The U.S. Department of State has released the September Visa Bulletin, which shows a one-year rollback for all countries except India and China under the EB-3 framework, including Mexico and the Philippines. The EB-3 visa is an employment-based immigrant visa category for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers seeking permanent residency in the United States. This monthly update is important if you are waiting for a green card because it shows how long you might have to wait.
Key changes:
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EB-3 Retrogression: Most countries, including Mexico and the Philippines, experienced a one-year delay in the EB-3 category. This means that the priority date for these applicants has been postponed to December 1, 2020. -
No changes for India and China:Applicants from India and China in the EB-3 category were not affected by the regression.
This change will result in longer wait times to obtain a green card for many EB-3 applicants. It is important for those affected to stay informed about visa bulletin updates and consult an immigration attorney for guidance.
No significant changes for most EB-1 categories in the September visa bulletin
The September 2024 Visa Bulletin indicates minimal changes for most EB-1 categories.
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EB-1 India and China:The priority dates for these categories remain February 1, 2022, and November 1, 2022, respectively. -
Other countries:Most other countries in the EB-1 category have maintained their “current” status, indicating that there will be no immediate changes to priority dates.
This means that applicants from India and China in the EB-1 category will continue to face significant wait times. For applicants from other countries, the situation has not changed for now.
- The Visa Bulletin is a monthly update that provides information on visa availability. It is essential to check the bulletin periodically for the latest updates and changes.
- The September Visa Bulletin issued by the Department of State outlines the Final Action deadlines for approval of a change of status application or issuance of an immigrant visa.
- The September Visa Bulletin outlines the number of immigrant visas available in September, Final Action Dates and Application Filing Dates, and shows when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to gather and submit necessary documents to the National Visa Center.
The U.S. Department of State has reported an increase in demand for employment-based visas. This surge in applications, combined with existing quotas, has contributed to visa processing delays.
Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases
According to the Department of State’s September 2024 Visa Bulletin, the final action deadlines for the issuance of an employment-based immigrant visa or the approval of an adjustment of status application are as follows:
- EB-1: All other countries will remain unchanged as they are today. India will remain as of February 1, 2022. China will remain as of November 1, 2022.
- EB-2: China will remain on March 1, 2020. India will remain on July 15, 2012. All other countries will remain on March 15, 2023.
- EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals: India will remain on October 22, 2012, while China will remain on September 1, 2020. All other countries will go back one year.
- EB-3 Other Workers: India will remain until October 22, 2012, and China will remain until January 1, 2017. The Philippines will remain until May 1, 2010. All other countries move back one month.
- Unreserved EB-5 categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5): India will remain in effect as of December 1, 2020, and China will remain in effect as of December 15, 2015. All other countries will remain in effect.
- EB-5 reserved categories, such as Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure, will remain in effect for all countries.
EB1
China: November 1, 2022
India: 1st February 2022
All other countries: Current
EB-2:
China: March 1, 2020
India: July 15, 2012
Other countries: March 15, 2023
EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals:
China: September 1, 2020
India: October 22, 2012
All other countries: December 1, 2020
EB-3 Other workers:
China: January 1, 2017
India: October 22, 2012
Philippines: May 1, 2020
All other countries: December 1, 2020
EB-4:
All countries: January 1, 2021
EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center):
China: December 15, 2015
India: 1st December 2020
All other countries: Current
The September 2024 Visa Bulletin reflects an increase in demand for employment-based visas. Due to this increase, the U.S. Department of State has had to adjust visa availability, resulting in delays for many applicants.
- Visa caps approaching: The total number of employment-based visas for the fiscal year is approaching its limit, causing processing delays.
- Potential for future changes: The rapid pace at which visa limits are being reached suggests possible future adjustments to visa availability.
For fiscal year 2024, the cap for family-sponsored preference immigrants is 226,000, while the cap for employment-based preference immigrants is 160,791.
The limit on preference immigrants from each country is set at 7% of the combined annual limits for employment-based and family-sponsored preferences, which means the quota for fiscal year 2024 is 27,075. In addition, the dependent area limit is set at 2%, which is equivalent to 7,736.
The EB-5 visa, also known as the employment-based fifth preference visa, accounts for 7.1% of global job creation, with 32% reserved in the following categories: 20% for immigrants investing in rural regions, 10% for those investing in areas with high unemployment, and 2% for those investing in infrastructure projects. The remaining 68% is not allocated in advance and is distributed among all eligible immigrants.
First published: August 13, 2024 | 09:22 IS
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