US Visa Bulletin: Slow Movement in Employment-Based Visa Categories Signals Continued Backlog

The December Visa Bulletin from the US Department of State shows modest advancements in the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories, which primarily affect Indian green card applicants. Priority dates for different visa categories and a possible USCIS announcement regarding applications for adjustment of status are important updates.

According to the December Visa Bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State, there have been minor improvements in a few employment-based (EB) visa categories. For Indian applicants who are experiencing severe backlogs in the green card application process, these updates are very pertinent.

Significant improvements for Indian citizens applying for green cards were mentioned in the previous bulletin, particularly in the family-sponsored categories.

Employment-Based Preferences and Family-Sponsored Green Cards

A thorough summary of family-sponsored applications is given in the most recent Visa Bulletin, which also details the categories and priority dates for immigrant visas. Since they aid in determining eligibility for filing, these facts are essential for applicants monitoring their green card process.

2024 Family-Sponsored Visa Limits

The family-sponsored green card maximum is set at 226,000 for the fiscal year 2024. To guarantee a fair distribution of visas among applicants from various countries, there are per-country limits in addition to particular allotments for each category. The main family-sponsored preferences are broken out as follows:

• Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens are granted 23,400 visas under the First Preference (F1), plus any extra from the fourth preference.
• Second Preference (F2): Unmarried sons and daughters, as well as spouses and children of permanent residents:
  • F2A: Permanent resident spouses and children are entitled to 77% of the F2 maximum, with 75% of the amount being exempt from the per-country cap.
  • F2B: Twenty-three percent of the F2 limit is made up of unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents who are 21 years of age or older.
• Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens are eligible for 23,400 visas under the Third Preference (F3), which also includes any remaining visas from the first and second preferences.
• Fourth Preference (F4): 65,000 visas, plus any unused numbers from the preceding categories, are granted to the siblings of adult U.S. citizens.

Important Dates for Indian Family-Sponsored Visas

Indian applicants can begin getting their paperwork ready for submission to the National Visa Center if their priority date falls before the dates indicated below:

Employment-Based (EB) Category Updates

Those applying for green cards under employment-based categories should also pay equal attention to the December bulletin. It outlines the earliest dates on which visas can be issued and applications for status changes can be approved.

December Employment-Based Visa Deadlines

• EB-1 (Priority Workers): February 1, 2022, is still the Final Action Date for India.
• EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals): The deadline has been moved up by two weeks to August 1, 2012.
• Professionals and Skilled Workers (EB-3): There has been little progress, and the deadline has been moved to November 8, 2012.
• EB-3 (Other Workers): This category advances to November 8, 2012, and is in line with EB-3 Professionals.
• The deadline for EB-5 (Immigrant Investors) Unreserved categories is January 1, 2022. Nonetheless, the EB-5 set-aside categories for infrastructure, high unemployment, and rural areas are still applicable to all nations.

Future USCIS Notice Regarding Status Adjustment

Based on the “Final Action Dates” or “Dates for Filing” schedule, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is anticipated to make an announcement regarding its acceptance of adjustment of status applications for December. When candidates can submit applications for adjustments will be decided by this notification. For updates on this issue, it is essential to often visit the USCIS Visa Bulletin homepage.

Understanding the U.S. Visa Bulletin

The Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin informs applicants on the availability of visas for different types of green cards. Depending on the volume of pending applications and the demand for visas show when an applicant can proceed with the immigration process. The availability of visas in different categories is updated monthly so that applicants can make appropriate plans.

Importance for Indian Candidates

Indian candidates, who frequently have longer wait times because of the high demand in employment-based categories, are most affected by these modifications. In order to successfully navigate the green card process, applicants must stay informed about these monthly adjustments. Applicants are encouraged to routinely check the official USCIS Visa Bulletin page for the most current and accurate information.