In a recent YouTube live event, immigration lawyer Josh Goldstein shared updates on the latest May 2024 Visa Bulletin changes. There's been exciting progress in family-sponsored and employment-based categories.
Below, you’ll discover how these changes might affect your immigration plans. Stay informed and empowered as we discuss what these visa bulletin changes mean!
Understanding the May 2024 Visa Bulletin Categories
To understand the May 2024 Visa Bulletin changes clearly, we must first look at what each visa category means to you. These categories show the connection between the person applying (a United States citizen or permanent resident) and the person they're trying to bring to the United States (the relative).
Each category has its own rules about who qualifies and when they can get a visa based on Visa Bulletin changes made to priority dates.
Family-sponsored Categories
- F1 - Visa for unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age or older) of United States citizens.
- F2A - Visa for spouses and unmarried children (under 21 years) of permanent residents.
- F2B - Visa for unmarried daughters and sons (21 years or older) of permanent United States residents.
- F3 -Visa for married children of United States citizens.
- F4 - Visa for brothers and sisters of adult United States citizens.
Employment-Based Categories
- EB-1 - For top professionals, like those with exceptional skills, outstanding professors, and multinational executives.
- EB-2 - For professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional skills.
- EB-3 - For skilled workers, professionals, and others with less advanced qualifications.
- EB-4 - For special immigrants, like religious workers, broadcasters, and employees of international organizations.
- EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center) - For investors who create jobs by investing in new businesses. They may invest individually or through regional centres.
- EB-5 Set-Asides - Reserved for specific purposes, like rural development, high unemployment areas, and infrastructure projects.
Why Visa Bulletin Changes Are Important
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly report from the Department of State that's important if you're thinking about moving to the United States. It tells you when you can apply for visas or change your residency status.
Visa Bulletin Key Notes
Knowing about the Visa Bulletin changes and information is key for planning your move to the United States.
Final Action Dates
Final Action Dates show when visas are ready to be given out, affecting when you can move.
Dates For Filing
These dates tell you when you can start the visa application process, but they don't guarantee that you'll get a visa. It's important to understand all Visa Bulletin changes and both parts to plan your move well. Overall, you must keep up with the monthly bulletin because it’s really important if you're thinking about moving to the United States.
Adjustment of Status May 2024 Filing Chart Notice
In May 2024, USCIS will process the adjustment of status applications using two charts: one for family-sponsored preferences and one for employment-based preferences.
- Family-Sponsored Filings:
To apply for these preference categories, use the Dates for Filing chart.
- Employment-Based Preference Filings:
To apply for employment-based preference categories, use the Final Action Dates chart.
Family-Sponsored Categories
Significant backlogs were created because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is that there have been many Visa Bulletin changes and progress in family visas. US embassies and consulates are now able to schedule more interviews. We expect more visas to be used, reducing backlogs at the National Visa Center NVC in the future.
Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases
The table below shows all Visa Bulletin changes in each category for various foreign nations. Almost all categories were moved forward:
F1
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 08JUL15 (Moved forward by 4.9 months)
China-mainland born - 08JUL15 (Moved forward by 4.9 months)
India - 08JUL15 (Moved forward by 4.9 months)
Mexico - 15OCT01 (Moved forward by 5.5 months)
Philippines - 01MAR12 (Unchanged)
F2A
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01JUN21 (Moved forward by 8.7 months)
China-mainland born - 01JUN21 (Moved forward by 8.7 months)
India - 01JUN21 (Moved forward by 8.7 months)
Mexico - 08NOV20 (Moved forward by 2.8 months)
Philippines - 01JUN21 (Moved forward by 8.7 months)
F2B
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01APR16 (Moved forward by 4.3 months)
China-mainland born - 01APR16 (Moved forward by 4.3 months)
India - 01APR16 (Moved forward by 4.3 months)
Mexico - 01MAR04 (Moved forward by 4.3 months)
Philippines - 22OCT11 (Unchanged)
F3
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01JAN10 (Moved forward by 3 months)
China-mainland born - 01JAN10 (Moved forward by 3 months)
India - 01JAN10 (Moved forward by 3 months)
Mexico - 22JUL99 (Moved forward by 10.4 months)
Philippines - 01AUG02 (Moved forward by 1.8 months)
F4
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 22JUL07 (Moved forward by 1.4 months)
China-mainland born - 22JUL07 (Moved forward by 1.4 months)
India - 15JAN06 (Moved forward by 1 month)
Mexico - 22JAN01 (Moved forward by 3.3 months)
Philippines - 08SEP03 (Moved forward by 2.8 months)
Dates for Filing for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases
The table below shows all Visa Bulletin changes in each category for various countries:
F1
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01SEP17 (Unchanged)
China-mainland born - 01SEP17 (Unchanged)
India - 01SEP17 (Unchanged)
Mexico - 01APR05 (Unchanged)
Philippines - 22APR15 (Unchanged)
F2A
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01SEP23 (Unchanged)
China-mainland born - 01SEP23 (Unchanged)
India - 01SEP23 (Unchanged)
Mexico - 01SEP23 (Unchanged)
Philippines - 01SEP23 (Unchanged)
F2B
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01JAN17 (Unchanged)
China-mainland born - 01JAN17 (Unchanged)
India - 01JAN17 (Unchanged)
Mexico - 01SEP04 (Moved forward by 1 month)
Philippines - 01OCT13 (Unchanged)
F3
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01JUN10 (Moved forward by 3 months)
China-mainland born - 01JUN10 (Moved forward by 3 months)
India - 01JUN10 (Moved forward by 3 months)
Mexico - 15JUN01 (Moved forward by 3 months)
Philippines - 08NOV03 (Moved forward by 3 months)
F4
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01MAR08 (Unchanged)
China-mainland born - 01MAR08 (Unchanged)
India - 15JUN06 (Moved forward by 2.2 months)
Mexico - 22APR01 (Moved forward by 1 week)
Philippines - 01JUN05 (Moved forward by over 1 month)
Employment-Based Categories
In May, the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based categories stays the same as last month. Also, the Final Action Dates Chart for all employment-based preference categories remains the same.
Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases
Here's where visa bulletin changes stand in May 2024 for employment-based categories:
1st EB-1
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - Current
China-mainland born - 01SEP22
India - 01MAR21
Mexico - Current
Philippines - Current
2nd EB-2
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 15JAN23
China-mainland born - 01FEB20
India - 15APR12
Mexico - 15JAN23
Philippines - 15JAN23
3rd (EB3 Skilled Workers and Professionals)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 22NOV22
China-mainland born - 01SEP20
India - 15AUG15
Mexico - 22NOV22
Philippines - 22NOV22
Other Workers (EB3 Other Workers)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 22NOV22
China-mainland born - 01JAN17
India - 15AUG12
Mexico - 08OCT20
Philippines - 01MAY20
4th (EB4)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01NOV20
China-mainland born - 01NOV20
India - 01NOV20
Mexico - 01NOV20
Philippines - 01NOV20
Certain Religious Workers (EV4)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01NOV20
China-mainland born - 01NOV20
India - 01NOV20
Mexico - 01NOV20
Philippines - 01NOV20
5th including C5, T5, I5, R5 (EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - Current
China-mainland born - 15DEC15
India - 01DEC20
Mexico - Current
Philippines - Current
5th Set Aside: Rural (20%)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - Current
China-mainland born - Current
India - Current
Mexico - Current
Philippines - Current
5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) (EB5)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - Current
China-mainland born - Current
India - Current
Mexico - Current
Philippines - Current
5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) (EB5)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - Current
China-mainland born - Current
India - Current
Mexico - Current
Philippines - Current
Dates for Filing for Employment-based Preference Cases
The cutoff dates for filing will stay the same as last month:
1st EB-1
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - Current
China-mainland born - 01JAN23
India - 01APR21
Mexico - Current
Philippines - Current
2nd EB-2
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 15FEB23
China-mainland born - 01JUN20
India - 15MAY12
Mexico - 15FEB23
Philippines - 15FEB23
3rd (EB3 Skilled Workers and Professionals)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01FEB23
China-mainland born - 01JUL21
India - 15SEP12
Mexico - 01FEB23
Philippines - 01JAN23
Other Workers (EB3 Other Workers)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 15DEC20
China-mainland born - 01JUN17
India - 15SEP12
Mexico - 15DEC20
Philippines - 15MAY20
4th (EB4)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01DEC20
China-mainland born - 01DEC20
India - 01DEC20
Mexico - 01DEC20
Philippines - 01DEC20
Certain Religious Workers (EV4)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - 01DEC20
China-mainland born - 01DEC20
India - 01DEC20
Mexico - 01DEC20
Philippines - 01DEC20
5th including C5, T5, I5, R5 (EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - Current
China-mainland born - 01JAN17
India - 01APR22
Mexico - Current
Philippines - Current
5th Set Aside: Rural (20%)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - Current
China-mainland born - Current
India - Current
Mexico - Current
Philippines - Current
5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) (EB5)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - Current
China-mainland born - Current
India - Current
Mexico - Current
Philippines - Current
5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) (EB5)
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed - Current
China-mainland born - Current
India - Current
Mexico - Current
Philippines - Current
Keep Up-to-Date with Visa Bulletin Changes
We expect to see major Final Action Dates changes in the family-based categories in the next few months. As we approach the end of the fiscal year, we also expect some small changes for the employment-based categories in the late summer (ending 30 September 2024).
Staying informed about monthly Visa Bulletin updates can make your immigration process smoother. We encourage you to join Josh's monthly Visa Bulletin live events. Josh is available monthly to answer all your Visa Bulletin changes questions and concerns. You can also save this page for easy reference.
Should you need any assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out. Share your case with us, and let's work together to pave the way for your American dream!
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