Employment-Based Green Card Priority Date Retrogression

According to the visa bulletin released in 2023, priority dates have retrogressed in some employment-based immigration categories. Specifically, the priority dates for EB3 skilled and unskilled workers for adjustment of status within the United States have retrogressed to February 1, 2022, for all countries except China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines. In other words, China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines have different priority date cutoffs. The priority date for the second preference category of employment-based immigration, National Interest Waiver (NIW), remains unchanged at February 15, 2022.

In the case of NIW, the priority date for immigrant visa applications from South Korea has advanced rapidly compared to adjustment of status, and it is now December 1, 2022. This change is favorable for individuals applying for immigrant visas through NIW from South Korea.

Regarding family sponsorship, excluding Mexico, all countries have open priority dates for the adjustment of status applications filed by spouses and unmarried minor children of U.S. green card holders before September 8, 2020. Immigrant visa applications are open for all countries, meaning that immigrant visa applications can currently be processed for all countries. This information remains unchanged.