Immigration

Visa Lawyer Blog: EB-3 Final Action Retrogression – No movement until new fiscal year — August 9, 2024

In this blog post, we break down the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the September Visa Bulletin. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will continue to use the

Final Action Dates

chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of September.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 September.

Highlights of the September 2024 Visa BulletinEmployment-Based CategoriesEB-3 Final Action Dates

The Final Action date for EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers will

retrogress

by one year, to December 1, 2020, for all countries, except for China and India

  • The Final Action date for EB-3 Other Workers will retrogress by one month, to December 1, 2020, for all countries except China, India, and Philippines
  • Other CategoriesThe Final Action dates and Dates for Filing for the remaining employment-based categories remain unchanged from the August Visa BulletinEmployment Based Demand Will Reach FY 2024 Limits in September

The State Department warns applicants that there has been in an increase in demand for employment-based visas during the fiscal year. Due to this, the employment-based categories will reach the numerical limits during September, or even sooner.

  • Family-Sponsored Categories

The Final Action dates and Dates for Filing for the family-sponsored categories remain unchanged from the August Visa Bulletin

  • Now let’s dive into our analysis.

Employment-Based Categories

  • FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

According to the Department of State’s September 2024 Visa Bulletin

,

the following

Final Action cutoff dates will apply for employment-based categories and adjustment of status applications filed with USCIS in September:EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or ExecutivesEB-1 India will remain at February 1, 2022EB-1 China will remain at November 1, 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 remain at March 1, 2020

EB-2 All other countries will remain at March 15, 2023

  • EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
  • EB-3 India will remain at October 22, 2012
  • EB-3 China will remain at September 1, 2020

EB-3 All other countries will retrogress by one year to December 1, 2020 (The August Visa Bulletin predicted a retrogression of this category).

  • EB-3 Other Workers
  • EB-3 India will remain at October 22, 2012
  • EB-3 China will remain at January 1, 2017

EB-3 Philippines will remain at May 1, 2020

  • EB-3 All other countries will retrogress by one month to December 1, 2020 (The August Visa Bulletin predicted a retrogression of this category).
  • 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 remain at December 1, 2020

  • China will remain at December 15, 2015

All other countries will remain current

  • EB-5 Set-Aside Categories
  • (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current
  • The bold represents the retrogression of the category. The remaining categories remain unchanged from previous month.

Employment-based

All Chargeability

Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA
MEXICO
PHILIPPINES
1st C 01NOV22
01FEB22 C C 2nd 15MAR23 01MAR20
15JUL12 15MAR23 15MAR23 3rd 01DEC20 01SEP20
22OCT12 01DEC20 01DEC20 Other Workers 01DEC20 01JAN17
22OCT12 01DEC20 01MAY20 4th 01JAN21 01JAN21
01JAN21 01JAN21 01JAN21 Certain Religious Workers 01JAN21 01JAN21
01JAN21 01JAN21 01JAN21 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 DATES FOR FILING FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES According to the Department of State’s September 2024 Visa Bulletin, the

Dates for Filing cutoff dates

will remain unchanged from the month of August as follows:

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or ExecutivesEB-1 India will remain at February 8, 2022EB-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 remain at July 22, 2012
  • EB-2 China will remain at June 1, 2020

EB-2 All other countries will remain at March 22, 2023

  • EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
  • EB-3 India will remain at November 1, 2012
  • EB-3 China will remain at July 1, 2021

EB-3 Philippines will remain at January 1, 2023

  • EB-3 All other countries will remain at February 1, 2023
  • EB-3 Other Workers
  • EB-3 India will remain at November 1, 2012
  • EB-3 China will remain at June 1, 2017

EB-3 Philippines will remain at May 15, 2020

  • EB-3 All other countries will remain at January 8, 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 remain at January 1, 2017

All other countries will remain current

  • EB-5 Set-Aside Categories
  • (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current
  • Unchanged from previous month

Employment-based

All Chargeability

Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA
MEXICO
PHILIPPINES
1st C 01JAN23
08FEB22 C C 2nd 22MAR23 01JUN20
22JUL12 22MAR23 22MAR23 3rd 01FEB23 01JUL21
01NOV12 01FEB23 01JAN23 Other Workers 08JAN21 01JUN17
01NOV12 08JAN21 15MAY20 4th 01FEB21 01FEB21
01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 Certain Religious Workers 01FEB21 01FEB21
01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 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 DATES FOR FILING FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES According to the Department of State’s September 2024 Visa Bulletin ,

the

Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply for adjustment of status applications filed with USCIS in the month of September. These dates remain unchanged from the month of August.F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. CitizensF1 Mexico will remain at April 1, 2005F1 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 June 15, 2024
  • F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

F2B Mexico will remain at May 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 remain at November 8, 2003

F3 All other countries will remain at January 1, 2011

  • F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
  • F4 Mexico will
  • remain at April

30, 2001

  • F4 Philippines will remain at April 1, 2006F4 India will remain at June 15, 2006F4 All other countries will remain at March 1, 2008
  • Unchanged from previous month
  • Family-
  • Sponsored

All Chargeability

Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA
MEXICO
PHILIPPINES
F1 01SEP17 01SEP17
01SEP17 01APR05 22APR15 F2A 15JUN24 15JUN24
15JUN24 15JUN24 15JUN24 F2B 01JAN17 01JAN17
01JAN17 01MAY05 01OCT13 F3 01JAN11 01JAN11
01JAN11 15JUN01 08NOV03 F4 01MAR08 01MAR08
15JUN06 30APR01 01APR06 FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES According to the Department of State’s September 2024 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates

will apply for family-sponsored categories. These dates remain unchanged from the month of August:

F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. CitizensF1 Mexico will remain at May 8, 2002F1 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 remain at February 1, 2021
  • F2A All other countries will remain at November 15, 2021

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

  • F2B Mexico will remain at July 15, 2004
  • 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 remain at March 1, 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 remain at February 8, 2001
  • F4 Philippines will remain at February 1, 2004

F4 India will remain at January 22, 2006

  • F4 All other countries will remain at August 1, 2007
  • Unchanged from previous month
  • Family-
  • Sponsored

All Chargeability

Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-mainland
born
INDIA
MEXICO
PHILIPPINES
F1 22OCT15 22OCT15
22OCT15 08MAY02 01MAR12 F2A 15NOV21 15NOV21
15NOV21 01FEB21 15NOV21 F2B 01MAY16 01MAY16
01MAY16 15JUL04 22OCT11 F3 01APR10 01APR10
01APR10 01MAR00 08SEP02 F4 01AUG07 01AUG07
22JAN06 08FEB01 01FEB04 Conclusion For the

employment-based categories

, the Final Action date for EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers will retrogress by one year, to December 1, 2020, for all countries, except for China and India. Additionally, the Final Action date for EB-3 Other Workers will retrogress by one month, to December 1, 2020, for all countries except China, India, and Philippines.The Final Action dates and Dates for Filing for the remaining employment-based categories remain unchanged from the August Visa Bulletin. The State Department warns applicants that due to an increase in demand for employment-based visas for fiscal year 2024, the employment-based categories will reach the numerical limits during September, if not sooner.

With respect to the family-based categories

, the Final Action dates and Dates for Filing remain unchanged from the August Visa Bulletin.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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