VISA2US Blog

The topic of green cards and the long wait to obtain one has been part of ongoing legislation for years. In certain countries, individuals have waited years and, in some cases, over a decade to receive their green card. As of the Visa Bulletin’s release of October 1, 2023, there are some major changes on the horizon, but do these help or hinder the green card program? Keep reading to find out.

When you're a foreign national waiting in the virtual queue for your green card, the US Department of State's Visa Bulletin is a vital resource. This bulletin notifies applicants of the latest priority dates per category and country. When yours is current, you can apply to move your green card forward to the next step. October's Visa Bulletin is officially out, and we've summarized the information in the document for you here.

The Visa Bulletin, released monthly by the US Department of State, is read by those visa petitioners still awaiting their priority dates and forward movement for their green cards. Usually, this document is mostly predictable with the occasional surprising changes, but September 2023’s bulletin brings some major news that we’ll explain here.

Following the status of your visa is an important part of the “waiting game.” If you’re lucky, you won’t have to learn the ropes of the US Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for long, as your number will come up quickly. But for those of us with slow-moving Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing, the monthly updates are a time of expectation and anticipation. Here, we’ll break down what you can expect to see in August 2023’s bulletin.

Obtaining a visa to work and live in the United States is challenging, especially if you intend to file for permanent residency once you’re settled into your new country. The process is quite lengthy and can take years (or even decades) for some people, depending on their situation. But if you qualify for a National Interest Waiver, much of this wait time and headache is eliminated. The key to successfully receiving this coveted document is to pass the US government’s three-prong method, and we’ll explain what that includes here.

The State Department has once again started processing investor visa applications, and changes have been marked on the May visa bulletin. In addition, cut-off dates for May and June of 2022 have been listed for DV (green card lottery) applicants.

The U.S. government is looking to revamp the EB-5 investor program with new rules that allow for concurrent adjustment of status filing and provisions for derivative family members.

The program is still accepting eligible applicants, although prospective investors can no longer take out a five-year loan for a Regional Center project and must make a direct investment instead.

Applicant processing times can vary significantly depending on whether one is seeking temporary admission to the United States, filing for a waiver of inadmissibility, or seeking a family based benefit.

The I-129 is an application handled by U.S. based employers to petition for foreign nationals to work in the United States on a temporary basis.