Understanding the december 2024 Visa Bulletin: A Guide to U.S. Immigration Policies

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By Visa Verge - Senior Editor 12 Min Read

The U.S. Department of State has released the December 2024 Visa Bulletin, outlining key information for individuals awaiting immigrant visas in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based categories. This bulletin provides updates on “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications” across various visa preference categories. These dates indicate when applicants should submit their documentation to the National Visa Center.

Key Highlights

  • Family-Sponsored Visa Limits:
  • The fiscal year 2025 cap for family-sponsored immigrant visas is set at 226,000.
  • For employment-based visas, the annual worldwide limit is at least 140,000.
  • Country Caps:
  • The per-country cap for preference immigrants is 7% of the total family- and employment-based preference limits, or 25,620 visas.
  • For dependent areas, the limit is 2%, totaling 7,320 visas.
  • Oversubscribed Chargeability Areas:
  • Certain countries, including China (mainland-born), India, Mexico, and the Philippines, have exceeded their per-country limit and are classified as oversubscribed. As a result, these countries experience longer wait times for available visas.
VisaVerge.com – Visa Bulletin Interactive Viewer
Visa Bulletin – December 2024

Note: “C” means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants. “U” means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance.


Family-Sponsored Visa Preference Categories

The INA (Immigration and Nationality Act) prescribes family-sponsored preference classes:

  1. F1 (First Preference): Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
  2. F2A (Second Preference A): Spouses and children of permanent residents.
  3. F2B (Second Preference B): Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or older) of permanent residents.
  4. F3 (Third Preference): Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
  5. F4 (Fourth Preference): Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.

Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preferences

The “Final Action Dates” indicate when applicants should expect to be approved for visas if their priority date is earlier than the listed date. Below is a summary:

CategoryAll Chargeability Areas (except those listed)ChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
F122OCT1522OCT1522OCT1522NOV0401MAR12
F2A01JAN2201JAN2201JAN2215APR2101JAN22
F2B01MAY1601MAY1601MAY1601JUL0522OCT11
F315APR1015APR1015APR1022OCT0008SEP02
F401AUG0701AUG0708MAR0601MAR0101FEB04

Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications

Applicants with priority dates earlier than the dates listed below may submit their documentation.

CategoryAll Chargeability Areas (except those listed)ChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
F101SEP1701SEP1701SEP1701OCT0522APR15
F2A15JUL2415JUL2415JUL2415JUL2415JUL24
F2B01JAN1701JAN1701JAN1701JUL0601OCT13
F322APR1222APR1222APR1215JUN0108MAY04
F401MAR0801MAR0801AUG0630APR0122JUL07

Employment-Based Visa Preference Categories

Understanding the december 2024 Visa Bulletin: A Guide to U.S. Immigration Policies
Understanding the december 2024 Visa Bulletin: A Guide to U.S. Immigration Policies

The INA also sets employment-based preference categories:

  1. EB-1: Priority Workers.
  2. EB-2: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability.
  3. EB-3: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers.
  4. EB-4: Certain Special Immigrants, including religious workers.
  5. EB-5: Immigrant Investors, with specific set-asides for rural areas, high unemployment areas, and infrastructure projects.

Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preferences

For December 2024, “Final Action Dates” for employment-based categories are as follows:

CategoryAll Chargeability Areas (except those listed)ChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1Current08NOV2201FEB22CurrentCurrent
EB-215MAR2322MAR2001AUG1215MAR2315MAR23
EB-315NOV2201APR2008NOV1215NOV2215NOV22
Other Workers01DEC2001JAN1708NOV1201DEC2001DEC20
EB-401JAN2101JAN2101JAN2101JAN2101JAN21
EB-5Current15JUL1601JAN22CurrentCurrent

Dates for Filing Employment-Based Visa Applications

These dates signal when eligible applicants can submit documentation for their employment-based preference visas:

CategoryAll Chargeability Areas (except those listed)ChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1Current01JAN2315APR22CurrentCurrent
EB-201AUG2301OCT2001JAN1301AUG2301AUG23
EB-301MAR2315NOV2008JUN1301MAR2301MAR23
Other Workers22MAY2101JAN1808JUN1322MAY2122MAY21
EB-401FEB2101FEB2101FEB2101FEB2101FEB21

Diversity Visa (DV) Program for December 2024

The Diversity Visa (DV) Program provides up to 55,000 visas each year to applicants from countries with low admissions to the U.S. The program has reductions due to the NACARA program, setting the DV-2025 limit at approximately 52,000 visas. For December 2024, the cut-off numbers are as follows:

RegionCut-Off NumberExceptions
Africa15,000Algeria, Egypt, Morocco: 10,000
Asia3,000Iran, Nepal: 2,950
Europe6,000Russia: 5,950; Uzbekistan: 4,900
North America5Bahamas
Oceania550
South America & Caribbean825

January 2025 Diversity Visa Cut-Offs

The DV category cut-offs for January 2025 are set as follows:

RegionCut-Off NumberExceptions
Africa22,500Algeria, Egypt, Morocco: 22,000
Asia5,500Iran: 5,400; Nepal: 3,500
Europe12,000Russia: 11,750; Uzbekistan: 7,750
North America20Bahamas
Oceania1,100
South America & Caribbean1,750

Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. Government Employees Abroad

The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2024 includes provisions for certain current and former employees of the U.S. Government abroad, along with eligible spouses and children, to apply for SIVs or adjustment of status. For further assistance, applicants should contact the consular section where their Form DS-1884 was filed.


Conclusion

The December 2024 Visa Bulletin provides crucial updates for immigrants awaiting family-sponsored and employment-based visas. With specified final action and filing dates, eligible individuals can plan their next steps, while DV lottery participants should remain mindful of regional cut-offs. For the latest

information, applicants should refer to www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo or consult with a legal professional for case-specific guidance.

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