December 2024 Visa Bulletin Brings Slight Movement for Indian EB-2 and EB-3 Green Card Applicants; Family-Sponsored Visas Remain Static

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has issued its December 2024 Visa Bulletin, highlighting minor shifts in employment-based green card categories and unchanged family-sponsored categories. The bulletin, a critical tool for green card applicants, shows slight advances for Indian applicants in the EB-2 and EB-3 employment categories but holds family-sponsored visa dates steady for all regions.

Updates for Indian Green Card Applicants

For Indian applicants in the EB-3 category, which permits certain foreign workers to obtain U.S. permanent residency, the Final Action cutoff date has moved forward by one week, now set at November 8, 2012. For applicants from other countries, including China and Mexico, the dates have remained static.

The EB-2 category, which includes applicants such as siblings of U.S. citizens, has also seen a one-week progression for India, with the Final Action cutoff date now listed as March 8, 2006.

Understanding the Visa Bulletin and Its Role

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication that provides essential updates for green card applicants regarding priority dates in various categories. It plays a key role in helping applicants understand their position in the immigration process, particularly as visa allocation is influenced by the number of applications already in the queue.

The Department of State evaluates visa availability each month and adjusts the dates accordingly based on the volume of pending applications across the different visa categories. These monthly assessments and updates help applicants gauge potential timelines for advancing in the green card process.

Primary Routes for Green Card Applicants

Green card applicants can follow two main paths depending on their location:

1. Adjustment of Status:This process allows those already living in the U.S. to change their visa status to permanent residency.

2. Immigrant Visa Application: Applicants living outside the U.S. must apply for an immigrant visa through a U.S. consulate or embassy in their home country.

Employment-Based Visa Categories and Allocations

The Visa Bulletin provides a breakdown of five employment-based visa categories, each allocated a specific percentage of the total annual visas available:

– EB-1 Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based visas areallocated to this category, including any unused EB-4 and EB-5 visas.

– EB-2 Advanced Degree Professionals/Exceptional Ability:This category also receives 28.6% of global visas and includes any unused visas from the EB-1 category.

– EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals: Another 28.6% of the visas are allocated to this category, with an additional 10,000 visas specifically designated for “other workers.”

– EB-4 Special Immigrants:This category receives 7.1% of global visas, with specific allocations for investors in designated areas.

– EB-5 Employment Creation: This category is also assigned 7.1% of worldwide employment-based visas, directed towards investors.

No Changes for Family-Sponsored Visa Categories

The December Visa Bulletin shows no changes in family-sponsored visa categories for applicants from India, Mexico, the Philippines, or other regions. Key dates remain consistent for each category, as detailed below:

– F4 (Siblings of U.S. citizens):For India, the Final Action date remains atMarch 8, 2006, while Dates for Filing are set at August 1, 2006.

– F1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens): The cutoff date for Mexico remains November 22, 2004, while for applicants from other countries, it is November 15, 2021.

– F2A (Spouses and children of permanent residents): The date is set at April 15, 2021, for Mexican applicants and January 1, 2022, for other countries.

– F3 (Married adult children of U.S. citizens): For Mexican applicants, the cutoff remains October 22, 2000, while for India and other regions, it is March 1, 2010.

Status of Employment-Based Categories in December

For December, no significant movement was noted in employment-based categories. Details are as follows:

– EB-1: The date for China remainsat November 8, 2022, while India is set at February 1, 2022.

– EB-2: The date for China remainsat March 22, 2020. India has seen a slight advancement, with the date now at August 1, 2012.

– EB-3: Dates for professionals and skilled workers remain unchanged for India at November 8, 2012.

– EB-5:No changes have been made for the unreserved categories for China and India.

The Visa Bulletin remains an essential resource for applicants seeking U.S. permanent residency, allowing them to track their progress within the immigration system. The next Visa Bulletin release, anticipated in January 2025, may bring additional updates across different categories.