Visa Bulletin February 2023 Predictions

For official January 2023 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-january-2023.aspx

Please see February 2023 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based categories for all countries):

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01FEB15	01FEB15	01FEB15	22DEC00	22APR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01NOV15	01NOV15	01NOV15	22JUN01	01DEC11
F3	08DEC08	08DEC08	08DEC08	08NOV97	01JUL02
F4	15APR07	15APR07	08OCT05	15SEP00	22SEP02

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	15AUG16	15AUG16	15AUG16	01FEB03	08JUN15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	08JAN17	08JAN17	08JAN17	01FEB02	08NOV13
F3	15NOV09	15NOV09	15NOV09	08JUL01	01DEC03
F4	08JAN08	08JAN08	15MAR06	22MAY01	01MAY04

Options for Nonimmigrant Workers Following Termination of Employment

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is providing information for nonimmigrant workers whose employment has terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily. These workers may have several options for remaining in the United States in a period of authorized stay based on existing rules and regulations.

Below is a compilation of options that may be available to nonimmigrant workers seeking to remain in the United States in a period of authorized stay following termination. Please note that not all options below provide employment authorization.

60-Day Grace Period

Regulations permit a discretionary grace period that allows workers in E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B,
H-1B1, L-1, O-1, or TN classifications (and their dependents) to be considered as having maintained status following the cessation of employment for up to 60 consecutive calendar

DHS’s Public Charge Final Rule Goes into Effect on Dec. 23

On Dec. 23, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility final rule will go into effect. This final rule, which was previously announced, provides clarity and consistency for noncitizens on how DHS will administer the public charge ground of inadmissibility. This final rule restores the historical understanding of a "public charge" that had been in place for decades before the previous administration began to consider supplemental public health benefits such as Medicaid and nutritional as

USCIS Announces Trial for Updates to the Naturalization Test

Federal Register Notice Published Today Announces Nationwide Trial

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) plans to conduct a trial for updates to the current naturalization test. The naturalization test has four components: reading, writing, civics, and ability to speak English. The reading and writing portions of the naturalization test are standard. The purposes of the trial are to test a civics component with updated format and content and a newly developed English-speaking component that could become standard.

Preside

January 2023 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For January 2023 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-january-2023.aspx

Please see below analysis of January 2023 Visa Bulletin:

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change

January 2023 Visa Bulletin

For December 2022 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-december-2022.aspx

For analysis of January 2023 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-analysis-january-2023.aspx

January 2023 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from January 1 to January 31 only). Please see below for more details.

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01DEC14	01DEC14	01DEC14	15NOV00	01MAR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	22SEP15	22SEP15	22SEP15	01JUN01	22OCT11
F3	22NOV08	22NOV08	22NOV08	01NOV97	08JUN02
F4	22MAR07	22MAR07	15SEP05	01AUG00	22AUG02

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

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

DHS and DOL Announce Availability of Additional H-2B Visas for Fiscal Year 2023

WASHINGTON— The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) are issuing a temporary final rule that makes available 64,716 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2023. These supplemental H-2B visas are for U.S. employers seeking to petition for additional workers at certain periods of the fiscal year before Sept. 15, 2023.

"The Department is making supplemental H-2B visas available earlier than ever, ensuring that American businesses can plan for their peak season labor needs," said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. "At a time of record job growth, these visas will also provide a safe and law

USCIS Updates Policy to Automatically Extend Green Cards for Naturalization Applicants

Effective Dec. 12, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to allow USCIS to automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (commonly called Green Cards) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization.

This update (PDF, 307.54 KB) is expected to help naturalization applicants who experience longer processing times, because they will receive an extension of lawful permanent resi

DHS Announces Registration Process for Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security today posted a Federal Register notice on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia. This notice provides information about how to register for TPS under Ethiopia's designation. In October, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the 18-month designation of Ethiopia for TPS.

The registration process begins on Dec. 12, 2022. All individuals who want to request TPS under the designation of Ethiopia must file an application.

To be eligible for TPS under Ethiopia's designation, individuals must demonstrate their c

USCIS Announces Important Filing Information for Upcoming FY 2023 H-2B Supplemental Cap Petitions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is announcing important filing updates for petitioners who will be requesting additional H-2B workers for fiscal year 2023 under the upcoming temporary final rule. We are announcing these updates prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register to assist petitioners who begin preparing their petitions in advance.

Centralized Filing Location

Petitioners requesting additional H-2B workers under the upcoming rule must file their petitions at the California Service Center. Under standard processes, H-2B petitions are filed at one of two USCIS se

USCIS Releases New Data on Effective Reduction of Backlogs, Support for Humanitarian Missions, and Fiscal Responsibility

WASHINGTON – Today, USCIS released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 progress report (PDF, 1.08 MB) with new information demonstrating how it reduced backlogs in certain programs and supported humanitarian missions. The report summarizes numerous steps USCIS has taken, which include strengthening its fiscal stability, and implementing adjudicatory efficiencies, policy measures and agency-wide backlog reduction efforts. At the same time, USCIS has continued to meet the extraordinary demands on its humanitarian programs, upholding America's promise as a nation of welcome and possibility.

"Every immigration case entrusted to us represen

Secretary Mayorkas Extends and Redesignates Temporary Protected Status for Haiti for 18 Months

News release originally published by the Department of Homeland Security.

Redesignation Allows Newly Eligible Haitian Nationals to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documentation

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for an additional 18 months, from February 4, 2023, through August 3, 2024, due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti. He also redesignated Haiti for TPS, allowing Haitian nationals residing in the United States