants must use the Final Action Dates (Chart A)** for filing employment-based and family-sponsored adjustment of status applications. This means that even if your date is current under Chart B, you cannot file your I-485 unless it is also current under Chart A.

What is a Retrogression? A retrogression occurs when a priority date moves backward or becomes unavailable. This happens when the demand for visas in a particular category or country exceeds the supply, forcing USCIS and the State Department to adjust dates to manage the annual limits. It can be incredibly frustrating, effectively pausing or delaying your green card journey.

What is an Advancement? An advancement means a priority date moves forward, indicating that visas are becoming available for applicants with earlier priority dates. This is always a welcome sign, bringing applicants closer to their green cards.

Remember, the U.S. government allocates a limited number of immigrant visas each fiscal year (which runs from October 1st to September 30th). Additionally, there are per-country limits, meaning no single country can receive more than 7% of the total visas in a given year. This is why countries with high demand, like India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines, often experience significantly longer backlogs.

October 2023 Visa Bulletin: A New Fiscal Year Kicks Off

The October 2023 Visa Bulletin brings a fresh start with a new allocation of visa numbers, resulting in a generally positive outlook for many, but with some significant caveats. Overall, the bulletin shows:

• 53 categories advanced
• 5 categories retrogressed
• 92 categories remained unchanged

The average movement for advancing categories was approximately 284 days, indicating some meaningful progress. However, the retrogressions, though fewer in number, are substantial and impactful.

Let's break down the movements by category, focusing on what these changes mean for you.

Employment-Based (EB) Categories

The employment-based categories often see the most dramatic shifts, and October 2023 is no exception. The start of FY2024 has indeed brought a much-needed reset for many, but also some unexpected challenges.

EB-1: Priority Workers (Persons of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors/Researchers, Multinational Managers/Executives)

EB-1 is typically reserved for individuals with exceptional talent or those in high-level positions. This category often remains "Current" for most countries, but India and China have faced backlogs.

Final Action Dates (Chart A) - EB-1

What this means for you (EB-1 Final Action Dates):

• For All Other Countries, Mexico, and Philippines: This is phenomenal news! If you are from these countries and have an approved EB-1 petition, your priority date is now **CURRENT**. This means you can proceed with filing your I-485 (if in the U.S.) or prepare for your immigrant visa interview abroad immediately, assuming all other eligibility requirements are met. This is a huge opportunity to finalize your green card process.
• For India: This is a truly remarkable leap! The Final Action Date for India advanced by over five years (1827 days) to January 1, 2017. If your EB-1 India priority date is on or before this date, you can now move forward with your green card application or interview. This advancement is likely due to the new fiscal year visa allocation and potentially some unused visas from the previous year.
• For China: A solid advancement of 150 days to July 1, 2022. This is good news for those with priority dates within this range, bringing them closer to their green card.

Dates for Filing (Chart B) - EB-1

What this means for you (EB-1 Dates for Filing):

• For India: This is a concerning retrogression of almost three years (1066 days) to July 1, 2019. While the Final Action Date saw massive forward movement, the Dates for Filing moved backward. This means that even with the positive FAD movement, fewer new I-485 applications can be filed for EB-1 India applicants whose priority dates fall after July 1, 2019. This is a strategy to manage demand and prevent future backlogs from growing too quickly. Remember, for October 2023, USCIS is using Final Action Dates (Chart A) for filing I-485.

EB-2: Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability

This category is for professionals with advanced degrees or those demonstrating exceptional ability in their field.

Final Action Dates (Chart A) - EB-2

What this means for you (EB-2 Final Action Dates):

• For China: A decent forward movement of 177 days to January 1, 2020. This is positive for those with priority dates within this new range.
• For All Other Countries, Mexico, and Philippines: A minimal advance of 7 days to July 15, 2022. While not a huge leap, any forward movement is welcome.
• For India: Unfortunately, the Final Action Date for EB-2 India remains unchanged at January 1, 2012. This category continues to face extreme backlogs, and applicants will need to exercise significant patience.

Dates for Filing (Chart B) - EB-2

What this means for you (EB-2 Dates for Filing): All EB-2 Dates for Filing remained unchanged. Again, remember that for October 2023, you must use Chart A (Final Action Dates) for filing I-485.

EB-3: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers

This broad category covers a wide range of skilled professionals and workers.

Final Action Dates (Chart A) - EB-3

What this means for you (EB-3 Final Action Dates):

• For India: Another massive leap forward! EB-3 India Final Action Dates advanced by over three years (1216 days) to May 1, 2012. This is excellent news for those with priority dates up to this date, opening the door for I-485 filing or consular processing.
• For All Other Countries, Mexico, and Philippines: A very strong advancement of 579 days (nearly two years) to December 1, 2021. This will allow many applicants from these countries to move forward.
• For China: A solid advancement of 275 days to January 1, 2020.

Dates for Filing (Chart B) - EB-3

What this means for you (EB-3 Dates for Filing):

• For All Other Countries, Mexico, and Philippines: Unfortunately, Dates for Filing for these countries experienced retrogressions, ranging from 89 to 120 days. This means fewer new I-485 applications can be filed for those with priority dates in the retrogressed range. As noted, **USCIS requires using Chart A for I-485 filing in October 2023**, so this limits who can file even further.

EB-3 Other Workers

This sub-category is for "other workers" (unskilled workers) requiring less than two years of training or experience.

Final Action Dates (Chart A) - EB-3 Other Workers

What this means for you (EB-3 Other Workers Final Action Dates):

• For India: Mirroring the main EB-3 category, EB-3 Other Workers India also saw a massive advancement of 1216 days to May 1, 2012.
• For China: A substantial advancement of 517 days to June 1, 2017.
• For All Other Countries, Mexico, and Philippines: Unfortunately, these categories remained unchanged at May 1, 2020.

Dates for Filing (Chart B) - EB-3 Other Workers

What this means for you (EB-3 Other Workers Dates for Filing):

• For Philippines: A slight retrogression of 17 days to May 15, 2020.

EB-4: Certain Special Immigrants (e.g., Religious Workers)

This category includes religious workers, certain broadcasters, and other special immigrants.

Final Action Dates (Chart A) - EB-4 Religious Workers

What this means for you (EB-4 Religious Workers): This is arguably the most concerning