Scheduled expiration of employment fourth preference (SR) religious workers category
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, enacted on March 15, 2022, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until September 30, 2022. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight September 29, 2022. Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until September 29, 2022, and all individuals seeking admission in the non-minister special immigrant category must be admitted (repeat admitted) into the United States no later than midnight September 29, 2022.
The SR category is listed as “Unavailable” for all countries for October. If there is legislative action extending the category, it will become available effective immediately and will be subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.
E. RETROGRESSION OF CHINA-MAINLAND BORN FINAL ACTION DATE AND IMPOSITION OF INDIA FINAL ACTION DATE IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIFTH PREFERENCE UNRESERVED CATEGORIES (INCLUDING C5, T5, I5, AND R5)
It was necessary to retrogress the final action date for the China-mainland born Employment-Based Fifth Preference unreserved categories due to heavy demand for numbers, primarily for visa issuances abroad. In addition, sufficient India demand has materialized in the Employment-Based Fifth Preference unreserved categories to require the imposition of a final action date for October. Heavy China-mainland born and India demand along with lower visa number availability for FY-2023 as compared to FY-2021 and FY-2022 has made these corrective actions necessary to keep number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2023 annual limits. The situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments made accordingly.