August 2024 Visa Bulletin: Some Good News for India EB-2/EB-3 and F2A Visa Applicants

TL;DR

• For all family-based preference adjustment of status filings, use the Dates for Filing chart in the August 2024 Visa Bulletin
• For all employment-based preference adjustment of status filings, use the Final Action Dates chart in the August 2024 Visa Bulletin
• Final Action dates and Dates for Filing for India EB-2 and EB-3 advance by one month
  • Final Action dates for India EB-2 advancing to July 15, 2012
  • Date for Filing for India EB-2 advancing to July 22, 2012
  • Final Action dates for India EB-3 advancing to October 22, 2012
  • Date for Filing for India EB-3 advancing to November 1, 2012
• Final Action dates and Dates for Filing the same for remaining employment-based categories
• EB-3 Final Action date will likely retrogress or become unavailable in September
• Dates for Filing for F2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents advancing to June 15, 2024

What is the Visa Bulletin?

The Visa Bulletin is issued monthly by the Department of State (DOS) as an update on the availability of immigrant visas for those seeking to live permanently in the United States. The bulletin shows us how many visas are available in each visa preference categories, like family-sponsored or employment-based visas. Visas are distributed based on a "first-come, first-served" system using priority dates. This is the date USCIS receives an immigrant visa petition on your behalf. The bulletin shows us the cut-off date for each category, which means if your priority date is earlier than that date, you might be eligible to apply for a visa.

The bulletin now has two charts; one reflects the dates when you can potentially apply for adjustment of status (Dates for Filing) and the other shows when visas might finally be issued (Application Final Action Dates). The Visa Bulletin is crucial for people waiting to get green cards through family sponsorship or employment. By checking the bulletin, you can get an idea of how long it might take for your visa to become available. 

‍August Visa Bulletin Updates

The State Department’s August Visa Bulletin shows the following Final Action cut-off dates for issuance of an immigrant visa or approval of an adjustment of status application:

EB-1:

• China will remain at November 1, 2022
• India will remain at February 1, 2022
• All other countries will continue to be current

EB-2

• China will remain at March 1, 2020
• India will advance by one month to July 15, 2012
• Remaining countries will remain at March 15, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers:

• China will remain at September 1, 2020
• India will advance by one month, to October 22, 2012
• Remaining countries will stay at December 1, 2021

EB-5:

• For the EB-5 Unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5), China will remain at December 15, 2015
• For the EB-5 Unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5), India will stay at December 1, 2020
• For the EB-5 Unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5), all other countries will remain current The EB-5 set-aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will remain current

The August Dates for Filing chart shows advancement by one month for the India EB-2 and EB-3 categories; India EB-2 will be July 22, 2012, and India EB-3 will be November 1, 2012. Due to high demand and number use in the EB-3 category, the State Department anticipates that this category will either retrogress or become unavailable in September.

The August Dates for Filing chart shows advancement by 7 months for F2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents category. F2A will be June 15, 2024. If your priority date is current, contact our team to start your green card case!