Department of State Releases December 2022 Visa Bulletin

November 17, 2022

On November 17, 2022, the Department of State released the December 2022 Visa Bulletin. Of particular note is the retrogression of India Employment Second Preference Final Action and Application filing dates. Please see the “Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases” chart 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	01NOV22	08JUN19	01NOV22	08OCT11	01NOV22	01NOV22
3rd	C	01AUG18	C	15JUN12	C	C
Other Workers	01JUN20	22JUN13	01JUN20	15JUN12	01JUN20	01JUN20
4th	22JUN22	22JUN22	15MAR18	22JUN22	15SEP20	22JUN22
Certain Religious Workers	22JUN22	22JUN22	15MAR18	22JUN22	15SEP20	22JUN22
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)	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

Following the DOS’ release of the December 2022 Visa Bulletin, USCIS advised which chart prospective green card applicants should refer to when determining if they are eligible to file an application in December 2022.

Note: Where “C” is listed, the category is current and applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. Where a date is listed for a category, applications may be filed if the applicant’s priority date is earlier than the listed date.

Family-Sponsored Applicants: Dates for Filing Chart

In December 2022, all family-sponsored applicants should refer to the “Dates for Filing” chart below.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	08AUG16	08AUG16	08AUG16	01DEC02	22APR15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN02	01OCT13
F3	08NOV09	08NOV09	08NOV09	15JUN01	08NOV03
F4	15DEC07	15DEC07	22FEB06	01APR01	22APR04

Employment-Based Applicants: Dates for Filing Chart

In December 2022, all employment-based applicants should refer to the “Dates for Filing” chart 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	01NOV22	08JUN19	01NOV22	08OCT11	01NOV22	01NOV22
3rd	C	01AUG18	C	15JUN12	C	C
Other Workers	01JUN20	22JUN13	01JUN20	15JUN12	01JUN20	01JUN20
4th	22JUN22	22JUN22	15MAR18	22JUN22	15SEP20	22JUN22
Certain Religious Workers	22JUN22	22JUN22	15MAR18	22JUN22	15SEP20	22JUN22
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)	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