The US Department of State recently announced significant setbacks for individuals awaiting employment-based green cards in the September 2024 USCIS Visa Bulletin. The main change is a retrogression in the EB-3 category, affecting applicants from various regions. This retrogression was expected based on previous forecasts by the State Department.
In the latest Visa Bulletin, the EB-3 category saw a significant change with applicants from All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines facing a retrogression of one full year, pushing the priority date back to December 1, 2020. Additionally, the Other Worker category for All Chargeability Areas and Mexico will also experience a retrogression by one month to December 1, 2020.
While most categories in the September 2024 bulletin remain unchanged, the retrogression in the EB-3 category is a crucial development that has raised hopes for potential advancements in the upcoming October bulletin.
Understanding the Visa Bulletin is essential for individuals seeking Green Cards as it provides important information about the timeline for adjusting immigration status and eligibility based on application submission. The bulletin serves as a roadmap for the Green Card journey, featuring two key sections:
Dates for Filing: This section specifies the earliest date applicants can submit their adjustment of status or immigrant visa applications, helping them determine when they can proceed with their filing based on their visa category and country of origin.
Final Action Dates: These dates estimate the wait time for application approval, leading to permanent residency. They function as a queue based on visa category and nationality, indicating when applicants can expect their applications to be processed.
For employment-based green card adjustments, applicants must have an application date preceding a specific date listed for their category and country in the bulletin to file in August 2024, ensuring their eligibility for filing.
The significance of final action dates lies in their role in application processing, impacting the duration of the green card application process and potential wait times. Monitoring these dates is crucial for individuals navigating the Green Card application process.
In the family-sponsored category, the Visa Bulletin outlines preference categories for family-sponsored immigrants, providing crucial information for navigating the Green Card process. It includes categories such as unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, spouses and children of permanent residents, married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.
The bulletin also provides insights into the allocation of immigrant visas based on priority dates and demand received by April 1st of each fiscal year. When demand exceeds available visas in a category or country, it is classified as oversubscribed, with the final action date determined by the priority date of the first applicant who couldn’t be accommodated within the numerical limits.
In the employment-based preferences, immigrant visas are allocated to various types of skilled and unskilled workers, professionals, and investors. The categories include priority workers, members of professions holding advanced degrees or individuals of exceptional ability, skilled workers, professionals, and other workers, certain special immigrants, and employment creation.
Understanding these categories and their allocation percentages is crucial for individuals seeking employment-based immigrant visas to navigate the U.S. immigration system effectively and plan their visa applications accordingly.