The U.S. Department of State has released its March 2024 Visa Bulletin which summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers for “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications” for March to notify the immigrant visa applicants to submit their required documentation to the National Visa Center (NVC).
Final Action Cut-off Dates
The recent visa bulletin shows minimal changes. All mentioned cutoff dates pertain to the final action chart, commonly known as Chart A, unless stated differently.
Employment-Based
All Chargeability Areas Except those listed
China-Mainland born
India
Mexico
Philippines
1st (EB-1: Extraordinary People, Outstanding Researchers and Professors, and Multinational Executives, and Managers)
C
15JUL22
10OCT20
C
C
2nd (EB-2: Exceptional People and Advanced Degree Holders)
22NOV22
01JAN20
01MAR12
22NOV22
22NOV22
3rd (EB-3: Bachelor’s Degree Holders, Skilled Workers, and Unskilled Workers)
08SEP22
01SEP20
01JUL12
08SEP22
08SEP22
Other Workers
08SEP20
01JAN17
01JUL12
08SEP20
01MAY20
Employment-Based First Preference (EB1)
The EB1 cut off for China and India will advance to July 15, 2022 and October 10, 2020, while all other chargeable countries are currently up-to-date in the EB1 category.
Employment-Based Second Preference (EB2)
The EB2 cutoff for China and India remains January 1, 2020 and March 1, 2012. However, the cutoff dates for EB2 in other chargeable countries, Mexico, and the Philippines, will advance to November 22, 2022.
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB3)
The EB-3 cut off for China and India will remain September 1, 2020 and July 1, 2012, respectively. For other chargeable countries, Mexico, and Philippines, the EB3 cutoff will advance to September 8, 2022.
Other Workers
China and India’s cutoff will remain January 1, 2017 and July 1, 2012. Likewise, the cut off date for the Philippines will stay at May 1, 2020, while the other chargeable countries and Mexico will move forward to September 8, 2020.
Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications
To be eligible to file an EB adjustment application for March 2024, a foreign individual should possess a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their designated country and category. The “C” listing denotes a current category, thus allowing submissions without concern for the priority date of the individual. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date that is earlier than the listed date may file their applications.
Employment-Based
All Chargeability Areas Except those listed
China-Mainland born
India
Mexico
Philippines
1st (EB-1: Extraordinary People, Outstanding Researchers and Professors, and Multinational Executives, and Managers)
C
01JAN23
01JAN21
C
C
2nd (EB-2: Exceptional People and Advanced Degree Holders)
15FEB23
01JUN20
15MAY12
15FEB23
15FEB23
3rd (EB-3: Bachelor’s Degree Holders, Skilled Workers, and Unskilled Workers)
01FEB23
01JUL21
01AUG12
01FEB23
01JAN23
Other Workers
15DEC20
01JUN17
01AUG12
15DEC20
15MAY20
Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1)
All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and Philippines’ EB-1 remain current while China and India will remain January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2021, respectively. This means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2021 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2)
The EB-2 cutoff application date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will remain February 15, 2023 which means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before February 15, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
Further, EB-2 cut off dates for India and China remain May 15, 2012 and June 1, 2020, respectively.
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3)
The EB-3 cutoff dates for All Chargeability Areas and Mexico remain February 1, 2023 which means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before February 1, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
Further, EB3 cut-off dates for the Philippines and India remain January 1, 2023, and August 1, 2012, respectively. The EB-3 cut off dates for China will also remain July 1, 2021.
Other Workers
All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines whose applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before December 15, 2020 and May 15, 2020 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
The Other Workers cutoff dates for China will remain June 1, 2017 while the cut off date for India will also remain August 1, 2012.
