Family-Sponsored Categories Show Major Advancement, Employment-Based Categories Unchanged from Previous Month — Visa Lawyer Blog — April 11, 2024
The long-awaited May 2024 Visa Bulletin has arrived! If you’d like to know all about the projected movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the month of May, we’ve got you covered.
Highlights of the May 2024 Visa Bulletin
Dates for Filing Chart
For the family-sponsored preference categories, the Dates for Filing Chart remains unchanged from the previous month, with the exception of the F2B category for Mexico which will advance by 1 month to September 1, 2004. Additionally, F3 Worldwide, China, and India will advance by 3 months to June 1, 2010. Finally, F4 India will advance by 2.2 months to June 15, 2006, F4 Mexico will advance by 1 week to April 22, 2001, and F4 Philippines will advance by over 1 month to June 1, 2005.
For the employment-based petitions, the Dates for Filing remain unchanged from the previous month.
Employment-based categories Final Action Chart
The Final Action Dates Chart shows no movement for all employment-based preference categories.
Family-sponsored categories
Movement in the Final Action Dates
On the other hand, the Final Action Dates Chart for the family-sponsored categories advanced in almost all categories as follows:
- F1 Mexico will advance by 5.5 months to October 15, 2001
- F1 Philippines will remain the same at March 1, 2012
- F1 All other countries will advance by 4.9 months to July 8, 2015
- F2A Mexico will advance by 2.8 months to November 8, 2020
- F2A Philippines will advance by 8.7 months to June 1, 2021
- F2A All other countries will advance by 8.7 months to June 1, 2021
- F2B Mexico will advance by 4.3 months to March 1, 2004
- F2B Philippines will remain at October 22, 2011
- F2B All other countries will advance by 4.3 months to April 1, 2016
- F3 Mexico will advance by 10.4 months to July 22, 1999
- F3 Philippines will advance by 1.8 months to August 1, 2002
- F3 All other countries will advance by 3 months to January 1, 2010
- F4 Worldwide and China will advance by 1.4 months to July 22, 2007
- F4 India will advance by 1 month to January 15, 2006
- F4 Mexico will advance by 3.3 months to January 22, 2001
- F4 Philippines will advance by 2.8 months to September 8, 2003
Adjustment of Status Filing Chart May 2024
For the month of May 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to use the Dates for Filing Chart for all family-sponsored preference categories, and the Final Action Dates Chart for all employment-based preference categories, when applying for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the United States.
Employment-Based Categories
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
According to the Department of State’s May 2024 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for employment-based categories:
- EB-1 China will remain at September 1, 2022
- EB-1 India will remain at March 1, 2021
- EB-1 All other countries will continue to be current
- EB-2 China will remain at February 1, 2020
- EB-2 India will remain at April 15, 2012
- EB-2 All other countries will remain at January 15, 2023
- EB-3 India will remain at August 15, 2012
- EB-3 China will remain at September 1, 2020
- EB-3 All other countries will remain at November 22, 2022
- EB-3 Other Workers Philippines will remain at May 1, 2020
- EB-3 Other Workers India will remain at August 15, 2012
- EB-3 Other Workers All other countries will remain at October 8, 2020
- EB-4 will remain at November 1, 2020
- EB-5 China Unreserved will remain at December 15, 2015
- EB-5 India Unreserved will remain at December 1, 2020
- All other EB-5 categories will remain current
| 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 | 01NOV20 | 01NOV20 | 01NOV20 | 01NOV20 | 01NOV20 |
| 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 May 2024 Final Action Dates
EB-1
- China: September 1, 2022
- India: March 1, 2021
- All other countries: Current
EB-2
- China: February 1, 2020
- India: April 15, 2012
- All other countries: January 15, 2023
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- China: September 1, 2020
- India: August 15, 2012
- All other countries: November 22, 2022
EB-3 Other Workers
- China: January 1, 2017
- India: August 15, 2012
- Philippines: May 1, 2020
- All other countries: October 8, 2020
EB-4
- All countries: November 1, 2020
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
DATES FOR FILING FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
According to the Department of State’s May 2024 Visa Bulletin, the Dates for Filing cutoff dates will remain unchanged from the previous month.
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01JAN23 | 01APR21 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15FEB23 | 01JUN20 | 15MAY12 | 15FEB23 | 15FEB23 |
| 3rd | 01FEB23 | 01JUL21 | 15SEP12 | 01FEB23 | 01JAN23 |
| Other Workers | 15DEC20 | 01JUN17 | 15SEP12 | 15DEC20 | 15MAY20 |
| 4th | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) |
C | 01JAN17 | 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 |
Employment-Based May 2024 Dates for Filing
EB-1
- China: January 1, 2023
- India: April 1, 2021
- All other countries: Current
EB-2
- China: June 1, 2020
- India: May 15, 2012
- All other countries: February 15, 2023
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- China: July 1, 2021
- India: September 15, 2012
- Philippines: January 1, 2023
- All other countries: February 1, 2023
EB-3 Other Workers
- China: June 1, 2017
- India: September 15, 2012
- Philippines: May 15, 2020
- All other countries: December 15, 2020
EB-4
- All countries: December 1, 2020
EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
- China: January 1, 2017
- India: April 1, 2022
- 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 May 2024 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories:
- F1 Mexico will advance by 5.5 months to October 15, 2001
- F1 Philippines will remain the same at March 1, 2012
- F1 All other countries will advance by 4.9 months to July 8, 2015
- F2A Mexico will advance by 2.8 months to November 8, 2020
- F2A Philippines will advance by 8.7 months to June 1, 2021
- F2A All other countries will advance by 8.7 months to June 1, 2021
- F2B Mexico will advance by 4.3 months to March 1, 2004
- F2B Philippines will remain at October 22, 2011
- F2B All other countries will advance by 4.3 months to April 1, 2016
- F3 Mexico will advance by 10.4 months to July 22, 1999
- F3 Philippines will advance by 1.8 months to August 1, 2002
- F3 All other countries will advance by 3 months to January 1, 2010
- F4 India will advance by 1 month to January 15, 2006
- F4 Mexico will advance by 3.3 months to January 22, 2001
- F4 Philippines will advance by 2.8 months to September 8, 2003
- F4 All other countries will advance by 1.4 months to July 22, 2007
The bold represents the advancement of the category.
| Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA-mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 08JUL15 | 08JUL15 | 08JUL15 | 15OCT01 | 01MAR12 |
| F2A | 01JUN21 | 01JUN21 | 01JUN21 | 08NOV20 | 01JUN21 |
| F2B | 01APR16 | 01APR16 | 01APR16 | 01MAR04 | 22OCT11 |
| F3 | 01JAN10 | 01JAN10 | 01JAN10 | 22JUL99 | 01AUG02 |
| F4 | 22JUL07 | 22JUL07 | 15JAN06 | 22JAN01 | 08SEP03 |
Family Sponsored May 2024 Final Action Dates
F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- Mexico: October 15, 2001 (Advancement)
- Philippines: March 1, 2012
- All other countries: July 8, 2015 (Advancement)
F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- Mexico: November 8, 2020 (Advancement)
- All other countries: June 1, 2021 (Advancement)
F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- Mexico: March 1, 2004 (Advancement)
- Philippines: October 22, 2011
- All other countries: April 1, 2016 (Advancement)
F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- Mexico: July 22, 1999 (Advancement)
- Philippines: August 1, 2002 (Advancement)
- All other countries: January 1, 2010 (Advancement)
F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
- Mexico: January 22, 2001 (Advancement)
- India: January 15, 2006 (Advancement)
- Philippines: September 8, 2003 (Advancement)
- All other countries: July 22, 2007 (Advancement)
DATES FOR FILING FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
According to the Department of State’s May 2024 Visa Bulletin, the Dates for Filing cutoff dates remain the same as in the previous month, with the exception of:
- F2B Mexico: will advance by 1 month to September 1, 2004
- F3 Worldwide, China, and India: will advance by 3 months to June 1, 2010
- F4 India: will advance by 2.2 months to June 15, 2006
- F4 Mexico: will also advance by 1 week to April 22, 2001
- F4 Philippines: will advance by over 1 month to June 1, 2005
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 | 01APR05 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01SEP04 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 01JUN10 | 01JUN10 | 01JUN10 | 15JUN01 | 08NOV03 |
| F4 | 01MAR08 | 01MAR08 | 15JUN06 | 22APR01 | 01JUN05 |
Family Sponsored May 2024 Dates for Filing
F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- Mexico: April 1, 2005
- Philippines: April 22, 2015
- All other countries: September 1, 2017
F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- All countries: September 1, 2023
F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- Mexico: September 1, 2004 (Advancement)
- Philippines: October 1, 2013
- All other countries: January 1, 2017
F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- Mexico: June 15, 2001
- Philippines: November 8, 2003
- All other countries: June 1, 2010 (Advancement)
F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
- India: June 15, 2006 (Advancement)
- Mexico: April 22, 2001(Advancement)
- Philippines: June 1, 2005 (Advancement)
- All other countries: March 1, 2008
Conclusion
The May Visa Bulletin does not contain visa availability projections in the coming months. However, we expect to continue to see significant forward movement in the family-sponsored categories with the majority of movement made in the Final Action Dates chart.
For the employment-based categories, we expect minimal movement in only some of the categories for the remainder of fiscal year 2024, which ends on September 30, 2024.
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.
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