Visa Bulletin for April 2022
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The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the April 2022 Visa Bulletin. The employment-based, second preference (EB2) category for foreign nationals born in India advances a little, while different categories largely remain unchanged. All cutoff dates listed refer to the dates in the final action chart (i.e., Chart A) unless otherwise specified.
Possible Imposition of Final Action Cutoff Date for EB-3 Other Worker
The April Visa Bulletin 2022 warns that the high number utilized in the EB-3 Other Workers category might require the establishment of a worldwide Final Action date as soon as June, in order to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY2022 yearly limit. The State Department takes note that it will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments, as necessary.
EB-5 Regional Center program
On 15th March 2022, Presiden Biden signed an omnibus appropriations bill, which reauthorizes and reforms the EB-5 Regional Center (RC) Program and extends the program through 30th September 2027. However, certain aspects of the RC program don’t go into effect until mid-May, 60 days after the date of the bill’s enactment, and as such, the Visa Bulletin for April 2022 continues to list the Final Action Dates for the EB-5 Regional Center category as “Unavailable” for all countries. More data on the availability of immigrant visas for the RC program is expected to be published in the coming editions of the Visa Bulletin.
April 2022 Visa Bulletin Summary
According to the State Department’s April Visa Bulletin 2022 Predictions, Final Action cutoff dates for the issuance of an immigrant visa will be as follows:
Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1) Category
The EB1 category remains current for all countries of chargeability.
Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2) Category
The cutoff date for EB2 India pushes forward to 8th July 2013. EB2 China’s cutoff date remains unchanged at 1st March 2019. EB2 is current for any remaining nations of chargeability.
Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3) Category
Once more there is no movement in the EB3 category. The cutoff date for EB3 India remains stuck at 15th January 2012, while EB3 China actually has a 22nd March 2018 cutoff date. The EB3 category remains current for any remaining nations of chargeability.
EB3 Other Workers
Except for China, the cutoff dates for EB3 other workers are the same for every country as its respective EB3 cutoff dates. For China, the cutoff date for EB3 different workers advances to 1st June 2012.
[Annual H-1B Visa Lottery Opened on March 1, 2022]
Employment-Based, Fourth Preference (EB4) Category
The EB4 cutoff date for El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras retrogresses to 1st May 2017. For EB4 Mexico, the cutoff date remains at 1st April 2020. This category is current for any remaining nations of chargeability.
Employment-Based, Fifth Preference (EB5) Category
For non-regional center cases, all nations, including China, are current. For regional center cases, EB5 is unavailable because the program has expired. Accordingly, the regional center program remains listed as unavailable in the April 2022 Visa Bulletin Predictions.
