The realm of immigration law is often met with unexpected twists and turns, especially when it comes to visa bulletins and priority dates. The Department of State (DOS) recently released the November 2023 Visa Bulletin, surprising many by announcing it earlier than the usual mid-month schedule. This article explores the key takeaways from the bulletin, its implications on various visa categories, and provides strategic insights for those navigating through these changes.
The DOS generally releases the visa bulletin around the 15th of every month, providing crucial information for both family-based and employment-based visa applicants. The bulletins offer insights into visa availability and priority date movements, which are important for applicants and their legal representatives in strategizing their immigration journey.
The November 2023 Visa Bulletin was released a bit earlier than normal, on October 10th. This early release has allowed immigration law practitioners and applicants alike to quickly reassess their strategies and anticipate the potential impacts on their cases.
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Employment-Based Visa Updates
EB-2 Category Movement
The only notable movement on the employment-based side was in the EB-2 category. For all countries, barring India and China, the final action date advanced by one week to July 15th, 2022.
Religious Worker Category
After being unavailable in October, the religious worker category saw a shift to January 1st, 2019, for final action dates.
Family-Based Visa Developments
Mexico Sees Movement
For Mexico, the F1 category advanced by one week to May 1st, 2001. The F2B category saw a more substantial leap, advancing five months to May 1st, 2022. The F3 category moved forward two weeks to March 22nd, 1998, while the F4 category advanced one and a half months to September 15th, 2000.
Stagnation in Other Categories
The remaining categories in both Family and Employment based categories saw no change, highlighting a stagnation that applicants must factor into their planning.
USCIS Accepts Adjustment of Status Applications Based on Filing Date
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has indicated that for November, adjustment of status cases can be filed based on the filing date. This is subject to monthly updates, underscoring the importance of regular checks to ensure compliance and timely filing for applicants.
Conclusion
The early release and the details within the November 2023 Visa Bulletin highlight the unpredictable nature of immigration processes. While the immigration process can present many challenges, strategic planning, timely action, and experienced guidance can pave the way for navigating through these complexities. Should you have any further questions about your unique case and want to speak to one of our attorneys, McEntee Law Group is here to help.
