October Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Advancements and Retrogressions, and Major Movement Across Family-Sponsored Categories

learn-6874566_1280Today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the October Visa Bulletin. In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month.


USCIS Adjustment of Status


For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of October.

For family-sponsored preference categories, USCIS will continue to use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of October.


Highlights of the October 2024 Visa Bulletin


At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of October?

Employment-Based Categories


  • The Final Action date for China EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers will retrogress by five months, to April 1, 2020. The Date for Filing will retrogress by almost 8 months, to November 15, 2020.
  • The Final Action date for EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers Worldwide will advance by almost two years, to November 15, 2022. The Date for Filing will advance by one month, to March 1, 2023.
  • The Final Action date for China EB-5 Unreserved will advance by seven months, to July 15, 2016. The Date for Filing will retrogress by three months, to October 1, 2016.
  • The India EB-5 Unreserved Final Action date will advance by more than one year, to January 1, 2022. The Date for Filing will remain at April 1, 2022.

Family-Sponsored Categories


Final Action

  • F1 Mexico will advance by 7.8 months to January 1, 2003
  • F2A Mexico will advance by 1.1 months to March 8, 2021
  • F2A All other countries will advance by 1 week to November 22, 2021
  • F2B Mexico will advance by 6 months to January 15, 2005
  • F3 Mexico will advance by 5.7 months to August 22, 2000
  • F4 Mexico will advance by 2 weeks to February 22, 2001
  • F4 India will advance by 1.2 months to March 1, 2006

Dates for Filing

  • F1 Mexico will advance by 6 months to October 1, 2005
  • F2B Mexico will advance by 3 months to August 1, 2005
  • F3 Philippines will advance by 6 months to May 8, 2004
  • F3 All other countries will advance by 5.9 months to July 1, 2011
  • F4 Philippines will advance by 4 months to August 1, 2006

Now let’s dive into our analysis of the October 2024 Visa bulletin. 


Employment-Based Categories


FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES


According to the Department of State’s October 2024 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for employment-based categories in the month of October.

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • EB-1 India will remain at February 1, 2022
  • EB-1 China will advance by 1 week to November 8, 2022
  • EB-1 All other countries will remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 India will remain at July 15, 2012
  • EB-2 China will advance by 3 weeks to March 22, 2020
  • EB-2 All other countries will remain at March 15, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by 10 days to November 1, 2012
  • EB-3 China will retrogress by 5 months to April 1, 2020
  • EB-3 All other countries will advance by 1 year and 11.5 months to November 15, 2022

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by 10 days to November 1, 2012
  • EB-3 China will remain at January 1, 2017
  • EB-3 Philippines will advance by 7 months to December 1, 2020
  • EB-3 All other countries will remain at December 1, 2020

EB-4 Religious Workers

  • EB-4 All countries will remain at January 1, 2021

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)

  • India will advance by 13 months to January 1, 2022
  • China will advance by 7 months to July 15, 2016
  • All other countries will remain current

EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current

The bold represents the advancement of the category. Purple represents retrogression.

Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES
1st C 08NOV22 01FEB22 C C
2nd 15MAR23 22MAR20 15JUL12 15MAR23 15MAR23
3rd 15NOV22 01APR20* 01NOV12 15NOV22 15NOV22
Other Workers 01DEC20 01JAN17 01NOV12 01DEC20 01DEC20
4th 01JAN21 01JAN21 01JAN21 01JAN21 01JAN21
Certain Religious Workers U U U U U
5th Unreserved
(including C5, T5, I5, R5)
C 15JUL16 01JAN22 C C
5th Set Aside:
Rural (20%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
High Unemployment (10%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
Infrastructure (2%)
C C C C C

DATES FOR FILING FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES


According to the Department of State’s October 2024 Visa Bulletin, the Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply for adjustment of status applications filed with USCIS in October:

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • EB-1 India will advance by 2.2 months to April 15, 2022
  • EB-1 China will remain at January 1, 2023
  • EB-1 All other countries will remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 India will advance by 5.4 months to January 1, 2013
  • EB-2 China will advance by 4 months to October 1, 2020
  • EB-2 All other countries will advance by 4.3 months to August 1, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by 7.2 months to June 8, 2013  
  • EB-3 China will retrogress by 7.5 months to November 15, 2020
  • EB-3 All other countries will advance by 1.9 months to March 1, 2023

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by 7.2 months to June 8, 2013
  • EB-3 China will advance by 7 months to January 1, 2018
  • EB-3 All other countries will advance by 4.4 months to May 22, 2021

EB-4 Religious Workers

  • EB-4 Religious Workers will remain at February 1, 2021

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)

  • India will remain at April 1, 2022
  • China will retrogress by 3 months to October 1, 2016
  • All other countries will remain current

EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current

The bold represents the advancement of the category. Purple represents retrogression.

Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO  PHILIPPINES 
1st C 01JAN23 15APR22 C C
2nd 01AUG23 01OCT20 01JAN13 01AUG23 01AUG23
3rd 01MAR23 15NOV20* 08JUN13 01MAR23 01MAR23
Other Workers 22MAY21 01JAN18 08JUN13 22MAY21 22MAY21
4th 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21
Certain Religious Workers 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21
5th Unreserved
(including C5, T5, I5, R5)
C 01OCT16* 01APR22 C C
5th Set Aside:
(Rural – 20%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
(High Unemployment – 10%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
(Infrastructure – 2%)
C C C C C

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES


According to the Department of State’s October 2024 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories in the month of October.

F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

  • F1 Mexico will advance by 7.8 months to January 1, 2003
  • F1 Philippines will remain at March 1, 2012
  • F1 All other countries will remain at October 22, 2015

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

  • F2A Mexico will advance by 1.1 months to March 8, 2021
  • F2A All other countries will advance by 1 week to November 22, 2021

F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

  • F2B Mexico will advance by 6 months to January 15, 2005
  • F2B Philippines will remain at October 22, 2011
  • F2B All other countries will remain at May 1, 2016

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

  • F3 Mexico will advance by 5.7 months to August 22, 2000
  • F3 Philippines will remain at September 8, 2002
  • F3 All other countries will remain at April 1, 2010

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

  • F4 Mexico will advance by 2 weeks to February 22, 2001
  • F4 Philippines will remain at February 1, 2004
  • F4 India will advance by 1.2 months to March 1, 2006
  • F4 All other countries will remain at August 1, 2007

The bold represents the advancement of the category.

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 22OCT15 22OCT15 22OCT15 01JAN03 01MAR12
F2A 22NOV21 22NOV21 22NOV21 08MAR21 22NOV21
F2B 01MAY16 01MAY16 01MAY16 15JAN05 22OCT11
F3 01APR10 01APR10 01APR10 22AUG00 08SEP02
F4 01AUG07 01AUG07 01MAR06 22FEB01 01FEB04

DATES FOR FILING FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES


According to the Department of State’s October 2024 Visa Bulletin, the Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply for adjustment of status applications filed with USCIS in the month of October.

F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

  • F1 Mexico will advance by 6 months to October 1, 2005
  • F1 Philippines will remain at April 22, 2015
  • F1 All other countries will remain at September 1, 2017

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

  • F2A All countries will remain at July 15, 2024

F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

  • F2B Mexico will advance by 3 months to August 1, 2005
  • F2B Philippines will remain at October 1, 2013
  • F2B All other countries will remain at January 1, 2017

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

  • F3 Mexico will remain at June 15, 2001
  • F3 Philippines will advance by 6 months to May 8, 2004
  • F3 All other countries will advance by 5.9 months to July 1, 2011

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

  • F4 Mexico will remain at April 30, 2001
  • F4 Philippines will advance by 4 months to August 1, 2006
  • F4 India will remain at June 15, 2006
  • F4 All other countries will remain at March 1, 2008

The bold represents the advancement of the category.

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 01SEP17 01SEP17 01SEP17 01OCT05 22APR15
F2A 15JUL24 15JUL24 15JUL24 15JUL24 15JUL24
F2B 01JAN17 01JAN17 01JAN17 01AUG05 01OCT13
F3 01JUL11 01JUL11 01JUL11 15JUN01 08MAY04
F4 01MAR08 01MAR08 15JUN06 30APR01 01AUG06

Conclusion


For the employment-based categories, the Final Action date for China EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers will retrogress by five months, to April 1, 2020. The Date for Filing for the category will retrogress by almost 8 months, to November 15, 2020.

The Final Action date for EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers Worldwide will advance by almost two years, to November 15, 2022. The Date for Filing will advance by one month, to March 1, 2023.

The China EB-5 Unreserved Final Action date will advance by seven months, to July 15, 2016, however, the Date for Filing will retrogress by three months, to October 1, 2016.

The India EB-5 Unreserved Final Action date will advance by more than one year, to January 1, 2022. The Date for Filing for the category will remain at April 1, 2022.

With respect to the family-based categories, major advancements were seen across the board. In the Final Action chart, major advancements include F1 Mexico advancing by 7.8 months to January 1, 2003, F2B Mexico advancing by 6 months to January 15, 2005, and F3 Mexico advancing by 5.7 months to August 22, 2000

In the Dates for Filing Chart, major advancements include F1 Mexico advancing by 6 months to October 1, 2005, F2B Mexico advancing by 3 months to August 1, 2005, F3 Philippines advancing by 6 months to May 8, 2004, F3 Worldwide advancing by 5.9 months to July 1, 2011, and F4 Philippines advancing by 4 months to August 1, 2006.

As we do every month, we will keep you updated on the upcoming movement and changes in the Visa Bulletin right here on our blog.


Contact Us. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-569-1768 or call 619-819-9204.


Helpful Links


JOIN OUR NEW FACEBOOK GROUP

Need more immigration updates? We have created a new facebook group to address the impact of the new executive order and other changing developments related to COVID-19. Follow us there.

For other COVID 19 related immigration updates please visit our Immigration and COVID-19 Resource Center here.