US Visa Bulletin December 2024: Small gains for Indians in EB-2, EB-3

The December 2024 Visa Bulletin has been released by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, providing critical updates for green card applicants across various employment-based and family-sponsored visa categories. This month, Indian applicants see minor forward movement in the employment-based categories EB-2 and EB-3, while family-sponsored visa dates remain static across all regions.

Key Updates for Indian Applicants

In the EB-3 visa category—which allows foreign workers to obtain U.S. permanent residency—the Final Action cutoff date for India advanced by one week, now set at November 8, 2012. However, for other countries like China and Mexico, dates remain unchanged.

The EB-2 category, which covers advanced degree professionals and individuals with exceptional ability, also progressed slightly for Indian applicants, with the cutoff date moving up by a week to March 8, 2006.

Understanding the Visa Bulletin: How It Works

The U.S. Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication that outlines the current priority dates for green card applicants across employment and family categories. It is essential for applicants to track their position in the immigration process, as it indicates when they might advance based on visa availability. The Department of State adjusts these dates each month according to the volume of pending applications across different categories.

Progressing Through the U.S. Immigration Process: Key Options

Green card applicants have two primary pathways, depending on their location:

1. Adjustment of Status: For those already residing in the U.S., this process allows them to transition to permanent resident status without leaving the country.
2. Immigrant Visa Application: Applicants outside the U.S. must apply for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country.

Employment-Based Visa Categories: Breakdown and Updates

Employment-based visas are categorized into five main groups, each with a specific allocation of available visas:

• EB-1 Priority Workers: Allocated 28.6% of global employment-based visas, with additional visas from unused EB-4 and EB-5 categories.
• EB-2 Advanced Degree Professionals and Exceptional Ability: Receives 28.6% of global visas, plus any excess from EB-1.
• EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals: This category also receives 28.6% of the total visas, with an additional 10,000 reserved for “other workers.”
• EB-4 Special Immigrants: Allocated 7.1% of global visas, with a portion set aside for certain groups, like religious workers and U.S. Armed Forces members.
• EB-5 Employment Creation: Reserved for investors, this category receives 7.1% of worldwide employment-based visas.

For December, employment-based categories saw only minor updates:

• EB-1: The Final Action date remains November 8, 2022, for China and February 1, 2022, for India.
• EB-2: China’s date remains at March 22, 2020, while India sees a small advance to August 1, 2012.
• EB-3: Dates for skilled workers and professionals are unchanged, with India’s cutoff date still November 8, 2012.
• EB-5: No changes for unreserved categories in China and India.

Family-Sponsored Visa Categories: No Changes

The December 2024 bulletin notes no movement in family-sponsored visa categories for countries like India, Mexico, and the Philippines, with cutoff dates as follows:

• F4 (Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens): For India, the Final Action date remains on March 8, 2006, with Dates for Filing on August 1, 2006.
• F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): The cutoff for Mexico is November 22, 2004, while it is November 15, 2021, for other regions.
• F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents): Mexican applicants have a cutoff of April 15, 2021, while it is January 1, 2022, for other countries.
• F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): The cutoff date for Mexico is October 22, 2000, while it remains March 1, 2010, for India and other countries.

Looking Ahead

The Visa Bulletin continues to serve as an essential guide for green card applicants, providing crucial insights into their progress within the U.S. immigration process. The next update, expected in January 2025, may bring further adjustments for various categories, mainly as visa demand fluctuates across regions and categories.

A.FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES