Good News: April 2024 Visa Bulletin Explained!!!

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick analyzes the April 2024 Visa Bulletin and discusses the significant movement in the employment based categories and modest movement in the family-sponsored preference categories for the month of April. 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 April 2024

For the month of April 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).

USCIS April 2024 Adjustment of Status Filing Charts

What Changes Can Be Seen Next Month?

Family-sponsored categories

Dates for Filing

The Dates for Filing chart remains unchanged from the previous month except for the following categories:

F4 India will advance by 1.5 months to April 8, 2006, and
F4 Philippines will advance by 1 year to April 22, 2005

Movement in the Final Action Dates

The Final Action Dates Chart for the family-sponsored categories shows few advancements as follows:

F2A Worldwide, China, India, and the Philippines will advance by 2.6 months to September 8, 2020
F2A Mexico will advance by 2 months to August 15, 2020

Employment-based categories

Dates for Filing

The Dates for Filing chart remains unchanged from the previous month except for the following categories:

EB-1A India will advance by 3 months to April 1, 2021
EB-3 India will advance by 1.5 months to September 15, 2012, and
EB-4 will advance by 11 months to December 1, 2020

All other preference categories remain unchanged from the previous month.

Movement in the Final Action Dates

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

EB-1 China will advance by 6 weeks to September 1, 2022
EB-1 India will advance by 5 months to March 1, 2021
EB-2 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 7 weeks to January 15, 2023
EB-2 China will advance by 1 month to February 1, 2020
EB-2 India will advance by 6 weeks to April 15, 2012
EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 2.5 months to November 22, 2022
EB-3 India will advance by 6 weeks to August 15, 2012
EB-3 Other Workers Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 2.2 months to October 8, 2020
EB-3 Other Workers India will advance by 1.5 months to August 15, 2012
EB-4 will advance by 11 months to November 1, 2020

Now let’s look at the charts.

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

According to the Department of State’s April 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 6 weeks to September 1, 2022
EB-1 India will advance by 5 months to March 1, 2021
EB-2 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 7 weeks to January 15, 2023
EB-2 China will advance by 1 month to February 1, 2020
EB-2 India will advance by 6 weeks to April 15, 2012
EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 2.5 months to November 22, 2022
EB-3 China will remain at September 1, 2020
EB-3 India will advance by 6 weeks to August 15, 2012
EB-3 Other Workers Worldwide and Mexico will advance by 2.2 months to October 8, 2020
EB-3 Other Workers China will remain at January 1, 2017
EB-3 Other Workers India will advance by 1.5 months to August 15, 2012
EB-3 Other Workers Philippines will remain at May 1, 2020
EB-4 will advance by 11 months to November 1, 2020
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

The bold represents the advancement of the category.

Employment- based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	01SEP22	01MAR21	C	C
2nd	15JAN23	01FEB20	15APR12	15JAN23	15JAN23
3rd	22NOV22	01SEP20	15AUG12	22NOV22	22NOV22
Other Workers	08OCT20	01JAN17	15AUG12	08OCT20	01MAY20
4th	01NOV20	01NOV20	01NOV20	01NOV20	01NOV20
Certain Religious Workers	U	U	U	U	U
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 April 2024 Final Action Dates

EB-1

China: September 1, 2022 (Advancement)
India: March 1, 2021 (Advancement)
All other countries: Current

EB-2

China: February 1, 2020 (Advancement)
India: April 15, 2012 (Advancement)
All other countries: January 15, 2023 (Advancement)

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

China: September 1, 2020
India: August 15, 2012 (Advancement)
All other countries: November 22, 2022 (Advancement)

EB-3 Other Workers

China: January 1, 2017
India: August 15, 2012 (Advancement)
Philippines: May 1, 2020
All other countries: October 8, 2020 (Advancement)

EB-4

All countries: November 1, 2020 (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 April 2024 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories:

F1 Worldwide, China, and India will remain at 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 2.6 months to September 8, 2020
F2A Mexico will advance by 2 months to August 15, 2020
F2B Worldwide, China, and India will remain at 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 remain at October 1, 2009
F3 Mexico will remain at September 8, 1998
F3 Philippines will remain at June 8, 2002
F4 Worldwide and China will remain at June 8, 2007
F4 India will remain at December 15, 2005
F4 Philippines will remain at June 15, 2003

The bold represents the advancement of the category.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	08FEB15	08FEB15	08FEB15	01MAY01	01MAR12
F2A	08SEP20	08SEP20	08SEP20	15AUG20	08SEP20
F2B	22NOV15	22NOV15	22NOV15	22OCT03	22OCT11
F3	01OCT09	01OCT09	01OCT09	08SEP98	08JUN02
F4	08JUN07	08JUN07	15DEC05	15OCT00	15JUN03

Family Sponsored April 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

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

Mexico: August 15, 2020 (Advancement)
All other countries: September 8, 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

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

Mexico: September 8, 1998
Philippines: June 8, 2002
All other countries: October 1, 2009

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

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

What to Expect in the Year Ahead

The EB-4 Non-Minister Religious Worker program will become unavailable for all countries on March 22, 2024, unless it is reauthorized by Congressional legislation. If no action is taken by Congress to extend the program, no immigrant visas or adjustment of status applications can be approved under the category until a reauthorization is passed.

Visa Availability in the Coming Months

The Department of State has provided the following projections regarding potential visa availability in the coming months.

Family-sponsored categories (potential movement):

Worldwide dates:

F1: Up to three months
F2A (excluding Mexico): Up to six months
F2B: Up to ten weeks
F3: Several months
F4: Up to four weeks

Mexico:

F1: Up to four months
F2A: Up to three months
F2B: Several months
F3: Up to six months
F4: Up to three months

Philippines:

F3: Several months
F4: Several months

Employment-based categories:

Very little to no forward movement is expected in the coming months since the final action dates for many categories advanced for April 2024. This projection reflects the expectation for the remainder of FY 2024, which ends on September 30, 2024.

With respect to India and China, we will not have any projections for these countries until we have a clearer idea of the demand for visa numbers for the rest of the world.

Once the employment-based second and third categories become current for the rest of the world, we will have an indication of how many visa numbers will be available for these countries based on the available data.

As this information become available, we will provide those updates on our blog and YouTube channel.

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

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