The U.S. Department of State has released its July 2024 Visa Bulletin which summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers for “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications” for July 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
01NOV22
01FEB22
C
C
2nd (EB-2: Exceptional People and Advanced Degree Holders)
15MAR23
01MAR20
15JUNE12
15MAR23
15MAR23
3rd (EB-3: Bachelor’s Degree Holders, Skilled Workers, and Unskilled Workers)
01JAN21
01JAN21
01JAN21
01JAN21
01JAN21
Other Workers
01JAN21
01JAN17
22SEP12
01JAN21
01MAY20
Employment-Based First Preference (EB1)
The EB1 cut off for China and India advanced to November 1, 2022 and February 1, 2022, respectively, while all other chargeable countries are currently up-to-date in the EB1 category.
Employment-Based Second Preference (EB2)
The EB2 cutoff for China advanced by a month to March 1, 2020, while India moved by 2 months to June 15, 2012. In addition, the cutoff dates for EB2 in other chargeable countries, Mexico, and the Philippines, advanced to March 15, 2023.
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB3)
The EB-3 cut off for all countries advanced to January 1, 2021.
Other Workers
China remains January 1, 2017 while India moves forward by a month to September 22, 2012. Likewise, the cut off date for the Philippines remains May 1, 2020, while Mexico and other chargeable countries advance to January 1, 2021.
Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications
To be eligible to file an EB adjustment application for July 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
08FEB22
C
C
2nd (EB-2: Exceptional People and Advanced Degree Holders)
22MAR23
01JUN20
22JUN12
22MAR23
22MAR23
3rd (EB-3: Bachelor’s Degree Holders, Skilled Workers, and Unskilled Workers)
01FEB23
01JUL21
01OCT12
01FEB23
01JAN23
Other Workers
08JAN21
01JUN17
01OCT12
08JAN21
15MAY20
Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1)
All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and Philippines’ EB-1 remain current while China will remain January 1, 2023. On the other hand, India will advance to February 8, 2022. 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 February 8, 2022 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 advance by a month to March 22, 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 March 22, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
Further, the EB-2 cut-off date for India will advance to June 22, 2012, while China’s remains at June 1, 2020.
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.
In addition, the EB3 cut-off dates for the Philippines and China remain January 1, 2023 and July 1, 2021, while India will advance to October 1, 2012.
Other Workers
The cut off date for Mexico and All Chargeability areas will advance to January 8, 2021, while the Philippines will remain at May 15, 2020. This means that those applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 8, 2021 and May 15, 2020, respectively 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 advance to October 1, 2012.
