In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick analyzes theApril 2024 Visa Bulletinand discusses the significant movement in the employment based categories and modest movement in the family-sponsored preference categories for the month of April. We also discuss our predictions on what to expect from the Visa Bulletin in the coming months.
If you would like to know more about this topic, we invite you to watch our video.
Adjustment of Status Filing Chart April 2024
For the month of April 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will use theDates for Filing chartfor family-sponsored filings to determine eligibility for I-485 adjustment of status filings (green card filings inside the US).
For employment-based preference categories, USCIS will use theFinal Action Dateschartto determine eligibility for I-485 adjustment of status filings (green card filings inside the US).
What Changes Can Be Seen Next Month?
Family-sponsored categories
Dates for Filing
The Dates for Filing chart remains unchanged from the previous month except for the following categories:
- F4 India will advance by 1.5 months to April 8, 2006, and
- F4 Philippines will advance by 1 year to April 22, 2005
Movement in theFinal Action Dates
The Final Action Dates Chart for the family-sponsored categories shows few advancements as follows:
- F2A Worldwide, China, India, and the Philippines will advance by 2.6 months to September 8, 2020
- F2A Mexico will advance by 2 months to August 15, 2020
Employment-based categories
Dates for Filing
The Dates for Filing chart remains unchanged from the previous month except for the following categories:
- EB-1A India will advance by 3 months to April 1, 2021
- EB-3 India will advance by 1.5 months to September 15, 2012, and
- EB-4 will advance by 11 months to December 1, 2020
All other preference categories remain unchanged from the previous month.
Movement in theFinal Action Dates
The Final Action Dates Chart shows significant advancements in some of the employment-based preference categories, specifically for:
- EB-1 China will advance by 6 weeks to September 1, 2022
- EB-1 India will advance by 5 months to March 1, 2021
- EB-2 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 7 weeks to January 15, 2023
- EB-2 China will advance by 1 month to February 1, 2020
- EB-2 India will advance by 6 weeks to April 15, 2012
- EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 2.5 months to November 22, 2022
- EB-3 India will advance by 6 weeks to August 15, 2012
- EB-3 Other Workers Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 2.2 months to October 8, 2020
- EB-3 Other Workers India will advance by 1.5 months to August 15, 2012
- EB-4 will advance by 11 months to November 1, 2020
Now let’s look at the charts.
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
According to the Department of State’sApril2024 Visa Bulletin,the followingFinal Action cutoff dateswill apply for employment-based categories, and will determine when applicants in the United States can file adjustment of status:
- EB-1 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will remain current
- EB-1 China will advance by 6 weeks to September 1, 2022
- EB-1 India will advance by 5 months to March 1, 2021
- EB-2 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 7 weeks to January 15, 2023
- EB-2 China will advance by 1 month to February 1, 2020
- EB-2 India will advance by 6 weeks to April 15, 2012
- EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 2.5 months to November 22, 2022
- EB-3 China will remain at September 1, 2020
- EB-3 India will advance by 6 weeks to August 15, 2012
- EB-3 Other Workers Worldwide and Mexico will advance by 2.2 months to October 8, 2020
- EB-3 Other Workers China will remain at January 1, 2017
- EB-3 Other Workers India will advance by 1.5 months to August 15, 2012
- EB-3 Other Workers Philippines will remain at May 1, 2020
- EB-4 will advance by 11 months to November 1, 2020
- EB-5 Unreserved China remains at December 15, 2015
- EB-5 Unreserved India remains at December 1, 2020
- All other EB-5 categories remain current
The bold represents the advancement of the category.
| Employment- based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01SEP22 | 01MAR21 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15JAN23 | 01FEB20 | 15APR12 | 15JAN23 | 15JAN23 |
| 3rd | 22NOV22 | 01SEP20 | 15AUG12 | 22NOV22 | 22NOV22 |
| Other Workers | 08OCT20 | 01JAN17 | 15AUG12 | 08OCT20 | 01MAY20 |
| 4th | 01NOV20 | 01NOV20 | 01NOV20 | 01NOV20 | 01NOV20 |
| Certain Religious Workers | U | U | U | U | U |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 15DEC15 | 01DEC20 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Employment-Based April 2024 FinalAction Dates
EB-1
- China: September 1, 2022 (Advancement)
- India: March 1, 2021 (Advancement)
- All other countries: Current
EB-2
- China: February 1, 2020 (Advancement)
- India: April 15, 2012 (Advancement)
- All other countries: January 15, 2023(Advancement)
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- China: September 1, 2020
- India: August 15, 2012 (Advancement)
- All other countries: November 22, 2022 (Advancement)
EB-3 Other Workers
- China: January 1, 2017
- India: August 15, 2012 (Advancement)
- Philippines: May 1, 2020
- All other countries: October 8, 2020 (Advancement)
EB-4
- All countries: November 1, 2020 (Advancement)
EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
- China: December 15, 2015
- India: December 1, 2020
- All other countries: Current
EB-5 Set-Asides
- Rural: Current for all countries
- High Unemployment: Current for all countries
- Infrastructure: Current for all countries
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
According to the Department of State’sApril2024 Visa Bulletin, the followingFinal Action cutoff dateswill apply for family-sponsored categories:
- F1 Worldwide, China, and India will remain at February 8, 2015
- F1 Mexico will remain at May 1, 2001
- F1 Philippines will remain at March 1, 2012
- F2A Worldwide, China, India, and the Philippines will advance by 2.6 months to September 8, 2020
- F2A Mexico will advance by 2 months to August 15, 2020
- F2B Worldwide, China, and India will remain at November 22, 2015
- F2B Mexico will remain at October 22, 2003
- F2B Philippines will remain at October 22, 2011
- F3 Worldwide, China, and Mexico will remain at October 1, 2009
- F3 Mexico will remain at September 8, 1998
- F3 Philippines will remain at June 8, 2002
- F4 Worldwide and China will remain at June 8, 2007
- F4 India will remain at December 15, 2005
- F4 Philippines will remain at June 15, 2003
The bold represents the advancement of the category.
| Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 08FEB15 | 08FEB15 | 08FEB15 | 01MAY01 | 01MAR12 |
| F2A | 08SEP20 | 08SEP20 | 08SEP20 | 15AUG20 | 08SEP20 |
| F2B | 22NOV15 | 22NOV15 | 22NOV15 | 22OCT03 | 22OCT11 |
| F3 | 01OCT09 | 01OCT09 | 01OCT09 | 08SEP98 | 08JUN02 |
| F4 | 08JUN07 | 08JUN07 | 15DEC05 | 15OCT00 | 15JUN03 |
Family SponsoredApril2024Final Action Dates
F-1Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- Mexico: May 1, 2001
- Philippines: March 1, 2012
- All other countries: February 8, 2015
F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- Mexico: August 15, 2020 (Advancement)
- All other countries: September 8, 2020 (Advancement)
F-2BUnmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- Mexico: October 22, 2003
- Philippines: October 22, 2011
- All other countries: November 22, 2015
F3Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- Mexico: September 8, 1998
- Philippines: June 8, 2002
- All other countries: October 1, 2009
F-4Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
- Mexico: October 15, 2000
- India: December 15, 2005
- Philippines: June 15, 2003
- All other countries: June 8, 2007
What to Expect in the Year Ahead
The EB-4 Non-Minister Religious Worker program will become unavailable for all countries on March 22, 2024, unless it is reauthorized by Congressional legislation. If no action is taken by Congress to extend the program, no immigrant visas or adjustment of status applications can be approved under the category until a reauthorization is passed.
Visa Availability in the Coming Months
The Department of State has provided the following projections regarding potential visa availability in the coming months.
Family-sponsored categories (potential movement):
Worldwide dates:
F1: Up to three months
F2A (excluding Mexico): Up to six months
F2B: Up to ten weeks
F3: Several months
F4: Up to four weeks
Mexico:
F1: Up to four months
F2A: Up to three months
F2B: Several months
F3: Up to six months
F4: Up to three months
Philippines:
F3: Several months
F4: Several months
Employment-based categories:
Very little to no forward movement is expected in the coming months since the final action dates for many categories advanced for April 2024. This projection reflects the expectation for the remainder of FY 2024, which ends on September 30, 2024.
With respect to India and China, we will not have any projections for these countries until we have a clearer idea of the demand for visa numbers for the rest of the world.
Once the employment-based second and third categories become current for the rest of the world, we will have an indication of how many visa numbers will be available for these countries based on the available data.
As this information become available, we will provide those updates on our blog and YouTube channel.
Contact Us.If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-569-1768 or call 619-819-9204.
Helpful Links
- April 2024 Visa Bulletin
- March 2024 Visa Bulletin
- Adjustment of Status Filing Dates from Visa Bulletin
- USCIS Processing Times
- Immigrant Visa Backlog Report
- DOS Visa Services Operating Status Update
- ImmigrationLawyerBlog
- ImmigrationU Membership
- Success stories
- Youtube channel
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