Visa Bulletin December 2024- What Changes in Family Based Categories and Employment-based Categories
The U.S. Department of State published the Visa Bulletin in December 2024, establishing per-country cut-off dates to regulate immigrant visa availability and processing Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications and consular Immigrant Visa application filings and approvals. To be considered “current,” the priority date of a person applying for permanent residence must be before the cut-off date specified in the monthly Visa Bulletin.
Quick Summary:
1. The Final Action date for India EB-2 will move forward by two weeks to August 1, 2012.
2. The USCIS will use the dates for filing tables for family-based and employment-based categories.
3. Final action dates for all other countries will remain the same in December.
4. All employment-based Dates for Filing will remain changed in December.
Family-Sponsored Categories
Final Action:Â
- F1 – Mexico and the Philippines will remain at November 22, 2004, and March 1, 2012. All other countries will remain at October 22, 2015.
- F2A – Mexico will remain at April 15, 2021 and All other countries will remain at January 1, 2022.
- F2B – Mexico and the Philippines will remain at  July 1, 2005, and October 22, 2011. All other countries will remain at May 1, 2016.
- F3 -Mexico and the Philippines will remain at October 22, 2000, and September 8, 2002. All other countries will remain at April 15, 2010.
- F4-Â Mexico and the Philippines will remain at March 1, 2001, and February 1, 2004
- F4 –Â India will remain at March 8, 2006, Â All other countries will remain at August 1, 2007
Dates for Filing:Â
- F1 – Mexico and the Philippines will remain at October 1, 2005, and April 22, 2015. All other countries will remain at September 1, 2017.
- F2A – All countries will remain at July 15, 2024
- F2B – Mexico and the Philippines will remain at July 1, 2006, and October 1, 2013. All other countries will remain at January 1, 2017.
- F3 –Â Â Mexico and the Philippines will remain at June 15, 2001, and May 8, 2004. All other countries will remain at April 22, 2012.
- F4- Mexico and the Philippines will remain at April 30, 2001, and July 22, 2007.
- F4 – India will remain at August 1, 2006. All other countries will remain at March 1, 2008.
Employment-Based Categories
Final Action Dates :Â
EB-1
- China: November 8, 2022
- India: February 1, 2022
- All other countries: Current
EB-2
- China: March 22, 2020
- India: August 1, 2012
- All other countries: March 15, 2023
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- China: April 1, 2020
- India: November 8, 2012
- All other countries: November 15, 2022
EB-3 Other Workers
- China: January 1, 2017
- India: November 8, 2012
- All other countries: December 1, 2020
EB-4
- All countries: January 1, 2021
EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
- China: July 15, 2016
- India: January 1, 2022
- All other countries: Current
EB-5 Set-Asides
- Rural: Current for all countries
- High Unemployment: Current for all countries
- Infrastructure: Current for all countries
Dates for Filing:
EB-1
- China: January 1, 2023
- India: April 15, 2022
- All other countries: Current
EB-2
- China: October 1, 2020
- India: January 1, 2013
- All other countries: August 1, 2023
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- China: November 15, 2020
- India: June 8, 2013
- All other countries: March 1, 2023
EB-3 Other Workers
- China: January 1, 2018
- India: June 8, 2013
- All other countries: May 22, 2021
EB-4
- All countries: February 1, 2021
EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
- China: October 1, 2016
- India: April 1, 2022
- All other countries: Current
EB-5 Set-Asides
- Rural: Current for all countries
- High Unemployment: Current for all countries
- Infrastructure: Current for all countries
A.FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
Family-sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
F1 | 22OCT15 | 22OCT15 | 22OCT15 | 22NOV04 | 01MAR12 |
F2A | 01JAN22 | 01JAN22 | 01JAN22 | 15APR21 | 01JAN22 |
F2B | 01MAY16 | 01MAY16 | 01MAY16 | 01JUL05 | 22OCT11 |
F3 | 15APR10 | 15APR10 | 15APR10 | 22OCT00 | 08SEP02 |
F4 | 01AUG07 | 01AUG07 | 08MAR06 | 01MAR01 | 01FEB04 |
B.DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS
Family-sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01OCT05 | 22APR15 |
F2A | 15JUL24 | 15JUL24 | 15JUL24 | 15JUL24 | 15JUL24 |
F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JUL06 | 01OCT13 |
F3 | 22APR12 | 22APR12 | 22APR12 | 15JUN01 | 08MAY04 |
F4 | 01MAR08 | 01MAR08 | 01AUG06 | 30APR01 | 22JUL07 |
A. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
1st | C | 08NOV22 | 01FEB22 | C | C |
2nd | 15MAR23 | 22MAR20 | 01AUG12 | 15MAR23 | 15MAR23 |
3rd | 15NOV22 | 01APR20 | 08NOV12 | 15NOV22 | 15NOV22 |
Other Workers | 01DEC20 | 01JAN17 | 08NOV12 | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 |
4th | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) |
C | 15JUL16 | 01JAN22 | 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 |
B.DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS
Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICOÂ | PHILIPPINESÂ |
1st | C | 01JAN23 | 15APR22 | C | C |
2nd | 01AUG23 | 01OCT20 | 01JAN13 | 01AUG23 | 01AUG23 |
3rd | 01MAR23 | 15NOV20 | 08JUN13 | 01MAR23 | 01MAR23 |
Other Workers | 22MAY21 | 01JAN18 | 08JUN13 | 22MAY21 | 22MAY21 |
4th | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
Certain Religious Workers | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) |
C | 01OCT16 | 01APR22 | 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 |
B.DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately |
 |
AFRICA | 15000 | Except: Algeria   10,000        Egypt    10,050        Morocco 10,050 |
ASIA | 3000 | Except: Iran  2,950        Nepal 2,950 |
EUROPE | 6000 | Except: Russia    5,950         Uzbekistan 4,900 |
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)Â | 2 | Â |
OCEANIA | 550 | Â |
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN |
825 | Â |
B. THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANT CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN JANUARY
Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately |
 |
AFRICA | 22,500 | Except: Algeria  22,000        Egypt   22,000        Morocco 22,000 |
ASIA | 5,500 | Except: Iran    5,400        Nepal 3,500 |
EUROPE | 12,000 | Except: Russia     11,750        Uzbekistan  7,750 |
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)Â | 20 | Â |
OCEANIA | 1100 | Â |
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN |
1750 | Â |
USCIS will use the Dates for Filing chart to accept status application adjustments in December 2024.
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