The Department of State has issued the October 2024 Visa Bulletin, outlining immigrant visa availability for the first month of Fiscal Year 2025. This bulletin features two charts: the Final Action Dates chart and the Dates for Filing chart, both relevant for Employment-Based and Family-Based immigrant visas. Each month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines which chart applicants in the U.S. seeking Adjustment of Status (AOS) should use. For October 2024, USCIS has confirmed that applicants should use the Dates for Filing chart for both categories.
Here’s a summary of the significant changes in the October 2024 Visa Bulletin:
Employment-Based (EB) Preference Categories
October marks the beginning of the new fiscal year, resetting the number of available visas. Despite this, most EB categories see minimal movement under the Final Action Dates chart, with some categories experiencing retrogression.
EB-1
In the EB-1 (Priority Workers) category, minor changes are observed. The cutoff date for China advances by one week to November 8, 2022, while India’s date remains at February 1, 2022. Other countries will continue to be current. Under the Date of Filing Chart, China’s cutoff for AOS applications remains at January 1, 2023, while India’s advances to April 15, 2022.
EB-2
For EB-2 (Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability), China sees a small advancement, with the cutoff date moving to March 22, 2020. India’s date remains at July 15, 2012, and the rest of the world stays at March 15, 2023. The Dates for Filing Chart shows China’s cutoff advancing to October 1, 2020, and India’s to January 1, 2013.
EB-3
In the EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers) category, there is retrogression for China, with the cutoff moving back five months to April 1, 2020. For India, the dates advance by one week to November 1, 2012, and for other countries, the cutoff advances nearly two years to November 15, 2022. The Dates for Filing Chart shows India’s date advancing to June 8, 2013, while China’s retrogresses to November 15, 2020.
EB-4
The EB-4 (Minister and Non-Minister Religious Workers) category is set to expire on September 30, 2024, unless Congress acts to extend it. Without an extension, this category will become unavailable from September 29, 2024, halting the issuance of these visas and approval of pending AOS applications.
EB-5
In the EB-5 (Investors) category, there are some positive advancements. For the Unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5), India’s dates advance to January 1, 2022, and China’s to July 15, 2016. For the EB-5 set-aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure), dates remain current.
Family-Based Preference Categories
In the Family-Based Preference category, most dates remain unchanged except for Mexico and one category for India.
F1
In the F-1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) category, Mexico’s dates advance by over seven months to January 1, 2003. The dates for the Philippines remain at March 1, 2012, and other countries stay at October 22, 2015.
F2A
In the F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents) category, Mexico’s dates advance by over one month to March 8, 2021. The rest of the world’s dates remain the same.
F2B
For F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents over 21), Mexico’s dates advance by over six months to January 15, 2005.
F3
In the F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) category, Mexico’s dates advance by over five months to August 22, 2000.
F4
For F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens), India’s date advances by over one month to March 1, 2006.
We will continue to monitor and report on Visa Bulletin updates. For questions regarding priority dates or visa applications, feel free to reach out to us for expert advice and assistance.