In the October 2023 Visa Bulletin, there’s some great news for people applying for employment-based visas. The bulletin shows that there’s been significant progress in the availability of these visas for the fiscal year.
The most significant improvements are in the EB-1 and EB-2 categories, especially for India. In these categories, the waiting times have decreased by five and one years, respectively. This means that applicants in these categories may have a shorter wait time to get their visas.
However, there’s a bit of a step back in the Dates of Filing chart for EB-1 India. The waiting time has increased by three years, going back to July 1, 2019. This is being done to manage the number of visa applications and clear the backlog of pending applications.
In the EB-3 category, which is for skilled workers, India is also seeing significant progress. The waiting time has decreased by three years and four months, setting a new date at May 1, 2012. But there’s still a big difference between India and other countries like China, where the waiting time has only gone down by four months to January 1, 2020.
In summary, the October 2023 Visa Bulletin brings good news for employment-based visa applicants. Priority dates have moved forward in many categories, which means shorter waiting times. However, it’s important to note that there’s still some waiting time for EB-1 India applicants in the Dates of Filing chart.
If you’re considering applying for a green card, it’s a good idea to talk to an experienced immigration attorney who can help you navigate the process and understand your eligibility.