The Visa Bulletin, published monthly by the U.S. Department of State, is essential for understanding when applicants in various immigration categories can expect to proceed with their cases. Each month’s bulletin details “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications” for family- and employment-based immigrant visa applicants, as well as the availability of Diversity Immigrant Visas (DV).
The December 2024 Visa Bulletin introduces several updates, adjustments, and clarifications over the November 2024 version. This analysis compares the two months’ bulletins to highlight notable changes, improvements, and any consistent elements. This review can help applicants and their families understand potential impacts on timelines and application processes.
Key Sections and Changes Overview
- Family-Sponsored Preference Immigrant Visas
- Employment-Based Preference Immigrant Visas
- Diversity Immigrant (DV) Visas
- Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) and Religious Workers (SR) Category
Each category will be covered with a focus on “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” noting changes in cutoff dates across regions.
Current Status
Detailed Information
| Category | Final Action Date | Date for Filing | Movement |
|---|
1. Family-Sponsored Preference Immigrant Visas
In the family-sponsored preference categories, visa availability is divided by preference levels, including the F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4 categories. Each category’s cutoff dates may move forward, remain the same, or become “current” (indicated by a “C”).
Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases
| Family-Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China-Mainland Born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 22OCT15 | 22OCT15 | 22OCT15 | 22NOV04 | 01MAR12 |
| F2A | 01JAN22 | 01JAN22 | 01JAN22 | 15APR21 | 01JAN22 |
| F2B | 01MAY16 | 01MAY16 | 01MAY16 | 01JUL05 | 22OCT11 |
| F3 | 15APR10 | 15APR10 | 15APR10 | 22OCT00 | 08SEP02 |
| F4 | 01AUG07 | 01AUG07 | 08MAR06 | 01MAR01 | 01FEB04 |
Observations and Changes from November to December:
- F1 Category: No changes were observed; dates remained the same across all categories.
- F2A Category: The cutoff dates for all countries except Mexico remained “current.” For Mexico, the final action date is still 15APR21.
- F2B Category: No adjustments; the dates for each chargeability area are consistent with November.
- F3 and F4 Categories: No changes in the final action dates, which remain the same in both months.
In summary, no new movements or retrogressions were observed in the final action dates for family-sponsored visas from November to December 2024.
Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications
| Family-Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China-Mainland Born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01OCT05 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | 15JUL24 | 15JUL24 | 15JUL24 | 15JUL24 | 15JUL24 |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JUL06 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 22APR12 | 22APR12 | 22APR12 | 15JUN01 | 08MAY04 |
| F4 | 01MAR08 | 01MAR08 | 01AUG06 | 30APR01 | 22JUL07 |
Observations and Changes from November to December:
Again, the dates for filing applications for family-sponsored visas remained static across all categories and regions in December as compared to November.
2. Employment-Based Preference Immigrant Visas
Employment-based preferences are organized into five categories, from EB-1 (Priority Workers) to EB-5 (Employment Creation).
Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases
| Employment-Based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China-Mainland Born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 08NOV22 | 01FEB22 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 15MAR23 | 22MAR20 | 01AUG12 | 15MAR23 | 15MAR23 |
| EB-3 | 15NOV22 | 01APR20 | 08NOV12 | 15NOV22 | 15NOV22 |
| Other Workers | 01DEC20 | 01JAN17 | 08NOV12 | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 |
| EB-4 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | C | 15JUL16 | 01JAN22 | C | C |
| EB-5 Rural Set-Asides | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 High Unemployment Set-Asides | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 Infrastructure Set-Asides | C | C | C | C | C |
Key Observations:
- EB-1 Category: India and China remain backlogged with dates unchanged, while all other areas remain “current.”
- EB-2 Category: The cutoff dates stayed static for all regions; China and India continue to have earlier dates.
- EB-3 Category: All countries saw no change, with China and India maintaining earlier cutoff dates.
- Other Workers: No changes in dates; this category retains backlogs for certain regions.
- EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers: No changes, with dates continuing to be at 01JAN21 across all chargeability areas.
- EB-5 Unreserved and Set-Asides: No change in December; all areas remain current or unchanged from November.
The employment-based final action dates remained stable from November to December, with no progressions or retrogressions noted.
Dates for Filing Employment-Based Visa Applications
| Employment-Based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China-Mainland Born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 01JAN23 | 15APR22 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 01AUG23 | 01OCT20 | 01JAN13 | 01AUG23 | 01AUG23 |
| EB-3 | 01MAR23 | 15NOV20 | 08JUN13 | 01MAR23 | 01MAR23 |
| Other Workers | 22MAY21 | 01JAN18 | 08JUN13 | 22MAY21 | 22MAY21 |
| EB-4 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | C | 01OCT16 | 01APR22 | C | C |
| EB-5 Rural Set-Asides | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 High Unemployment Set-Asides | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 Infrastructure Set-Asides | C | C | C | C | C |
No movements were noted in the dates for filing employment-based visa applications from November to December 2024. All regions and categories retained the same dates as previously published.
3. Diversity Immigrant (DV) Visa Category
The Diversity Visa (DV) program awards up to 55,000 visas per fiscal year to applicants from countries with low admission rates.
Rank Cutoff Numbers for Diversity Visa Applications
For December 2024, the cutoff rank numbers for DV-2025 remain largely unchanged for Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, and the Caribbean. However, there were some slight rank cutoff increases for certain regions:
- Africa: The cutoff rank moved from 15,000 to 22,500, with Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco now capped at 22,000.
- Asia: Increased cutoff rank for Nepal, rising from 2,950 in November to 3,500 in December.
- Europe: Rank cutoff increased to 12,000, with Russia now at 11,750 and Uzbekistan at 7,750.
- Other Regions: Minor increases for North America, Oceania, and South America/Caribbean.
Summary of DV Visa Availability Changes
- Most regions saw minor increases in cutoff ranks, suggesting greater availability for DV-2025 applicants in December as compared to November.
4. Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) and Religious Workers (SR) Category
Religious Workers (SR) Program Update
- The SR program, for special religious worker immigrant visas, was extended to December 20, 2024. Visas issued before this date will expire, requiring applicants to enter the U.S. before midnight on December 19, 2024.
Conclusion
The December 2024 Visa Bulletin introduced minimal changes across family- and employment-based final action and filing dates compared to November, indicating stability. The Diversity Visa program saw increased cutoff ranks for most regions, providing additional access for December applicants. Additionally, the SR category extension allows religious workers additional time to secure their visas.
This analysis provides an accessible and thorough comparison of the November and December Visa Bulletins, highlighting shifts that affect a range of applicants and categories. For those tracking visa progress, these changes signal a period of consistency with minor opportunities for those in the DV and SR categories.
