Note
The June 2023 Visa Bulletin has been released! Read our complete analysis of the results here.
For those who are patiently for the opportunity to file for employment-based or family-based sponsored preference adjustment of status, 2023 has not been the best year. So far in 2023, priority dates have rarely moved forward and have either stayed stagnant or retrogressed further and further. Unfortunately, the US Department of State has also warned that the June 2023 visa bulletin will also bring further retrogression for some key categories due to excessive demand.
Future bulletins are less difficult to predict as the US Department of State is doing its best to warn for future retrogressions ahead in the previous month’s visa bulletin. This helps take away some of the ambiguity when it comes to the visa bulletin and can help those that are waiting prepare better for what’s to come.
June 2023 Visa Bulletin Predictions
India EB2 and India EB5 Retrogression
As noted in the May 2023 visa bulletin, the US Department of State expects both India EB2 and EB5 to retrogress further as early as June. This is likely to occur in June, and may retrogress even more in July and August. This is due to high demand for both the EB2 and EB5 visa preferences by applicants with priority dates earlier than the established final action dates. India EB2 could likely retrogress anywhere from 4 to 6 months while EB5 is likely to see a 3 month retrogression.
They also noted that they are planning to go back to the January 1, 2011 final action date for EB2 and June 1, 2018 for EB5 by October 2023, the start of the new fiscal year. These are the priority dates listed in April 2023, which is their benchmark for progress after this coming retrogression.
Retrogression in India and China EB1
A retrogression is also likely for the EB1 category for both India and China in the June 2023 visa bulletin. This is due to increased demand in this category for the ROW countries. We are expecting a 4-5 months retrogression in this category.
Other Workers (EW) EB3 to Retrogress
The Other Workers category under the third employment-based preference will likely see a retrogression in ROW, Mexico, and the Philippines in June 2023. The retrogression will likely be by 3 months.
Will India EB3 Advance?
It does not appear that any forward movement in the India EB3 category will be seen, as the US Department of State has consistently stated that employment-based preference demand has significantly increased across the board, making it very difficult to reallocate visa numbers. While we don’t expect to see further retrogression in the India EB3 category, advancement is highly unlikely.
Dealing with Disappointment – The Future of Getting a Green Card
With priority dates constantly retrogressing and failing to advance, it can be difficult to understand when you’ll be able to be given the opportunity to apply for your green card adjustment of status – will it be years? A decade? More?
If green card hopefuls are waiting over a decade to be able to file for their adjustment of status, not only is it discouraging, but it can be life-altering depending upon their circumstances. It is clear that there has to be some reform done to improve processing and increase visa numbers so that immigrants have a clearer path to become a permanent resident here in the United States.
Check back soon for our complete analysis of the June 2023 visa bulletin results as soon as it is released.
