What is the Department of State ”fiscal year”?

The concept of ”fiscal year” is quite relevant in the context of the Family Based immigration process, as it involves all the planning and release of visa slots that the Department of State makes available annually. In practice, the fiscal year of the United States Department of State is a 12-month period that begins on October 1st and ends on September 30th of the following year.

This schedule is used to distribute visa quotas, including those for family-based categories, defining the validity period for authorizations and the count of available slots. For those going through immigration processes, understanding the fiscal year is important because many bulletins and charts that show visa availability are based on this calendar.

Thus, when you follow the progress of your Family Based process, knowing exactly where it falls within the fiscal year can help you have expectations better aligned with the deadlines and routine the Department of State follows in releasing visa numbers.

It is essential to emphasize that respecting immigration laws and regulations is fundamental. Therefore, it is recommended to seek information from official sources or specialized professionals to avoid falling victim to scams or marketing campaigns that guarantee results. Staying well informed about the operation of the fiscal year and other aspects of immigration processes contributes to a safer and more transparent experience.

Remember: following the fiscal year calendar and regularly consulting official bulletins can help you better understand where your process fits in this schedule. This way, you will be prepared to deal with the various stages of the process, always in compliance with United States regulations.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.