April 2024 US Visa Bulletin: Final action dates for employment-based green cards move up

The 2024 April US Visa Bulletin shows advancement in final action dates across several employment-based categories.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) revealed the April 2024 Visa Bulletin earlier in March. With the month coming to a close, it's time to glance over the chart for the next one. Several categories showed an advancement in the employment-based applications status chart. Per-country priority date cutoffs were outlined in the bulletin.

Dates for several employment-based categories move up in the April Visa Bulletin.

The EB-1 cutoff date for China has moved up six weeks, whereas it has advanced five months for India. EB-2 cutoffs for Mexico and the Philippines will move up nearly two months. China EB-2 applicants' date has advanced a month, and India EB-2 applicants who have yet to file the I-485 application will have to wait six more weeks. Final Action Dates for the family-based Green Card applications have witnessed some changes, too. These dates reflect the waiting window before your application is approved, granting you permanent residency. They depend on one's visa type and country.

Additionally, the April US Visa Bulletin has noted little to no movement for employment-based categories in the coming months as final action dates for several categories moved up in the latest update. Another reminder revealed how the actual final action dates are subject to fluctuation, varying according to applicant demand and other variables.

Key Reminders of April 2024 US Visa Bulletin

Foreign nationals filing for EB application in the upcoming month should have a priority date before the one listed under the country-specific preference category.

Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Applications:

Family-Sponsored preferences:

F1: Unmarried sons + daughters of US citizens [23,400 + numbers left out by fourth preference].

Second: Spouse and children + unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents

• F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents - 77% of overall second preference, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit.
• F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years or older) of Permanent Residents - 23% of overall second preference

F3: Married Sons + Daughters of US Citizens - 23,400 + numbers left out by first and second preferences.

F4: Brothers and Sisters of Adult US Citizens - 65,000 + surplus numbers of first three preferences.

Family-Sponsored	India	China - mainland born	Mexico	Philippines
F1	February 8, 2015	February 8, 2015	May 1, 2001	March 1, 2012
F2A	September 8, 2020	September 8, 2020	August 15, 2020	September 8, 2020
F2B	November 22, 2015	November 22, 2015	October 22, 2003	October 22, 2011
F3	October 1, 2009	October 1, 2009	September 8, 1998	June 8, 2002
F4	December 15, 2005	June 8, 2007	October 15, 2000	June 15, 2003

C: current - numbers authorised for issuance to all qualified applicants.

U: unauthorised 

Dates for filing visa applications:

Family-sponsored	India	China - mainland born	Mexico	Philippines
F1	September 1, 2017	September 1, 2017	April 1, 2005	April 22, 2015
F2A	September 1, 2023	September 1, 2023	September 1, 2023	September 1, 2023
F2B	January 1, 2017	January 1, 2017	August 1, 2004	October 1, 2013
F3	March 1, 2010	March 1, 2010	June 15, 2001	November 8, 2003
F4	April 8, 2006	March 1, 2008	April 15, 2001	April 22, 2005

Employment-Based preferences

1st: Marked Priority Workers - 28.6% global employment-based preference level + surplus numbers of fourth and fifth preferences.

2nd: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees / Persons of Exceptional Ability - 28.6% of worldwide emplyment-based preference level + numbers left out by the first.

3rd: Skilled Workers, Professionals and Other Workers - 28.6% of global level + numbers left over by the first and second preferences, with 10,000 allotted to ‘Other Workers’.

4th: Certain Special Immigrants - 7.1% of the global level, with 32% set aside as follows: 20% for qualified immigrants investing in a rural area + 10% for qualified immigrants investing in high unemployment areas + 2% for qualified immigrants in infrastructure projects. Remaining 68% is unreserved and set aside for all eligible immigrants.

5th: Employment Creation - 7.1% of the worldwide level

Final Action Dates

Employment-based	India	China - mainland born	Mexico	Philippines
1st	March 1, 2021	September 1, 2022	C	C
2nd	April 15, 2012	February 1, 2020	January 15, 2023	January 15, 2023
3rd	August 15, 2012	September 1, 2020	November 22, 2022	November 22, 2022
Other Workers	August 15, 2012	January 1, 2017	October 8, 2020	May 1, 2020
4th	November 1, 2020	November 1, 2020	November 1, 2020	November 1, 2020
Certain Religious Workers	U	U	U	U
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)	December 1, 2020	December 15, 2015	C	C
5th Set Aside: Rural (20%)	C	C	C	C
5th Set High Unemployment (10%)	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%)	C	C	C	C

Dates for Filing

Employment- based	India	China - mainland	Mexico	Philippines
1st	April 1, 2021	January 1, 2023	C	C
2nd	May 15, 2012	June 1, 2020	February 15, 2023	February 15, 2023
3rd	September 15, 2012	July 1, 2021	February 1, 2023	January 1, 2023
Other Workers	September 15, 2012	June 1, 2017	December 15, 2020	May 15, 2020
4th	December 1, 2020	December 1, 2020	December 1, 2020	December 1, 2020
Certain Religious Workers	December 1, 2020	December 1, 2020	December 1, 2020	December 1, 2020
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)	April 1, 2022	January 1, 2017	C	C
5th Set Aside: (Rural - 20%)	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment - 10%)	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure - 2%)	C	C	C	C