The Visa Bulletin for September 2023 is now out. The updated charts include dates for submitting applications through consular processing and the final action of visa issuance by U.S. embassies or consulates.
What is the Visa Bulletin?
Every month, the U.S. State Department releases a report outlining the availability and priority dates for immigrant visas ready for processing, as well as setting the cut-off dates beyond which visas will not be available for each visa category.
The Visa Bulletin organizes priority dates for applicants according to visa categories: family-sponsored, employment-based, and the Diversity Visa Program (visa lottery). It also updates the dates for various categories based on the immigrants' countries of origin, the number of visas issued so far, and projected visa demand. The information in the Visa Bulletin is subject to monthly changes.
This is a helpful resource for understanding the waiting times for different kinds of visa applications. The monthly Visa Bulletin serves as a guide for the National Visa Center (NVC) in the visa processing and issuance activities at U.S. consulates and embassies.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also refers to the Visa Bulletin to decide whether it can accept or adjudicate an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
If you're in line for a visa, this document allows you to track and check the progress, delays, or lack of movement of the cut-off dates, so you can determine when your priority date is being processed.