US November Visa Bulletin: Key Updates for Indian Applicants in Family and Employment-Based Visas

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has issued the November 2024 Visa Bulletin, providing critical updates for green card applicants. While no significant changes occurred in the employment-based visa categories compared to October’s bulletin, Indian applicants in family-sponsored visa categories saw some advancements.

Key Changes for Indian Applicants

In the family-sponsored visa category, Indian applicants saw some movement in the F4 category, which applies to siblings of U.S. citizens. The Final Action cutoff dates for India moved forward by one week, now standing at March 8, 2006. Meanwhile, in the Dates for Filing section, this category advanced by one and a half months, now set at August 1, 2006.

The F4 visa allows U.S. citizens to sponsor their siblings for immigration to the United States. In addition to their siblings, applicants can also bring their spouses and minor children under this visa category.

Understanding the Visa Bulletin

The U.S. Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication that provides green card applicants with important information about the availability of visas in various categories. It is essential for understanding when applicants might move forward in their immigration process. Each month, the Department of State reviews the current visa backlog and adjusts the priority dates based on the number of pending applications. These adjustments determine when applicants from different countries can proceed to the next step in their application process.

Pathways to Progress for Green Card Applicants

Applicants waiting for their green cards generally have two main paths to follow, depending on their location:

1. Adjustment of Status: This is an option for those already residing in the U.S. It allows visa holders to adjust their status and become permanent residents without leaving the country.

2. Immigrant Visa Application: For applicants outside the U.S., they must go through the consular processing system by applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy.

Employment-Based Visa Categories: An Overview

The Visa Bulletin breaks down employment-based green cards into five categories, each with its allocation of the total available visas:

1. EB-1 (Priority Workers): This category receives 28.6% of global employment-based visas. It also includes any surplus visas from the EB-4 and EB-5 categories.

2. EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals/Exceptional Ability): This group also receives 28.6% of the total visas, plus any leftover visas from the EB-1 category.

3. EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals): Similarly, EB-3 is allocated 28.6% of the visas, with 10,000 reserved for “other workers.”

4. EB-4 (Special Immigrants): This category is allocated 7.1% of global visas. A portion of these visas is designated for religious workers and other special immigrants.

5. EB-5 (Employment Creation): Reserved for immigrant investors, this category receives 7.1% of the worldwide employment-based visas.

Family-Sponsored Visa Category Updates

November’s bulletin brought significant updates for family-sponsored visa categories, especially for Indian applicants. Here’s a closer look at the changes:

– F4 (Siblings of U.S. Citizens): As mentioned earlier, for Indian applicants, the Final Action date advanced by one week, moving to March 8, 2006. The Dates for Filing advanced by 1.5 months to August 1, 2006.

– F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): This category did not see much movement for India, but applicants from Mexico saw significant progress, with the Final Action date advancing by nearly two years, now standing at November 22, 2004. The Philippines and other countries experienced no changes in this category.

– F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents): For Indian applicants, this category showed slight movement, with Mexico’s cutoff date moving forward by 1.2 months to April 15, 2021. For other countries, the date advanced by 1.3 months to January 1, 2022.

– F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): In this category, Mexico’s Final Action date advanced by two months to October 22, 2000. India and other regions saw minimal or no changes.

These updates help family-sponsored visa applicants track their progress in the immigration queue and understand when they can move forward with their applications.

### What’s Happening with Employment-Based Visas?

Unlike family-sponsored categories, employment-based categories did not see any new movements in November 2024. The categories remained unchanged compared to October. Here is a breakdown of the current status of the major employment-based visa categories for Indian and Chinese applicants:

– EB-1 (Priority Workers): China remainsat November 8, 2022, while India’s priority date is February 1, 2022.

– EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals): The dates for China and India also remain the same. China’s priority date is set at March 22, 2020, and India’s at July 15, 2012.

– EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals): This category is also unchanged. India’s priority date remainsat November 1, 2012.

– EB-5 (Employment Creation): The unreserved categories for China and India remain unchanged in the November bulletin.

The lack of movement in these categories indicates that applicants will have to wait longer before they can proceed with their applications.

Visa Bulletin as a Critical Tool for Green Card Applicants

The U.S. Visa Bulletin remains an essential resource for green card applicants, providing them with up-to-date information on where they stand in the immigration process. For many, the monthly updates are a source of anticipation, helping them understand when they might reach the next stage of their journey toward permanent residency. While the November bulletin brought some progress in family-sponsored categories for Indian applicants, particularly in the F4 category, those in employment-based categories will need to remain patient, as there were no significant advancements this month.

Ultimately, the bulletin plays a crucial role in guiding both family-sponsored and employment-based green card applicants as they navigate the complexities of the U.S. immigration system.