Visa Bulletin For October 2024

Visa Bulletin for October 2024 and Statutory Numbers for Preference Immigrant Visas

The Visa Bulletin for October 2024 released by the U.S. Department of State provides critical information on the availability of immigrant visas for both family-sponsored and employment-based categories. This bulletin includes "Final Action Dates" and "Dates for Filing Applications," which dictate when applicants can submit their required documentation to the National Visa Center (NVC) or file for adjustment of status with USCIS.

Key Points in the Bulletin:

1. Final Action Dates and Filing Dates:

   • Final Action Dates indicate when a visa can be issued to an applicant. When a category is oversubscribed, visas are issued in chronological order based on applicants' priority dates.

   • Dates for Filing show when applicants can submit their visa applications. Applicants with priority dates earlier than these dates can assemble and submit the necessary documentation to the NVC.

2. Statutory Numbers for Preference Immigrant Visas:

   • The annual limit for family-sponsored immigrants is set at 226,000 for the fiscal year 2025.

   • The worldwide level for employment-based immigrants is 140,000. Additionally, a per-country limit is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits.

3. Family-Sponsored Preference Categories:

   • F1: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens.

   • F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents.

   • F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21+ years) of Permanent Residents.

   • F3: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens.

   • F4: Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens.

4. Employment-Based Preference Categories:

   • EB-1: Priority Workers.

   • EB-2: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability.

   • EB-3: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers.

   • EB-4: Certain Special Immigrants.

   • EB-5: Employment Creation (Investor Visas) with specific set-asides for rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure projects.

5. Oversubscribed Countries: Due to high demand, certain countries, such as China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines, have longer waiting times, reflected in their priority dates in the bulletin.

6. Diversity Visa (DV) Program:

   • Up to 55,000 visas are available for the Diversity Visa Program, with specific cut-off numbers listed for different regions. The program aims to provide immigration opportunities for countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S.

7. Retrogression and Visa Availability: If demand exceeds the number of visas available, final action dates may retrogress, meaning they move backward, which can delay visa processing. The bulletin also mentions the possibility of making categories "unavailable" if annual limits are reached.

Importance of the Visa Bulletin:

• The Visa Bulletin helps applicants and their sponsors understand their place in line for visa processing and provides guidance on when they can file their applications.