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Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances

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Unforeseen circumstances, such as natural catastrophes (hurricanes, wildfires, severe weather, etc.), national emergencies (public health emergencies), severe illness, or conflicts abroad, can sometimes affect the processing of your USCIS application, petition, or immigration request. USCIS has discretion to take the below measures on a case-by-case basis upon request, if you have been affected by an unforeseen circumstance. You can request assistance by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. In order to request an expedite through the Contact Center, you must have already filed a benefit request and have a USCIS receipt number. When you request help, you will need to explain how the impact of an unforeseen circumstance (domestic or international) created a need for the requested assistance. For example, if you lost all evidence of status or employment authorization, include an explanation in your description and a copy of a police report, insurance claim, or other report, if available, to support your request. Always keep your address up-to-date with USCIS to ensure you receive all correspondence and benefits from us in a timely manner and avoid possible delays related to your case. To update your address with USCIS, visit How to Change Your Address page of USCIS.gov. Note that changing your address with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will not change your address with USCIS. Please contact USPS if you need to temporarily hold or forward your mail due to unforeseen circumstances or a temporary relocation. Specific Requests Expedited Processing If you need USCIS to consider your request for a service or benefit more quickly, you may make that request when filing or after you file. In order to request an expedite through the Contact Center, you must have already filed a benefit request and have a receipt number. Read more about expedited processing on our website. Extensions and Changes You may request an extension of stay or change of status using Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, or in the case of certain employment-based classifications, Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. If an unforeseen circumstance prevented your planned and timely departure, you may extend or change your status and provide an explanation for your failure to depart. If you do not apply for the extension or change of status before your authorized period of admission expires, USCIS may excuse the delay if it was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond your control. Fee Waivers If you are unable to pay the fee for a USCIS service or benefit, you may request a fee waiver for certain forms by filing Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. Document Replacement You may also request expedited processing for the replacement of lost or damaged immigration documents, such as your Green Card, your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), or Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. If your documents were lost, stolen, or damaged, and you need proof of employment eligibility, see the list of Form I-9 acceptable documents and receipts for other ways to complete Form I-9. Visit I-9 Central for more information. To replace a/n… You must file a… Green Card Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Residence Card, or request interim evidence of permanent residence stamp (I-551 stamp) from a USCIS Field Office.You may file Form I-90 online. Form I-94 Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document Employment Authorization Document Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Employment Authorization Employees If your documents were lost, stolen, or damaged, see the list of Form I-9 acceptable documents and receipts for more information on other ways to complete Form I-9. Visit I-9 Central for more information. To replace an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), you must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. You may also request expedited processing for the replacement of a lost or damaged EAD. Employers All requirements for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, completion and E- Verify remain in place. E-Verify remains available to employers affected by unforeseen circumstances, both directly through the E-Verify web portal and E-Verify employer agents. If you have any questions or issues about using E-Verify from a remote location, please contact E-Verify Support at 888-464-4218 (for employers) or 888-897-7781 (for employees). Severe Economic Hardship to F-1 Students Caused by Unforeseen Circumstances If you experience severe economic hardship because of unforeseen circumstances beyond your control, you may request employment authorization to work off-campus (if you meet certain regulatory requirements). See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9). Examples of unforeseen circumstances include (but are not limited to): To apply, you must submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, along with a copy of your Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and any other supporting materials to USCIS. Your Form I-20 must include the employment page completed by your Designated School Official, certifying your eligibility for off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond your control. If your request is approved, you may be able to work off-campus in one-year intervals up to the expected date of completion of your current course of study. See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(ii). Special Student Relief Special Student Relief (SSR) is the suspension of certain regulatory requirements by the secretary of Homeland Security for F‑1 students from parts of the world that are experiencing emergent circumstances. Examples of emergent circumstances include natural catastrophe, war and military conflicts, and national or international financial crises. DHS designates SSR by publication of a Federal Register notice, which provides the start and end dates of the suspension of those requirements, which may include any or all requirements for on-campus or off-campus employment. A list of active SSR notices is available on the ICE Student and Exchange Visitor Program What’s New webpage. You may be eligible to apply for off-campus employment authorization if you: To apply, you must submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, along with a copy of your Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and any other supporting materials to USCIS. Failure to Appear for an Interview or to Respond to a Request for Evidence If you did … Read more

I-94

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What is a Form I-94? Form I-94 is the DHS Arrival/Departure Record issued to aliens who are admitted to the U.S., whoare adjusting status while in the U.S. or extending their stay, among other things Foreign visitors to the U.S. no longer need to complete paper Customs and Border Protection Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record or Form I-94W Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure Record. Those who need to prove their legal-visitor status—to employers, schools/universities or government agencies—can access their CBP arrival/departure record information online. CBP now gathers travelers’ arrival/departure information automatically from their electronic travel records. Now at the land border, travelers will be issued I-94s electronically and will no longer receive a paper I-94 stub. CBP encourages travelers requiring an I-94 to use the CBP One™ mobile app or the CBP I-94 website to apply for their I-94. For Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers, an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is now required for entry and must be obtained prior to arriving at the U.S. land border. VWP travelers are encouraged to use the I-94 website or CBP One™ mobile app to apply for an I-94 in advance. How do I find my I-94? Check the passport you used the last time you entered the United States or check the I-94 website. What does an I-94 number look like? A Form I-94 is needed by all visitors except: U.S. Citizens, returning resident aliens, aliens with immigrant visas, and most Canadian citizens visiting or in transit. Travelers will be issued an I-94 during the admission process at the port of entry. Beginning in May 2019, I-94 numbers will be alphanumeric. Currently, I-94 numbers are 11 digits long and only contain numbers. I-94 Website https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov The I-94 website has four sections: 1.) applying for a new (provisional) Form I-94; 2.) providing you with your most recent I-94 admission record from 1983 forward for most classes of admission (or parole), and indefinitely for certain classes, such as diplomats and those admitted under the Compacts of Free Association; 3.) displaying your most recent 10 years of travel history; and 4.) querying your compliance with your current period of admission for some nonimmigrant classes. What to do if your I-94 is “Not Found” online If you tried to retrieve your I-94 from the Official online system and you receive a response that your I-94 is “Not Found”, read the following questions to help you check for mistakes and try to enter the information again: 1. Did you enter your first and last name the same way it appears on your passport? 2. Did you enter the passport number that appears on the upper right hand side of your passport? 3. Did you enter your country of citizenship (country that issued the passport, not where you currently live)? 4. If you entered your first and middle name and it is not found, try one name or the other. Also try entering your first and   middle name in the first name box. *Do not use dashes or hyphens when filling out the form on the I-94 website. If you’re still not able to locate your I-94, please contact the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Traveler Communications Center (TCC) by clicking on the “Ask Us A Question” tab below. Select the correct topic for your issue as well as any related issues. We will attempt to respond to you within 72 hours.  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will issue an updated Entry/Departure Record Form I-94 on a Notice of Action Form I-797, to those who applied for and received an extension of stay, change of status, or requested replacement of the original I-94 issued by CBP. USCIS issued I-94 documents are not entered into the CBP online I-94 database, which is why your USCIS issued I-94 cannot be found and viewed. You can use the USCIS issued Entry/Departure Record Form I-94 on the Notice of Action Form I-797 as evidence of your current legal status in the United States. Asylees Most asylum seekers should have received a handwritten or stamped I-94 upon entering the U.S., and may not be able to retrieve I-94 information online.

Applying For U.S. Citizenship

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form n-400 Review the application (Form N-400) instructions Complete the naturalization application, Form N-400 Pay filing fee Form N-400 All applicants must send the following 3 items with their N-400 application: □ Permanent Resident CardA photocopy of both sides of your Permanent Resident Card (formerly known as the Alien Registration Card or “Green Card”). If you have lost the card, submit a photocopy of the receipt of your Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent ResidentCard; and □ FILING FEE A check or money order for the application fee and the biometric services fee, as stated in the M-479, Current Naturalization Fees, enclosure in the Guide.(Applicants 75 years of age or older are exempted from the biometrics services fee). Write your A-Number on the back of the check or money order. You may also pay using a credit card. There is no additional fee when you do so. The N-400 is the only form that you canpay for by credit card using the G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transaction. Check www.uscis.gov for more specificinformation.  your facial features must still be exposed in the photo for purposes of identification. IF YOU RESIDE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES □ 2 identical color photographs, with your name and A – Number written lightly in pencil on the back of each photo. For details about the photo requirements, see Part 5 of Form M-476, or our post on immigration photo requirements.  DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT WITH FORM N-400 AttorneyIf an attorney or accredited representative is acting on your behalf, send:□ A completed original Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative. If Name Is Different Than Your LPR CardIf your current legal name is different from the name on your Permanent Resident Card, send:□ The document(s) that legally changed your name (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court document). If Apply Based on Marriage to a U.S. CitizenIf you are applying for naturalization on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen, send the following 4 items: 1.  Evidence that your spouse has been a U.S     citizen for the last 3 years: Birth certificate (if your spouse never lost citizenship since birth); or Certificate of Naturalization; or Certificate of Citizenship; or The inside of the front cover and signature page of your spouse’s current U.S. passport; or Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America; and 2. Your current marriage certificate; and 3. Proof of termination of all prior marriages of your spouse (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificate(s)); and 4.Documents referring to you and your spouse: Tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages, or birth certificates of children; or Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you both filed for the past 3 years; or An IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years. If you have ever been arrested or detained by any law enforcement officer for any reason, and no charges were filed, send: An original official statement by the arresting agency or applicant court confirming that no charges were filed. If you have ever been arrested or detained by any law enforcement officer for any reason, and charges were filed, send:An original or court-certified copy of the complete arrest record and disposition for each incident (dismissal order, convictionrecord or acquittal order). If you have ever been convicted or placed in an alternative sentencing program or rehabilitative program (such as a drugtreatment or community service program), send: An original or court-certified copy of the sentencing record for each incident; and Evidence that you completed your sentence: a. An original or certified copy of your probation or parole record; or b. Evidence that you completed an alternative sentencing program or rehabilitative program. If you have ever had any arrest or conviction vacated, set aside, sealed, expunged or otherwise removed from your record,send:An original or court-certified copy of the court order vacating, setting aside, sealing, expunging or otherwise removing the arrest or conviction, or an original statement from the court that no record exists of your arrest or conviction. NOTE: If you have been arrested or convicted of a crime, you may send any countervailing evidence or evidence in your favor concerning the circumstances of your arrest and/or conviction that you would like U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services toconsider. If you were married before, send:□ Proof that all earlier marriages ended (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificates(s)). If you are currently in the U.S. military service and are seeking citizenship based on that service, send:□ A completed original Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service. If you have taken any trip outside the United States that lasted 6 months or more since becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident Send evidence that you (and your family) continued to live, work and/or keep ties to the United States, such as: An IRS tax return “transcript” or an IRS-certified tax return listing tax information for the last 5 years (or for the last 3 years ifyou are applying on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen). Rent or mortgage payments and pay stubs.If you have a dependent spouse or child(ren) who do not live with you, send: Any court or government order to provide financial support; and Evidence of your financial support (including evidence that you have complied with any court or government order), such as: a. Cancelled checks; b. Money and receipts; c. A court or agency printout of child support payments; d. Evidence of wage garnishments; e. A letter from the parent or guardian who cares for your child(ren). If you have ever failed to file an income tax return since you became a Lawful Permanent Resident, send: All correspondence with the IRS regarding your failure to file. If you have any Federal, state or local taxes that are overdue, send: A signed agreement from the IRS or state or local tax office showing that you have filed a tax return and arranged to pay thetaxes you owe; and Documentation … Read more

ESTABLISHING EXTREME HARDSHIP

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A. Totality of the Circumstances The officer must make extreme hardship determinations based on the factors, arguments, and evidence submitted. Therefore, the officer should consider any submission from the applicant bearing on the extreme hardship determination. The officer may also consider factors, arguments, and evidence relevant to the extreme hardship determination that the applicant has not specifically presented, such as those addressed in Department of State (DOS) information on country conditions or other U.S. Government determinations regarding country conditions, including a country’s designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Officers must base their decisions on the totality of the evidence and circumstances presented. B. Common Consequences The common consequences of denying admission, in and of themselves, do not warrant a finding of extreme hardship. The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) has held that the common consequences of denying admission include, but are not limited to, the following: C. Factors Must Be Considered Cumulatively The officer must consider all factors and consequences in their totality and cumulatively when assessing whether a qualifying relative will experience extreme hardship either in the United States or abroad. In some cases, common consequences that on their own do not constitute extreme hardship may result in extreme hardship when assessed cumulatively with other factors. For example, if a qualifying relative has a medical condition that alone does not rise to the level of extreme hardship, the combination of that hardship and the common consequences of inferior medical services, economic detriment, or readjusting to life in another country may cumulatively cause extreme emotional or financial hardship for the qualifying relative when considering the totality of the circumstances.  Ordinarily, for example, the fact that medical services are less comprehensive in another country is a common consequence of denying admission; but the inferior quality of medical services, considered along with the individual’s specific medical conditions, may create sufficient difficulties as to rise to the level of extreme hardship in combination with all the other consequences. The officer must weigh all factors individually and cumulatively, as follows: First, the officer must consider whether any factor set forth individually rises to the level of extreme hardship under the totality of the circumstances.  ​Second, if any factor alone does not rise to the level of extreme hardship, the officer must consider all factors together to determine whether they cumulatively rise to the level of extreme hardship. This includes hardships to multiple qualifying relatives.  When considering the factors, whether individually or cumulatively, all factors, including negative factors, must be evaluated in the totality of the circumstances.  D. Examples of Factors that May Support a Finding of Extreme Hardship The chart below lists factors that an applicant might present and that would be relevant to determining whether an applicant has demonstrated extreme hardship to a qualifying relative. This list is not exhaustive; circumstances that are not on this list may also be relevant to finding extreme hardship.  The presence of one or more of the factors below in a particular case does not mean that extreme hardship would necessarily result from a denial of admission. But they are factors that may be encountered and should be considered in their totality and cumulatively in individual cases. All hardship factors presented by the applicant should be considered in the totality of the circumstances in making the extreme hardship determination. Some of the factors listed below apply when the qualifying relative would remain in the United States without the applicant. Other factors apply when the qualifying relative would relocate abroad. Some of the factors might apply under either circumstance.  Family Ties and Impact Qualifying relative’s ties to family members living in the United States, including age, status, and length of residence of any children. Responsibility for the care of any family members in the United States, particularly children, elderly adults, and disabled adults. Impact on the cognitive, social, or emotional well-being of a qualifying relative who is left to replace the applicant as caregiver for someone else, or impact on the qualifying relative (for example, child or parent) for whom such care is required. Social and Cultural Impact Loss of access to the U.S. courts and the criminal justice system, including the loss of opportunity to request or provide testimony in criminal investigations or prosecutions; to participate in proceedings to enforce labor, employment, or civil rights laws; to participate in family law proceedings, victim’s compensation proceedings, or other civil proceedings; or to obtain court orders regarding protection, child support, maintenance, child custody, or visitation. Fear of persecution or societal discrimination. Prior grant of U nonimmigrant status. Existence of laws and social practices in the country of relocation that would punish the qualifying relative because he or she has been in the United States or is perceived to have Western values. Access or lack of access to social institutions and structures (official and unofficial) for support, guidance, or protection. Social ostracism or stigma based on characteristics such as gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, race, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, age, political opinion, marital status, or disability. Qualifying relative’s community ties in the United States and in the country of relocation. Extent to which the qualifying relative has integrated into U.S. culture, including language, skills, and acculturation. Extent to which the qualifying relative would have difficulty integrating into the country of relocation, including understanding and adopting social norms and established customs, including gender roles and ethical or moral codes. Difficulty and expense of travel/communication to maintain ties between qualifying relative and applicant, if the qualifying relative does not relocate. Qualifying relative’s present inability to communicate in the language of the country of relocation, as well as the time and difficulty that learning that language would entail. Availability and quality of educational opportunities for qualifying relative (and children, if any) in the country of relocation. Availability and quality of job training, including technical or vocational opportunities, for qualifying relative (and children, if any) in the country of relocation. Economic Impact Economic impact of applicant’s departure on the qualifying relative, including … Read more

Naturalization Civics Exam

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The Naturalization Civics Examination The civics examination is part of the naturalization interview process and it is legally required in order to obtain US citizenship (unless you are exempt for medical reasons). The civics portion of the naturalization test is an oral examination that will test your knowledge of basic US history (who was the first president), the procedures of government and legal system (who can vote), and important aspects of the political system/structure (like number of members of the Senate). Learn about the civics exam for your naturalization interview at USCIS and how you can prepare for it. You can even take a practice test, or five. GENERAL INFORMATION Structure of the Exam You will receive an interview notice with a date, time, and location for you to appear at USCIS Field Office to present documents, answer questions, and do the English and Civics tests. The USCIS officer will ask you up to 10 questions from the list of 100 civics test questions. You must answer 6 questions correctly to pass the civics test. If you are only asked six questions then you got all six right. If you are asked less than 10 questions then you know you passed. If you don’t pass the civics test then you will be given an opportunity try again at another interview that will be rescheduled by mail (learn about that here). English The English test is a separate part of the naturalization interview process. You must take the civics examination even if you are exempt from the English test, however, you may be permitted to take the civics examination in your native language if you are exempt from the English requirement. If you are not exempt from the English test then you will have to take the civics examination in English. There are also the 65/20 special considerations, which use these questions. Learn more about applying for an exemption from the English test and requesting the use of an interpreter for other portions of the naturalization interview. Medical You can apply for a medical disability exemption by filing this Form N-648 WITH your N-400 application.  STUDY GUIDE The Government’s weird study guide for the test that they call “A More Perfect Union” can be found online on the USCIS website. NATURALIZATION CIVICS EXAM QUESTIONS All 100 Civics Questions in English  All 100 questions in Spanish  100 Preguntas y Respuestas de Educación Cívica All 100 questions in Chinese PRACTICE CITIZENSHIP EXAM Take a practice civics test online to see if you are ready for your USCIS naturalization interview so you don’t delay getting U.S. citizenship. You can take several different citizenship practice tests here as well.  A PRACTICE TESTA SECOND PRACTICE TESTA THIRD PRACTICE TEST External Links Notice I’d note that these practice tests are easy to access and seem to be accurate from wheat I’ve seen, but, they are not from the official USCIS.gov website or any other U.S. Government agency or non-profit so be careful. 

Visa Bulletin

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The number of visas that are available for immigrants coming to the United States is limited under the law. The limitations are determined annually and then a monthly visa bulliten is published based on the number of visas used. The visa bulletin is used to determine when a visa is available. As an example this is the visa bulliten for September 2023. The Department of State has determined the Family and Employment preference numerical limits for FY-2023 in accordance with the terms of Section 201 of the INA. Under INA Section 202(a), the per-country limit is fixed at 7% of the family and employment annual limits.  For FY-2023 the per-country limit is 29,616.  The dependent area annual limit is 2%, or 8,462. These numerical limitations for FY-2023 are as follows: Worldwide Family-Sponsored preference limit:          226,000Worldwide Employment-Based preference limit:        197,091 STATUTORY NUMBERS FOR PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT VISAS This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during September for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center. Unless otherwise indicated on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo, individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with USCIS must use the “Final Action Dates” charts below for determining when they can file such applications. When USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for the fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, USCIS will state on its website that applicants may instead use the “Dates for Filing Visa Applications” charts in this Bulletin.  IMMEDIATE RELATIVES Immediate relative petitions are not subject to the family-sponsor preferences. Immediate relative visas are available once approved. Immediate relatives are considered to be: FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES All other family-sponsored visas are in preference categories. The preference categories will determine when the visa will become available. The family-sponsored preference categories are as follows: First: (F1) Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens:  23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference. Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents:  114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, plus any unused first preference numbers: A. (F2A) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents:  77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit; B. (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents:  23% of the overall second preference limitation. Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens:  23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences. Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens:  65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences. September 2023 FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES Family-Sponsored  All Chargeability Areas ExceptThose Listed CHINA-mainland born INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES  F1 01JAN15 01JAN15 01JAN15 22APR01 01MAR12 F2A 01JAN18 01JAN18 01JAN18 01SEP16 01JAN18 F2B 22SEP15 22SEP15 22SEP15 01AUG01 22OCT11 F3 08JAN09 08JAN09 08JAN09 15JAN98 08JUN02 F4 22APR07 22APR07 15SEP05 01AUG00 22AUG02 Visa Bulletin For September 2023https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES First:  Priority Workers:  28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences. Second:  Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability:  28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference. Third:  Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers:  28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to “*Other Workers”. Fourth:  Certain Special Immigrants:  7.1% of the worldwide level. ***Special Immigrant Juvenile I-360 Petitions also use this preference category, read more. Fifth:  Employment Creation:  7.1% of the worldwide level, of which 32% are reserved as follows: 20% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in a rural area; 10% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in a high unemployment area; and 2% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in infrastructure projects. The remaining 68% are unreserved and are allotted for all other qualified immigrants. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES Employment-based All Chargeability Areas ExceptThose Listed CHINA-mainland born INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 1st 01AUG23 01FEB22 01JAN12 01AUG23 01AUG23 2nd 01JUL22 08JUL19 01JAN11 01JUL22 01JUL22 3rd 01MAY20 01SEP19 01JAN09 01MAY20 01MAY20 Other Workers 01MAY20 01SEP15 01JAN09 01MAY20 01MAY20 4th 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18 Certain Religious Workers 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18 01SEP18 5th Unreserved(including C5, T5, I5, R5) C 08SEP15 01APR17 C C 5th Set Aside:Rural (20%) C C C C C 5th Set Aside:High Unemployment (10%) C C C C C 5th Set Aside:Infrastructure (2%) C C C C C https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html DIVERSITY VISAS DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years.  The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program.  This will result in reduction of the DV-2023 annual limit to approximately 54,833.  DV visas are divided among six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year. For September, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2023 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number: Region All DV Chargeability Areas ExceptThose Listed Separately   AFRICA Current Except:  Algeria     45,000              Egypt        43,200              Morocco   63,400 ASIA 21,000 Except:  Iran     16,000              Nepal  21,000 EUROPE 32,000 Except:  Russia         32,000               Uzbekistan  17,000 NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)  Current   OCEANIA 2,500   SOUTH AMERICA,and the CARIBBEAN 3,150   https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html Entitlement to immigrant status in the … Read more