Current Visa Bulletin (December 2023)

In a Nutshell

There were no changes in wait times for any family- or employment-based green card application categories in December compared to last month (November).

Written by ImmigrationHelp News TeamLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Written November 26, 2023


How To Read the December 2023 Visa Bulletin

The U.S. Department of State has published its December 2023 Visa Bulletin, which shows the most recent priority date cut-offs for green card filings.

The Visa Bulletin can be confusing, so we’ve put all the information you need to know in easy-to-read charts below. To find the cut-off date for your category, you’ll need to know your preference category and your priority date.

  • Your preference category is based on:

    • Your familial connection if you’re applying for a family-based green card

    • Your professional credentials and education if you’re applying for an employment-based green card

  • Your priority date is the date USCIS received your green card application. You can find yours on the Notice of Action (Form I-797) that USCIS sent you via mail or email after receiving your application.

If your priority date is before the cut-off date listed in the relevant chart below — congratulations! — you can submit your green card application. If your priority date is after the cut-off date, you need to wait to submit your green card application.

There are two different dates on the Visa Bulletin: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing. Each month USCIS announces which date U.S.-based green card applicants should reference. The information in the tables below will always reference whichever date USCIS has announced for the current month.

If you want to learn more about the visa bulletin, preference categories, or priority dates, you can read our visa bulletin guide.

Note: For simplicity’s sake, our tables contain the language “All Other Countries” rather than USCIS’s language “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed,” but the meaning and intent is the same.


Family-Based Green Cards by Preference Category

There were no changes in green card wait times for the family-based green card categories for the month of December.

Backlog for F1 (first preference) Green Cards: Unmarried Children (at least 21 years old) of U.S. Citizens

There were no changes in the green card backlog in the F1 category compared to last month.

CountryCut-Off DatePrevious Cut-Off DateChange in Wait TimeCurrent Estimated Wait Time
All other countriesSept. 1, 2017Sept. 1, 2017No change6 years, 1 month
China - mainland bornSept. 1, 2017Sept. 1, 2017No change6 years, 1 month
IndiaSept. 1, 2017Sept. 1, 2017No change6 years, 1 month
MexicoApril 1, 2005April 1, 2005No change18 years, 6 months
PhilippinesApril 22, 2015April 22, 2015No change8 years, 5 month

Backlog for F2A (second preference) Green Cards: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

There were no changes in the green card backlog in the F2A category compared to last month.

CountryCut-Off DatePrevious Cut-Off DateChange in Wait TimeCurrent Estimated Wait Time
All other countriesSept. 1, 2023Sept. 1, 2023No change1 month
China - mainland bornSept. 1, 2023Sept. 1, 2023No change1 month
IndiaSept. 1, 2023Sept. 1, 2023No change1 month
MexicoSept. 1, 2023Sept. 1, 2023No change1 month
PhilippinesSept. 1, 2023Sept. 1, 2023No change1 month

Backlog for F2B (second preference) Green Cards: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents

There were no changes in the green card backlog in the F2B category compared to last month.

CountryCut-Off DatePrevious Cut-Off DateChange in Wait TimeCurrent Estimated Wait Time
All other countriesJan. 1, 2017Jan. 1, 2017No change6 years, 9 months
China - mainland bornJan. 1, 2017Jan. 1, 2017No change6 years, 9 months
IndiaJan. 1, 2017Jan. 1, 2017No change6 years, 9 months
MexicoAug. 1, 2004Aug. 1, 2004No change19 years, 2 month
PhilippinesOct. 1, 2013Oct. 1, 2013No change10 years

Backlog for F3 (third preference) Green Cards: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

There were no changes in the green card backlog in the F3 category compared to last month.

CountryCut-Off DatePrevious Cut-Off DateChange in Wait TimeCurrent Estimated Wait Time
All other countriesMarch 1, 2010March 1, 2010No change13 years, 7 months
China - mainland bornMarch 1, 2010March 1, 2010No change13 years, 7 months
IndiaMarch 1, 2010March 1, 2010No change13 years, 7 months
MexicoJune 15, 2001June 15, 2001No change22 years, 2 month
PhilippinesNov. 8, 2003Nov. 8, 2003No change19 years, 10 months

Backlog for F4 (fourth preference) Green Cards: Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

There were no changes in the green card backlog in the F4 category compared to last month.

CountryCut-Off DatePrevious Cut-Off DateChange in Wait TimeCurrent Estimated Wait Time
All other countriesMarch 1, 2008March 1, 2008No change15 years, 7 months
China - mainland bornMarch 1, 2008March 1, 2008No change15 years, 7 months
IndiaFeb. 22, 2006Feb. 22, 2006No change17 years, 7 months
MexicoApril 15, 2001April 15, 2001No change22 years, 5 month
PhilippinesApril 22, 2004Apri 22, 2004No change19 years, 5 month

What This Means for Family-Based Green Card Applicants

If your priority date is before the cut-off date listed above, you can submit your green card application. If your priority date is after the cut-off date, you need to wait to submit your green card application. Your priority date is the date USCIS received your Form I-130: Petition for Alien Relative. You can find your priority date on the Notice of Action (Form I-797) that USCIS sends you to confirm it has received your I-130 application.


Employment-Based Green Cards by Preference Category

There were no changes in green card wait times for the employee-based green card categories for the month of December.

Backlog for EB-1 Green Cards for Priority Workers 

There were no changes in the green card backlog in the EB-1 category compared to last month.

CountryCut-Off DatePrevious Cut-Off DateChange in Wait TimeCurrent Estimated Wait Time
All other countriesCurrentCurrentNo changeCurrent
China- mainland bornAug. 1, 2022Aug. 1, 2022No change1 year, 2 month
IndiaJuly 1, 2019July 1, 2019No change4 years, 3 month
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo changeCurrent
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo changeCurrent

Backlog for EB-2 Green Cards for Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability

There were no changes in the green card backlog in the EB-2 category compared to last month.

CountryCut-Off DatePrevious Cut-Off DateChange in Wait TimeCurrent Estimated Wait Time
All other countriesJan. 1, 2023Jan. 1, 2023No change9 months
China- mainland bornJan. 1, 2020Jan. 1, 2020No change3 years, 9 months
IndiaMay 15, 2012May 15, 2012No change11 years, 4 months
MexicoJan. 1, 2023Jan. 1, 2023No change9 months
PhilippinesJan. 1, 2023Jan. 1, 2023No change9 months

Backlog for EB-3 Green Cards for Skilled Workers & Professionals

There were no changes in the green card backlog in the EB-3: Skilled Workers & Professionals category compared to last month.

CountryCut-Off DatePrevious Cut-Off DateChange in Wait TimeCurrent Estimated Wait Time
All other countriesFeb. 1, 2023Feb. 1, 2023No change8 months
China- mainland bornSept. 1, 2020Sept. 1, 2020No change3 years, 1 month
IndiaAug. 1, 2012Aug. 1, 2012No change11 years, 2 months
MexicoFeb. 1, 2023Feb. 1, 2023No change8 months
PhilippinesJan. 1, 2023Jan. 1, 2023No change9 months

Backlog for EB-3 Green Cards for Other Workers

There were no changes in the green card backlog in the EB-3: Other Workers category compared to last month.

CountryCut-Off DatePrevious Cut-Off DateChange in Wait TimeCurrent Estimated Wait Time
All other countriesDec. 15, 2020Dec. 15, 2020No change2 years, 9 months
China- mainland bornJune 1, 2017June 1, 2017No change6 years, 4 months
IndiaAug. 1, 2012Aug. 1, 2012No change11 years, 2 months
MexicoDec. 15, 2020Dec. 15, 2020No change2 years, 9 months
PhilippinesMay 15, 2020May 15, 2020No change3 years, 4 months

Backlog for EB-4 Green Cards for Certain Special Immigrants

There were no changes in the green card backlog in the EB-4 category compared to last month.

CountryCut-Off DatePrevious Cut-Off DateChange in Wait TimeCurrent Estimated Wait Time
All other countriesMarch 1, 2019March 1, 2019No change4 years, 7 months
China- mainland bornMarch 1, 2019March 1, 2019No change4 years, 7 months
IndiaMarch 1, 2019March 1, 2019No change4 years, 7 months
MexicoMarch 1, 2019March 1, 2019No change4 years, 7 months
PhilippinesMarch 1, 2019March 1, 2019No change4 years, 7 months

Backlog for EB-5 Green Cards for Immigrant Investors - Unreserved

There were no changes in the green card backlog in the EB-5: Immigrant Investor — Unreserved category compared to last month.

CountryCut-Off DatePrevious Cut-Off DateChange in Wait TimeCurrent Estimated Wait Time
All other countriesCurrentCurrentNo changeCurrent
China- mainland bornJan. 1, 2017Jan. 1, 2017No change6 years, 9 months
IndiaApril 1, 2022April 1, 2022No change1 year, 6 months
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo changeCurrent
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo changeCurrent

What This Means for Employment-Based Green Card Applicants

If your priority date is before the cut-off date listed above, you can submit your green card application. If your priority date is after the cut-off date, you need to wait to submit your green card application. Your priority date is the date USCIS received your PERM application or (if not required) the date USCIS received your Form I-140 or Form I-526, employment-based visa petition. You can find your priority date on the Notice of Action (Form I-797) that USCIS sends you to confirm it has received your employment-based visa application.

How We Calculate Changes in Wait Time

When the cut-off date changes from one month’s Visa Bulletin to the next, you’ll see a change in wait time listed in the tables above. Here’s the formula we use to calculate this change in wait time:

Prior month’s cut-off date – Current cut-off date = Change in wait time

In our calculations, “Current” equals the date that the U.S. Department of State actually released the Visa Bulletin. Each Visa Bulletin represents a snapshot in time; the data isn’t updated in real-time, but rather gathered and released monthly. Using the actual release date of the Visa Bulletin allows us to best estimate the change in wait time and current wait time for various green card preference categories.

Note: For simplicity’s sake, our tables contain the language “All Other Countries” rather than USCIS’s language “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed,” but the meaning and intent are the same.