Let’s delve deeper into the detailed analysis of the changes from August 2024 to September 2024 Visa Bulletins, covering both the family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visa categories with comprehensive data and insights.
The Visa Bulletin, released monthly by the U.S. Department of State, provides updates on the availability of immigrant visas based on priority dates, which dictate when applicants can proceed with their immigration process. The bulletin is divided into two key sections: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications. Changes in these dates from one month to the next can significantly impact applicants’ timelines. This analysis will explore the specific changes that occurred between August 2024 and September 2024, offering a detailed breakdown of how these shifts might affect prospective immigrants.
1. Family-Sponsored Preference Categories
Family-sponsored immigrant visas are issued in several preference categories, which are prioritized based on the relationship between the applicant and the U.S. citizen or permanent resident petitioner.
A. Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases
Final Action Dates represent the cutoff dates for issuing visas. If an applicant’s priority date is earlier than the final action date listed, they can proceed with their immigration application. Below, we compare the Final Action Dates between August 2024 and September 2024:
Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases (August vs. September 2024)
| Family-Sponsored Category | Chargeability Areas | August 2024 | September 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 22OCT15 | 22OCT15 | No Change |
| Mexico | 08MAY02 | 08MAY02 | No Change | |
| Philippines | 01MAR12 | 01MAR12 | No Change | |
| F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 15NOV21 | 15NOV21 | No Change |
| Mexico | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | No Change | |
| F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 01MAY16 | 01MAY16 | No Change |
| Mexico | 15JUL04 | 15JUL04 | No Change | |
| Philippines | 22OCT11 | 22OCT11 | No Change | |
| F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 01APR10 | 01APR10 | No Change |
| Mexico | 01MAR00 | 01MAR00 | No Change | |
| Philippines | 08SEP02 | 08SEP02 | No Change | |
| F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 01AUG07 | 01AUG07 | No Change |
| India | 22JAN06 | 22JAN06 | No Change | |
| Mexico | 08FEB01 | 08FEB01 | No Change | |
| Philippines | 01FEB04 | 01FEB04 | No Change |
Key Observations:
- No Movement: Across all family-sponsored categories and chargeability areas, there were no changes in the Final Action Dates from August 2024 to September 2024. This indicates that the demand and processing capabilities remained stable, with no significant backlog movement.
- Impact: Applicants with priority dates before these cutoffs could already file their visa applications. Since there were no changes, those who were eligible in August 2024 remain eligible in September 2024, but no additional applicants with later priority dates have become eligible.
B. Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications
The Dates for Filing chart indicates when applicants can begin submitting their visa applications, even if their Final Action Dates are not yet current.
Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications (August vs. September 2024)
| Family-Sponsored Category | Chargeability Areas | August 2024 | September 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | No Change |
| Mexico | 01APR05 | 01APR05 | No Change | |
| Philippines | 22APR15 | 22APR15 | No Change | |
| F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents) | All chargeability areas | 15JUN24 | 15JUN24 | No Change |
| F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | No Change |
| Mexico | 01MAY05 | 01MAY05 | No Change | |
| Philippines | 01OCT13 | 01OCT13 | No Change | |
| F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 01JAN11 | 01JAN11 | No Change |
| Mexico | 15JUN01 | 15JUN01 | No Change | |
| Philippines | 08NOV03 | 08NOV03 | No Change | |
| F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 01MAR08 | 01MAR08 | No Change |
| India | 15JUN06 | 15JUN06 | No Change | |
| Mexico | 30APR01 | 30APR01 | No Change | |
| Philippines | 01APR06 | 01APR06 | No Change |
Key Observations:
- Stability Across the Board: Similar to the Final Action Dates, there were no changes in the Dates for Filing across all family-sponsored categories.
- Impact: Applicants who became eligible to file in August 2024 remain eligible in September 2024. However, the lack of date advancement means no new applicants have been added to the filing queue.
2. Employment-Based Preference Categories
Employment-based visas are divided into several preference categories, each targeting specific types of workers, from highly skilled professionals to investors. Significant changes were observed in some of these categories between August and September 2024.
A. Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases
Final Action Dates for employment-based categories dictate when a visa can be issued to an applicant.
Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases (August vs. September 2024)
| Employment-Based Category | Chargeability Areas | August 2024 | September 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (Priority Workers) | All chargeability areas except those listed | C | C | No Change |
| China | 01FEB22 | 01NOV22 | Advanced | |
| India | 01FEB22 | 01FEB22 | No Change | |
| EB-2 (Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 15MAR23 | 15MAR23 | No Change |
| China | 01MAR20 | 01MAR20 | No Change | |
| India | 15JUL12 | 15JUL12 | No Change | |
| EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 01DEC21 | 01DEC20 | Retrogressed |
| China | 01SEP20 | 01SEP20 | No Change | |
| India | 22OCT12 | 22OCT12 | No Change | |
| EB-4 (Certain Special Immigrants, including Religious Workers) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | No Change |
| EB-5 (Employment Creation, including Unreserved, Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure Projects) | All chargeability areas except those listed | C | C | No Change |
| China | 15DEC15 | 01DEC20 | Advanced | |
| India | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 | No Change |
Key Observations:
- EB-1:
- China: The final action date advanced from February 1, 2022, to November 1, 2022. This advancement likely reflects reduced demand or increased visa availability.
- India: No change, maintaining a date of February 1, 2022.
- **All Other Countries
**: Remained current (C), indicating immediate visa availability.
- EB-2:
- No Changes: Across all chargeability areas, including China and India, the dates remained the same.
- EB-3:
- Retrogression for All Chargeability Areas: The date retrogressed from December 1, 2021, to December 1, 2020, reflecting increased demand or reduced visa availability.
- China and India: No changes, maintaining previous dates.
- EB-5:
- China: The date advanced from December 15, 2015, to December 1, 2020, indicating increased visa availability or reduced demand.
Impact: The advancements in EB-1 for China and EB-5 for China suggest improved processing times for applicants from these regions. However, the retrogression in EB-3 for all chargeability areas indicates increased waiting times for new applicants in this category.
B. Dates for Filing Employment-Based Visa Applications
The Dates for Filing chart for employment-based categories indicates when applicants can submit their visa applications.
Update August 9th: The below information is corrected and updated.
Dates for Filing Employment-Based Visa Applications (August vs. September 2024)
| Employment-Based Category | Chargeability Areas | August 2024 | September 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (Priority Workers) | All chargeability areas except those listed | C | C | No Change |
| China | 08FEB22 | 01JAN23 | Advanced | |
| India | 08FEB22 | 08FEB22 | No Change | |
| EB-2 (Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 22MAR23 | 22MAR23 | No Change |
| China | 01JUN20 | 01MAR20 | Retrogressed | |
| India | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | No Change | |
| EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 01FEB23 | 01JAN23 | Retrogressed |
| China | 01JUL21 | 01JUL21 | No Change | |
| India | 01NOV12 | 01NOV12 | No Change | |
| EB-4 (Certain Special Immigrants, including Religious Workers) | All chargeability areas except those listed | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | No Change |
| EB-5 (Employment Creation, including Unreserved, Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure Projects) | All chargeability areas except those listed | C | C | No Change |
| China | 01JAN17 | 01APR22 | Advanced | |
| India | 01APR22 | 01APR22 | No Change |
Key Observations:
- EB-1:
- China: “The date advanced from February 8, 2022, to January 1, 2023.”
- India: “The date remained at February 8, 2022 (no change).”
- All Other Countries: Remained current (C).
- EB-2:
- China: The date retrogressed from June 1, 2020, to March 1, 2020, reflecting an increased backlog.
- India: No change, maintaining the date at July 22, 2012.
- EB-3:
- All Chargeability Areas: The date retrogressed from February 1, 2023, to January 1, 2023, indicating an increased backlog.
- China and India: No changes, maintaining previous dates.
- EB-5:
- China: The date advanced from January 1, 2017, to April 1, 2022, suggesting improved processing or increased visa availability.
Impact: The retrogression in filing dates for EB-1 China and EB-2 China indicates growing backlogs. The retrogression in EB-3 filing dates reflects increasing demand, which could lengthen waiting times for new applicants.
3. Diversity Visa (DV) Category
The Diversity Visa (DV) program allocates visas to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. The key changes in this category are reflected in the regional cutoff numbers.
Table: Diversity Immigrant (DV) Category Rank Cut-Offs (August vs. September 2024)
| Region | August 2024 | September 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 75,000 | Current | Advanced |
| Algeria | 74,900 | 108,500 | |
| Egypt | 50,000 | 57,000 | |
| Morocco | 70,000 | 70,000 | |
| Asia | 15,000 | 27,500 | Advanced |
| Iran | 14,500 | 22,000 | |
| Nepal | 12,000 | 13,000 | |
| Europe | 30,000 | 50,000 | Advanced |
| Russia | 29,500 | 49,500 | |
| Uzbekistan | 12,500 | 17,000 | |
| North America | Bahamas | 20 | Current |
| Oceania | 2,000 | 2,700 | Advanced |
| South America and the Caribbean | 3,150 | 5,000 | Advanced |
Key Observations:
- Significant Advancements: Across all regions, there were significant advancements in cutoff numbers, allowing more applicants to become eligible for the Diversity Visa program.
- Impact: The advancements in cutoff numbers indicate an increased allocation of DV visas for September, allowing more applicants to proceed with their applications. This is a positive development for those in regions with high cutoff numbers.
4. Additional Observations and Implications
- Retrogression Warning: The Visa Bulletin for September 2024 included a warning about potential retrogression in the Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3) and Other Workers (EW) categories due to high demand. This suggests that while some categories advanced, others may face delays in the future.
- Impact on Applicants: Applicants should monitor the Visa Bulletin closely each month to understand how changes may affect their immigration process. The advancements in some categories could mean faster processing times, while retrogressions could indicate longer waits.
The changes between the August 2024 and September 2024 Visa Bulletins highlight the dynamic nature of the U.S. immigration process. While family-sponsored categories remained stable, employment-based categories saw significant changes, with advancements in some areas and retrogressions in others. The Diversity Visa category experienced substantial advancements, opening up more opportunities for applicants.
Applicants are encouraged to stay informed about monthly updates to the Visa Bulletin to understand their current standing and plan their immigration strategies accordingly. This detailed analysis provides a comprehensive view of the evolving immigration landscape, helping applicants navigate the complex process with greater clarity.
Dates for Filing Employment-Based Visa Applications, you have swapped the dates for India and China. For India, there is no change as it remains at 08-FEB-22 whereas for China it has advanced to 01-JAN-23. However, you have mentioned advanced for India and retrogressed for China. Please correct this discrepancy. Refer the details on the USCIS Visa Bulletin site.
Thanks for flagging that for us. You’ve got a keen eye – there was definitely a mix-up in our table for the filing dates of India and China. We’ve now corrected the article. Just to confirm, India’s date is still February 8, 2022, but we’ve updated China’s to January 1, 2023.
We really value this kind of feedback from our readers. It’s a big help in keeping our reports accurate and reliable. Thanks again for taking the time to let us know about this. We appreciate it.