H-1B and L-1 Visas
By Published On: November 13, 2024Last Updated: November 13, 2024Categories: US Visa News0 Comments on US Visa Bulletin December 2024: Small gains for Indians in EB-2, EB-3

The December 2024 Visa Bulletin has been released by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, providing critical updates for green card applicants across various employment-based and family-sponsored visa categories. This month, Indian applicants see minor forward movement in the employment-based categories EB-2 and EB-3, while family-sponsored visa dates remain static across all regions.

Key Updates for Indian Applicants

In the EB-3 visa category—which allows foreign workers to obtain U.S. permanent residency—the Final Action cutoff date for India advanced by one week, now set at November 8, 2012. However, for other countries like China and Mexico, dates remain unchanged.

The EB-2 category, which covers advanced degree professionals and individuals with exceptional ability, also progressed slightly for Indian applicants, with the cutoff date moving up by a week to March 8, 2006.

Understanding the Visa Bulletin: How It Works

The U.S. Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication that outlines the current priority dates for green card applicants across employment and family categories. It is essential for applicants to track their position in the immigration process, as it indicates when they might advance based on visa availability. The Department of State adjusts these dates each month according to the volume of pending applications across different categories.

Progressing Through the U.S. Immigration Process: Key Options

Green card applicants have two primary pathways, depending on their location:

  1. Adjustment of Status: For those already residing in the U.S., this process allows them to transition to permanent resident status without leaving the country.
  2. Immigrant Visa Application: Applicants outside the U.S. must apply for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country.

Employment-Based Visa Categories: Breakdown and Updates

Employment-based visas are categorized into five main groups, each with a specific allocation of available visas:

  • EB-1 Priority Workers: Allocated 28.6% of global employment-based visas, with additional visas from unused EB-4 and EB-5 categories.
  • EB-2 Advanced Degree Professionals and Exceptional Ability: Receives 28.6% of global visas, plus any excess from EB-1.
  • EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals: This category also receives 28.6% of the total visas, with an additional 10,000 reserved for “other workers.”
  • EB-4 Special Immigrants: Allocated 7.1% of global visas, with a portion set aside for certain groups, like religious workers and U.S. Armed Forces members.
  • EB-5 Employment Creation: Reserved for investors, this category receives 7.1% of worldwide employment-based visas.

For December, employment-based categories saw only minor updates:

  • EB-1: The Final Action date remains November 8, 2022, for China and February 1, 2022, for India.
  • EB-2: China’s date remains at March 22, 2020, while India sees a small advance to August 1, 2012.
  • EB-3: Dates for skilled workers and professionals are unchanged, with India’s cutoff date still November 8, 2012.
  • EB-5: No changes for unreserved categories in China and India.

Family-Sponsored Visa Categories: No Changes

The December 2024 bulletin notes no movement in family-sponsored visa categories for countries like India, Mexico, and the Philippines, with cutoff dates as follows:

  • F4 (Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens): For India, the Final Action date remains on March 8, 2006, with Dates for Filing on August 1, 2006.
  • F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): The cutoff for Mexico is November 22, 2004, while it is November 15, 2021, for other regions.
  • F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents): Mexican applicants have a cutoff of April 15, 2021, while it is January 1, 2022, for other countries.
  • F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): The cutoff date for Mexico is October 22, 2000, while it remains March 1, 2010, for India and other countries.

Looking Ahead

The Visa Bulletin continues to serve as an essential guide for green card applicants, providing crucial insights into their progress within the U.S. immigration process. The next update, expected in January 2025, may bring further adjustments for various categories, mainly as visa demand fluctuates across regions and categories.

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 MEXICO  PHILIPPINES 
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) 2
OCEANIA 550
SOUTH AMERICA,
and the CARIBBEAN
825

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) 20
OCEANIA 1100
SOUTH AMERICA,
and the CARIBBEAN
1750

USCIS will use the Dates for Filing chart to accept status application adjustments in December 2024.

** The content above is provided for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. Use of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship. 

Read Full information about Visa Bulletin December 2024 In details Here- https://reddyesq.com/immigration-updates/immigration-updates/visa-bulletin-december-2024/

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