Fiscal year 2025 has begun with mixed news for those in the green card queue. The State Department has released the October 2024 Visa Bulletin, which provides a summary of available immigrant visas for the first month of fiscal year 2025. Notably, the final action date for the EB-3 category from China has been pushed back five months to April 1, 2020. On the other hand, the filing date for this category will be pushed back about eight months.
Meanwhile, those under India’s Unreserved EB-5 category will see more positive movement, with the Final Action date moved forward by more than a year to January 1, 2022. China’s EB-5 category has also moved forward seven months, but the Filing Date will be pushed back slightly.
What is the US Visa Bulletin?
The U.S. Visa Bulletin is a key document that provides priority dates, which are actually placeholders for green card applicants in various categories. Each month, the State Department determines how many applications are pending in each category, allowing it to estimate when different applicants might move forward in their immigration process.
Ways you can move forward
There are two paths available depending on your situation:
1. Apply for adjustment of status if you already live in the U.S.
2. Apply for an immigrant visa if you are outside the U.S.
Employment-based preference categories
The Visa Bulletin is divided into five employment-based preference categories, each of which is allocated a specific percentage of global visas:
1. Priority Workers (EB-1):
It receives 28.6% of employment-based visas worldwide.
You may use any surplus visa from the EB-4 and EB-5 categories.
2. Members of professions with advanced degrees/individuals of exceptional ability (EB-2):
Obtain 28.6% of global visas.
You may use any unused visa from the EB-1 category.
3. Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers (EB-3):
It receives 28.6% of the world’s visas.
10,000 visas are reserved for “other workers.”
4. Certain special immigrants (EB-4):
Obtaining 7.1% of global visas, with 32% allocated to immigrant investors in rural areas or areas with high unemployment.
5. Job Creation (EB-5):
It receives 7.1% of employment-based visas worldwide.
Key Changes in the October 2024 Visa Bulletin
EB-1
In the first preference category, movement is limited. China records a small advance of one week, while India’s date remains unchanged at February 1, 2022. All other countries remain in effect.
According to the filing date table, India’s deadline is moved forward by more than two months to April 15, 2022, while China’s remains at January 1, 2023.
EB-2
The second preference category has seen slight progress. In the case of China, the deadline for final measures was brought forward by three weeks to 22 March 2020. In the case of India, the deadline remained unchanged at 15 July 2012, and for the rest of the world, the deadline remained at 15 March 2023.
According to the filing date table, changes are observed in both China and India. In the case of India, the deadline is brought forward by six months to 1 January 2013, and in the case of China, by four months to 1 October 2020.
EB-3
In the third preference category, China’s Final Action date has been pushed back by five months to 1 April 2020, an unusual occurrence for this point in the financial year. For India, the date is moved forward by one week to 1 November 2012, while the rest of the world sees a more substantial advance of almost two years to 15 November 2022.
In the filing date chart, China’s date is pushed back by about eight months, while India’s deadline is pushed forward by seven months.
EB-4
The EB-4 (Religious Workers, Ministers, and Non-Ministers Program) will expire on September 30, 2024, unless extended by the U.S. Congress. If not extended, no visas will be issued in this category beginning September 29, 2024.
EB-5
The EB-5 unreserved category has seen some progress. India’s filing date is being moved forward by more than a year, while China’s is being moved forward by seven months. However, China’s filing date is being moved back by three months.
Family-based preference categories
In the family-based preference categories, there are few changes for October, except for Mexico and India in certain categories.
F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
Mexico is up more than seven months as of January 1, 2003, while the rest of the world, including the Philippines, remains unchanged.
F2A: Spouses and children of permanent residents
Mexico’s dates move forward one month, while there is no movement for the rest of the world.
F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters, 21 years of age or older, of permanent residents
Mexico’s date moves forward six months to January 15, 2005.
F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
Mexico advances five months to August 22, 2000, with no changes for other countries.
F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens
India dates move forward one month to March 1, 2006.
The U.S. Visa Bulletin serves as a guide to understanding your situation and how the U.S. immigration system may progress in the coming months.
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