The U.S. Department of State issues the monthly Visa Bulletin to inform individuals about the availability of immigrant visas based on priority dates. Each month’s bulletin presents “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” which guide applicants on when they can move forward with their visa process. In this article, we will explore the key changes between the October 2024 Visa Bulletin and the preceding September 2024 Visa Bulletin. This comparative analysis will focus on family-sponsored and employment-based preferences, highlighting crucial adjustments.
Overview of the Visa Bulletin System
Before delving into the changes, it’s essential to understand the structure of the Visa Bulletin:
- Final Action Dates: These dates indicate when visas can be issued to applicants.
- Dates for Filing Applications: These dates guide applicants on when to submit documents to the National Visa Center or USCIS.
The primary difference between the October and September 2024 bulletins lies in shifts in priority dates, retrogression, and possible advancements, depending on the demand and the number of available visas.
Family-Sponsored Preference Immigrant Visas
The family-sponsored preferences category is divided into four classes based on the relationship of the petitioner to the applicant.
A. Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases
| Preference Category | September 2024 (Final Action Date) | October 2024 (Final Action Date) | Notable Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | 22OCT15 (All countries except Mexico and Philippines) | 22OCT15 | No changes |
| F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents) | 15NOV21 (All chargeability areas) | 22NOV21 (All chargeability areas) | Slight advancement for most areas |
| F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents) | 01MAY16 | 01MAY16 | No changes |
| F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | 01APR10 (All chargeability areas) | 01APR10 | No changes |
| F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens) | 01AUG07 | 01AUG07 | No changes |
Key Observations for October 2024:
- F1 and F2B remain unchanged across all chargeability areas. However, there is a slight advancement in the F2A category for spouses and children of permanent residents, particularly from November 2021 to November 2022 for most countries.
B. Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications
| Preference Category | September 2024 (Dates for Filing) | October 2024 (Dates for Filing) | Notable Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01SEP17 (All chargeability areas) | 01SEP17 | No changes |
| F2A | 15JUN24 (All chargeability areas) | 15JUL24 | Slight advancement |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | No changes |
| F3 | 01JAN11 | 01JUL11 | Six-month advancement |
| F4 | 01MAR08 | 01MAR08 | No changes |
Key Observations for October 2024:
- There is a noticeable six-month advancement in the F3 category for married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, moving from January 2011 to July 2011. The F2A category also experienced a minor advancement for filing applications, shifting from June to July 2024.
Employment-Based Preference Immigrant Visas
The employment-based preferences are divided into five classes, prioritizing different types of workers.
A. Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases
| Preference Category | September 2024 (Final Action Date) | October 2024 (Final Action Date) | Notable Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (Priority Workers) | 01NOV22 (China, India) | 08NOV22 (China) and 01FEB22 (India) | India retrogresses |
| EB-2 (Advanced Degree Holders) | 01MAR20 (China), 15JUL12 (India) | 22MAR20 (China), 15JUL12 (India) | Slight advancement for China |
| EB-3 (Skilled Workers/Professionals) | 01SEP20 (China), 22OCT12 (India) | 01APR20 (China), 01NOV12 (India) | Slight advancement for China |
| Other Workers | 01JAN17 (China), 22OCT12 (India) | 01JAN17 (China), 01NOV12 (India) | No significant changes |
| EB-5 (Employment Creation – Unreserved) | 15DEC15 (China) | 15JUL16 (China) | Slight advancement for China |
Key Observations for October 2024:
- India experienced retrogression in EB-1, moving from February 2022 to November 2022.
- EB-2 and EB-3 categories saw slight advancements for China, with no significant changes for India.
B. Dates for Filing Employment-Based Visa Applications
| Preference Category | September 2024 (Dates for Filing) | October 2024 (Dates for Filing) | Notable Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (Priority Workers) | 01JAN23 (India, China) | 01JAN23 | No changes |
| EB-2 (Advanced Degree Holders) | 01JUN20 (China), 22JUL12 (India) | 01OCT20 (China), 01JAN13 (India) | Minor changes for China |
| EB-3 (Skilled Workers/Professionals) | 01JUL21 (China), 01NOV12 (India) | 01NOV20 (China), 01JUN13 (India) | Minor changes |
| Other Workers | 01JUN17 (China), 01NOV12 (India) | 01JAN18 (China), 01JUN13 (India) | Minor advancements |
| EB-5 (Employment Creation) | 15DEC15 (China) | 15JUL16 (China) | Slight advancement |
Key Observations for October 2024:
- For EB-2 and EB-3, both India and China saw minor changes in the Dates for Filing. China advanced slightly in both categories, reflecting positive movement for applicants.
Diversity Visa (DV) Category
The DV lottery provides a pathway for individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S. to apply for permanent residence.
C. DV Immigrant Category Cut-Offs
For October 2024, the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery has the following cut-offs for each region:
| Region | September 2024 (DV Cut-off) | October 2024 (DV Cut-off) | Notable Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Current | 15,000 | New cut-off introduced |
| Asia | 27,500 | 3,000 | Significant reduction |
| Europe | 50,000 | 6,000 | Reduction |
| South America/Caribbean | 5,000 | 825 | Reduction |
Key Observations for October 2024:
- The cut-off numbers for Diversity Visa applicants have been significantly reduced across multiple regions, indicating a shift in the allocation process. Africa now has a cut-off of 15,000, and Asia saw a dramatic reduction from 27,500 to 3,000.
Conclusion: Key Takeaways
- The family-sponsored visa categories saw minimal movement, except for slight advancements in F2A and a six-month advancement in F3 for filing applications.
- Employment-based categories show retrogression for India in EB-1 and slight advancements for China in EB-2 and EB-3.
- The Diversity Visa category witnessed a substantial reduction in cut-off numbers across various regions, particularly for Asia and Europe.
These changes reflect the demand for immigrant visas and the complexity of the allocation process. By analyzing shifts in Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing, applicants can better understand the timing and likelihood of visa issuance in their specific categories.
