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US Visa Bulletin December 2024: Employment-Based and Family-Sponsored Green Card Updates for India | India News – Times of India
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Employment-based visa categories: a look at the closing dates for December
The December visa bulletin highlights the cut-off dates for employment-based (EB) categories, and indicates the earliest applicants can receive a visa or have their adjustment of status approved.
For Indian Citizens:
EB-1 (Priority Employees): No changes, with a final action date of February 1, 2022.
EB-2 (advanced professionals): Advanced by two weeks until August 1, 2012.
EB-3 (professionals and skilled workers): Progressed by a week until November 8, 2012.
EB-3 (Other Employees): Corresponds to the cut-off date for EB-3 professionals on November 8, 2012.
EB-5 (immigrant investors): The unreserved categories will remain in place on January 1, 2022, while the set-aside categories (rural, high unemployment, infrastructure) will remain current for all countries.
Filing dates remain unchanged from November, meaning there will be no immediate shifts for applicants below this graph.
Percentage allocation to employment-based categories
The employment-based preference categories allocate immigrant visas as follows:
- Priority workers (28.6%): Individuals with extraordinary capabilities, outstanding professors or executives of multinational companies.
- Advanced professionals (28.6%): Individuals with an advanced degree or exceptional skills.
- Skilled/unskilled workers and professionals (28.6%).
- Special immigrants (7.1%): Religious workers, members of the US Armed Forces and others.
- Job creation (7.1%): Investors in rural projects, high unemployment and infrastructure.
Adjustment of Status Applications: Awaiting USCIS decision
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will announce whether the final action dates or chart filing dates will be used for adjustment of status applications in December. Applicants should check the USCIS Visa Bulletin webpage for updates as this will affect their eligibility for filing.
What are the final action and dates for filing
The earliest date that applicants can file adjustment of status or immigrant visa applications is known as the filing date.
The expected approval period for applications for permanent residence, based on visa category and nationality, is known as the cut-off date.
Family-Sponsored Immigrant Visas: Key Updates
The December visa bulletin also provides insight into the family-sponsored immigrant visa process, which allows family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents to obtain green cards. The allocation of immigrant visas for family-sponsored categories is largely determined by priority dates and demand. When demand exceeds the number of available visas, a category may become oversubscribed, resulting in the setting of a final action date.
- F1 (unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens): The final action date for India is set for October 22, 2015 (unchanged).
- F2A (spouses and children of permanent residents): The cut-off date for India will be brought forward to January 1, 2022, an increase from November 22, 2021.
- F2B (unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents): The final action date remains unchanged: May 1, 2016.
- F3 (married sons and daughters of US citizens): The final action date for India is brought forward to April 15, 2010, from April 1, 2010.
- F4 (siblings of adult US citizens): The final action date for India is brought forward to March 8, 2006, from March 1, 2006.
Family Sponsored Green Cards: Latest Promotion and Filing Dates
For family sponsored green cards in India, the submission dates as per the visa bulletin are as follows: The F1 category remains unchanged on September 1, 2017. The F2A category has increased slightly from June 15, 2024 to July 15, 2024. The F2B category remains stable on January 1, 2017. The F3 category shows an adjustment, which goes from July to April 22, 2011. August 1, 2011. Finally, the F4 category continues to August 1, 2006, from June 15, 2006.
The final action dates for family-sponsored green cards for applicants from India have been updated as follows: The F1 category remains unchanged on October 22, 2015. The F2A category has been pushed to January 1, 2022 from November 22, 2021. The F2B category remains stable on May 1, 2016. The F3 category shows slight progress, moving from April 1, 2010 to April 15, 2010. 2010. Finally, the F4 category will continue from March 1, 2006 to March 8, 2006.
Employment-based green cards: dates for final action
The final action dates for employment-based green cards for India have been updated as follows: For the 1st preference category, the date remains unchanged at February 1, 2022. The 2nd preference category has been moved to August 1, 2012, from July 15, 2012. The 3rd preference categories and other categories of employees now stand at November 8, 2012, an advancement from November 1, 2012. The 4th preference categories and certain religious worker categories remains unchanged on January 1, 2021. For the 5th preference, without reservation (including C5, T5, I5 and R5), the date remains January 1, 2022. The 5th set-aside categories for rural areas (20%), high unemployment (10%) and infrastructure (2%) are all listed as current.
Employment-Based Green Cards: Filing Dates
For employment-based green cards, the filing dates for applicants from India are as follows: In the EB-1 category, the date is set for April 15, 2022, slightly higher than April 14, 2022. The EB-2 category remains. unchanged on January 1, 2013, and the EB-3 category, including other workers, also remains the same on June 8, 2013. For EB-4 applicants, including certain religious workers, the cutoff date remains February 1, 2021. In the EB-5 category without reservation (covering C5, T5, I5 and R5), the date remains unchanged on April 1, 2022. Meanwhile, the EB-5 categories reserved for rural areas (20%), high unemployment (10%) and infrastructure (2%) remain current, meaning that there is no backlog for these specific classifications.
