October 2022 Visa Bulletin Reveals Retrogression for EB-2 India Final Action Date

September 8, 2022

On September 7, 2022, the Department of State released the October 2022 Visa Bulletin. Of particular note is the EB-2 India Final Action Date, which has retrogressed two years and eight months from December 1, 2014 to April 1, 2012. The employment-based Final Action cutoff dates are summarized in the table below.

Employment- Based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	El SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	C	C	C	C	C
2nd	C	08JUN19	C	01APR12	C	C
3rd	C	15JUN18	C	01APR12	C	C
Other Workers	01Jun20	01SEP12	01JUN20	01APR12	01JUN20	01JUN20
4th	C	C	15MAR18	C	15SEP20	C
Certain Religious Workers	U	U	U	U	U	U
5th Unreserved (C5, T5, I5, R5, and all others)	C	22MAR15	C	08NOV19	C	C
5th Set Aside (Rural – 20%)	C	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside (High Unemployment – 10%)	C	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside (Infrastructure – 2%)	C	C	C	C	C	C

USCIS has informed prospective applicants of which chart to reference when determining if they are eligible to file an application in October.

Family-Sponsored Applicants: Dates For Filing Chart

In October 2022, all family sponsored applicants should refer to the “Dates for Filing” chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin (below). 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 (Department of State, “Visa Bulletin for October 2022”).

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	China – mainland born	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	08AUG16	08AUG16	08AUG16	01Dec01	22APR15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN17	08AUG01	01OCT13
F3	08NOV09	08NOV09	08NOV09	15APR01	08NOV03
F4	15DEC07	15DEC07	22FEB06	15MAR01	22APR04

Employment-Based Applicants: Dates For Filing Chart

In October 2022, employment-based applicants should reference the “Dates for Filing” chart below. The listing of a date for any category indicates that the class is oversubscribed while “C” means that the category is current. Employment-based applicants may submit their applications if their category is listed as current or if they have a priority date earlier than the date listed for their category.

Employment- Based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	El SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	C	C	C	C	C
2nd	C	08JUL19	C	01MAY12	C	C
3rd	C	15JUL18	C	01JUL12	C	C
Other Workers	08SEP22	01NOV15	08SEP22	01JUL12	08SEP22	08SEP22
4th	C	C	15APR18	C	15OCT20	C
Certain Religious Workers	C	C	15APR18	C	C	C
5th Unreserved (C5, T5, I5, R5, and all others)	C	01JAN16	C	08DEC19	C	C
5th Set Aside (Rural – 20%)	C	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside (High Unemployment – 10%)	C	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside (Infrastructure – 2%)	C	C	C	C	C	C

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