Good News: March 2024 Visa Bulletin Explained!!!

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In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick discusses the latest updates in the March 2024 Visa Bulletin including slight advancements in the employment based categories and major movement in the family-sponsored preference categories in the month of March. We also discuss our predictions on what to expect from the Visa Bulletin in the coming months.

If you would like to know more about this topic, we invite you to watch our video.

Adjustment of Status Filing Chart March 2024

For the month of March 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will use the Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored filings to determine eligibility for I-485 adjustment of status filings (green card filings inside the US).

For employment-based preference categories, USCIS will use the Final Action Dates chart to determine eligibility for I-485 adjustment of status filings (green card filings inside the US).

What Changes Can Be Seen Next Month?

Employment-based categories

Dates for Filing

  • The March Dates for Filing remain the same as February 2024, with the exception of the employment-based fourth preference category, EB-4 which will advance by 4 months to January 1, 2020.

Movement in the Final Action Dates

The Final Action Dates Chart shows some modest advancements in some of the employment-based preference categories, specifically for:

  • EB-1 China will advance by two weeks to July 15, 2022
  • EB-1 India will advance by 1 month to October 1, 2020
  • EB-2 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 1 week to November 22, 2022
  • EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 1 week to September 8, 2022
  • EB-3 Other Workers, Worldwide and Mexico will advance by 1 week to September 8, 2020
  • EB-4 will advance by more than 6.5 months to December 1, 2019

Family-sponsored categories

Dates for Filing

  • The March Dates for Filing remain the same as February 2024.

Movement in the Final Action Dates

The Final Action Dates Chart for the family-sponsored categories shows major advancements across almost all preference categories as follows:

  • F1 Worldwide, China, and India will advance by more than 5 weeks to February 8, 2015
  • F2A Worldwide, China, India, and the Philippines will advance by almost 4.5 months to June 22, 2020
  • F2A Mexico will advance by almost 4.5 months to June 15, 2020
  • F2B Worldwide, China, and India will advance by more than 7 weeks to November 22, 2015
  • F3 Worldwide, China, and Mexico will advance by more than 5 months to October 1, 2009
  • F4 Worldwide and China will advance by almost 2.5 weeks to June 8, 2007
  • F4 India will advance by 1 month to December 15, 2005
  • F4 Philippines will advance by 8 months to June 15, 2003

Prediction: The Department of State is still crunching numbers to determine the availability of visa numbers. We believe that we will not see significant movement in the visa categories until later this year, starting in either the late spring or by the summertime. However, it is still important for you to review the Visa Bulletin on a monthly basis to keep track of its progress.

Now let’s look at the charts.

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

According to the Department of State’s March 2024 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for employment-based categories, and will determine when applicants in the United States can file adjustment of status:

  • EB-1 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will remain current
  • EB-1 China will advance by two weeks to July 15, 2022
  • EB-1 India will advance by 1 month to October 1, 2020
  • EB-2 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 1 week to November 22, 2022
  • EB-2 China will remain at January 1, 2020
  • EB-2 India will remain at March 1, 2012
  • EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 1 week to September 8, 2022
  • EB-3 China will remain at September 1, 2020
  • EB-3 India will remain at July 1, 2012
  • EB-3 Other Workers, Worldwide and Mexico will advance by 1 week to September 8, 2020.
  • EB-3 Other Workers China will remain at January 1, 2017
  • EB-3 Other Workers India will remain at July 1, 2012
  • EB-3 Other Workers Philippines will remain at May 1, 2020
  • EB-4 will advance by more than 6.5 months to December 1, 2019
  • EB-5 Unreserved China remains at December 15, 2015
  • EB-5 Unreserved India remains at December 1, 2020
  • All other EB-5 categories remain current
Employment-
based		 All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed		 CHINA-
mainland
born		 INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES
1st C 15JUL22 01OCT20 C C
2nd 22NOV22 01JAN20 01MAR12 22NOV22 22NOV22
3rd 08SEP22 01SEP20 01JUL12 08SEP22 08SEP22
Other Workers 08SEP20 01JAN17 01JUL12 08SEP20 01MAY20
4th 01DEC19 01DEC19 01DEC19 01DEC19 01DEC19
Certain Religious Workers 01DEC19 01DEC19 01DEC19 01DEC19 01DEC19
5th Unreserved
(including C5, T5, I5, R5)		 C 15DEC15 01DEC20 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

Employment-Based March 2024 Final Action Dates

EB-1 

  • China: July 15, 2022 (Advancement)
  • India: October 1, 2020 (Advancement)
  • All other countries: Current

EB-2

  • China: January 1, 2020
  • India: March 1, 2012
  • All other countries: November 22, 2022 (Advancement)

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • China: September 1, 2020
  • India: July 1, 2012
  • All other countries: September 8, 2022 (Advancement)

EB-3 Other Workers 

  • China: January 1, 2017
  • India: July 1, 2012
  • Philippines: May 1, 2020
  • All other countries: September 8, 2020 (Advancement)

EB-4

  • All countries: December 1, 2019 (Advancement)

EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)

  • China: December 15, 2015
  • India: December 1, 2020
  • All other countries: Current

EB-5 Set-Asides

  • Rural: Current for all countries
  • High Unemployment: Current for all countries
  • Infrastructure: Current for all countries

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES

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

  • F1 Worldwide, China, and India will advance by more than 5 weeks to February 8, 2015
  • F1 Mexico will remain at May 1, 2001
  • F1 Philippines will remain at March 1, 2012
  • F2A Worldwide, China, India, and the Philippines will advance by almost 4.5 months to June 22, 2020
  • F2A Mexico will advance by almost 4.5 months to June 15, 2020
  • F2B Worldwide, China, and India will advance by more than 7 weeks to November 22, 2015
  • F2B Mexico will remain at October 22, 2003
  • F2B Philippines will remain at October 22, 2011
  • F3 Worldwide, China, and Mexico will advance by more than 5 months to October 1, 2009
  • F3 Mexico will remain at September 8, 1998
  • F3 Philippines will remain at June 8, 2002
  • F4 Worldwide and China will advance by almost 2.5 weeks to June 8, 2007
  • F4 India will advance by 1 month to December 15, 2005
  • F4 Philippines will advance by 8 months to June 15, 2003
Family-
Sponsored 		 All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed		 CHINA-mainland
born		 INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 08FEB15 08FEB15 08FEB15 01MAY01 01MAR12
F2A 22JUN20 22JUN20 22JUN20 15JUN20 22JUN20
F2B 22NOV15 22NOV15 22NOV15 22OCT03 22OCT11
F3 01OCT09 01OCT09 01OCT09 08SEP98 08JUN02
F4 08JUN07 08JUN07 15DEC05 15OCT00 15JUN03

Family Sponsored March 2024 Final Action Dates

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

  • Mexico: May 1, 2001
  • Philippines: March 1, 2012
  • All other countries: February 8, 2015 (Advancement)

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

  • Mexico: June 15, 2020 (Advancement)
  • All other countries: June 22, 2020 (Advancement)

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

  • Mexico: October 22, 2003
  • Philippines: October 22, 2011
  • All other countries: November 22, 2015 (Advancement)

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

  • Mexico: September 8, 1998
  • Philippines: June 8, 2002
  • All other countries: October 1, 2009 (Advancement)

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

  • Mexico: October 15, 2000 (Advancement)
  • India: December 15, 2005 (Advancement)
  • Philippines: June 15, 2003 (Advancement)
  • All other countries: June 8, 2007 (Advancement)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Final Action Date chart for the family-sponsored categories shows major milestones in nearly all preference categories. Additionally, the Final Action Date chart for the employment-based categories shows modest advancement, particularly for EB-1 India and EB-4. The Dates for Filing chart remains unchanged, except for the advancement of the EB-4 category to January 1, 2020.

USCIS will continue to use the Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored adjustment of status filings, but will use the Final Action Date chart for employment-based adjustment of status filings. Family-sponsored applicants who qualify should submit their filings, while the Dates for Filing chart is still being used by USCIS.

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

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