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The July Visa Bulletin has brought a notable shift in various visa categories. The US State Department has retrogressed the EB-3 All Other Countries category. In the EB-1 category, India has moved forward by 11 months, now at February 1, 2022. This is a big change, marking significant progress for applicants in this category. On the other hand, the EB-2 category for India has advanced by two months, reaching June 15, 2012.
What is the US Visa Bulletin?
The Visa Bulletin lists priority dates, essentially placeholders in the green card application line. Each month, the US Department of State calculates how many applications are waiting in each category, helping them estimate when different applicants might be able to move forward.
Dates for filing
These dates in the Visa Bulletin indicate the earliest date you can submit your adjustment of status or immigrant visa application. If your priority date is on or before the cut-off date listed for your category, you can proceed with the next step in the application process.
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Final action dates
These dates estimate when your application will be processed and decided upon. The difference between Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates roughly reflects the expected USCIS processing time.
Two Ways to Move Forward
1. Filing for Adjustment of Status: If you’re already living in the US
2. Applying for an Immigrant Visa: If you’re living outside the US
Breakdown for Indians: July 2024 Visa Bulletin
The bulletin serves as a guide for the Green Card journey, featuring two essential sections:
Dates for Filing
This section specifies the earliest date applicants can submit their adjustment of status or immigrant visa applications. It helps applicants determine when they can proceed with their filing based on their visa category and country of origin.
Final Action Dates
These dates estimate the wait time for application approval, leading to permanent residency. They function as a queue based on visa category and nationality, indicating when applicants can expect their applications to be processed.
Key Points for Employment-Based Green Cards
To file in July 2024, applicants must have an application date preceding a specific date listed for their category and country in the bulletin, ensuring their eligibility for filing.
Family-Based Preference Categories
In the July 2024 visa bulletin, there's some welcome advancement in most of the family-based preference categories. Unlike the employment-based categories, USCIS will accept cases based on the Date of Filing Chart.
F1: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of US Citizens
In the Final Action Dates chart, there is slight movement. For Mexico, dates advance by over two months to January 1, 2002. For all countries excluding Mexico and the Philippines, dates remain unchanged at July 8, 2015. For the Philippines, dates stay at March 1, 2012.
F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
In this category, the priority dates continue to advance. For Mexico, dates move forward by nearly three months to February 1, 2021. For the rest of the world, dates advance by five months and two weeks to November 15, 2021.
F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
For Mexico, dates advance by four months and one week to July 8, 2004, while for the Philippines, dates remain unchanged at October 22, 2011. For the rest of the world, dates stay at April 1, 2016.
F3: Married Sons and Daughters of US Citizens
Here, dates advance across the board. For the world, dates move forward by over two months to March 1, 2010. For Mexico, dates advance by over four months to December 1, 1999. For the Philippines, dates progress three weeks to August 22, 2002.
F4: Brothers and Sisters of Adult US Citizens: Shifted to January 15, 2006 from December 15, 2005.
Employment-based preferences breakdown
The employment-based categories are designed to meet different skills and investment criteria:
1st Preference (EB-1, Priority Workers): 28.6% of the global employment-based preference level.
2nd Preference (EB-2, Professionals with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability): Also takes 28.6% of the global level.
3rd Preference (EB-3, Skilled Workers and Professionals): Allocated 28.6% globally, with a specific cap for 'Other Workers'.
4th Preference (EB-4, Special Immigrants): Accounts for 7.1% of the global level.
5th Preference (EB-5, Investors): Also set at 7.1% of the global level, with portions set aside for investments in rural and high unemployment areas, as well as infrastructure projects.
Each category has specific allocations and set-asides, affecting applicants from various countries differently.
Annual limits and per-country restrictions
For financial year 2024, the family-sponsored preference limit is set at 226,000, while the employment-based preference limit is at least 140,000. Each country faces a cap of 7% of these totals, which equates to 25,620, ensuring no single country overwhelmingly benefits from the US immigration system.
Application process and final action dates
Applicants need to track the "Final Action Dates" to understand when they might move forward with their applications. When there are more visas available than applicants, USCIS updates its guidelines, potentially allowing earlier filings.
Final Action Dates for employment-based preferences (India)
EB-1 leaps forward 11 months, to February 1, 2022.
EB-2 advances only 2 months, to June 15, 2012.
EB-3 Professional and EB-3 Other Workers progress even less, only 1 month, to September 22, 2012..
EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers: Currently at November 1, 2020.
EB-5 (Unreserved and Set-Aside Categories): Dates vary with some remaining current, reflecting availability for applicants.
Dates for filing
Employment-based preferences:
EB-1 through EB-5: Various dates ranging from current to specific cut-offs in 2020 and 2022, allowing applicants to gauge when to file their applications effectively.
