The U.S. Department of State has released its October 2024 Visa Bulletin which summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers for “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications” for October 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
08NOV22
01FEB22
C
C
2nd (EB-2: Exceptional People and Advanced Degree Holders)
15MAR23
22MAR20
15JUL12
15MAR23
15MAR23
3rd (EB-3: Bachelor’s Degree Holders, Skilled Workers, and Unskilled Workers)
15NOV22
01APR20
01NOV12
15NOV22
15NOV22
Other Workers
01DEC20
01JAN17
01NOV12
01DEC20
01DEC20
Employment-Based First Preference (EB1)
The EB1 cut off date for China moved forward to November 8, 2022, while India remained February 1, 2022.In addition, all other chargeable countries are currently up-to-date in the EB1 category.
Employment-Based Second Preference (EB2)
The EB2 cutoff dates for Mexico, Philippines, and other chargeable countries remained March 15, 2023, while China moved to March 22, 2020. Likewise, India remained on July 15, 2012.
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB3)
The EB-3 cut off dates for China will retrogress to April 1, 2020 while India move forward to November 1, 2012. In addition, the cut off dates for the Philippines, Mexico, and other chargeable countries will advance by 2 years to November 15, 2022.
Other Workers
China will stay on January 1, 2017, while India will advance to November 1, 2012. Likewise, the Philippines will move forward to December 1, 2020, along with Mexico and other chargeable countries.
Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications
To be eligible to file an EB adjustment application for October 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
15APR22
C
C
2nd (EB-2: Exceptional People and Advanced Degree Holders)
01AUG23
01OCT20
01JAN13
01AUG23
01AUG23
3rd (EB-3: Bachelor’s Degree Holders, Skilled Workers, and Unskilled Workers)
01MAR23
15NOV20
08JUN13
01MAR23
01MAR23
Other Workers
22MAY21
01JAN18
08JUN13
22MAY21
22MAY21
Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1)
All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and Philippines’ EB-1 remain current along with China which will remain January 1, 2023.
On a good note, India will advance by 2 months to April 15, 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 April 15, 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 5 months to August 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 August 1, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
Further, the EB-2 cut-off dates for India and China will move to January 1, 2013 and October 1, 2020, respectively.
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3)
The EB-3 cutoff dates for All Chargeability Areas and Mexico and the Philippines will advance by a month to March 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 March 1, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
In addition, the EB3 cut-off date for China will retrogress by 8 months to November 15, 2020 while India will advance by a year to June 8, 2013.
Other Workers
The cut off dates for Mexico, All Chargeability areas, and the Philippines will advance by 3 months to May 22, 2021. This means that those applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before May 22, 2021, respectively can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.
Likewise, the cutoff dates for China and India will move forward to January 1, 2018 and June 8, 2013, respectively.
