The U.S. Department of State regularly publishes the Visa Bulletin, a vital document for all aspiring immigrants, including families and employment-based immigrants. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the January 2024 Visa Bulletin, explaining the significance of priority dates, final action dates, and dates for filing visa applications. We assist you in interpreting the charts and assist in understanding how they pertain to diverse immigration categories.
What is the Visa Bulletin?
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication from the Department of State that details the availability of immigrant visa numbers. It informs prospective immigrants when they can apply for a visa and the status of visa caps for different preference categories and countries.
Key Terms Defined
Before diving into the specifics of the January 2024 bulletin, here are crucial terms you should understand:
- Priority Date: The date when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives your visa petition. It’s your place in the visa queue.
- Final Action Date: The priority date of the first applicant who could not get a visa within the numerical limits.
- Date for Filing: This indicates when you can submit visa applications for document processing at the National Visa Center.
- Chargeability Areas: These refer to the countries or regions against which a visa is allocated. Some areas are subject to caps.
- Per-Country Limit: A maximum number of visas that can be issued to immigrants from a single country.
In-Depth Look at Family-Sponsored Preferences
The Visa Bulletin sets forth limits on the number of immigrants who can enter the U.S. through family-sponsored preferences. For the fiscal year 2024, the limit has been determined to be 226,000 visas for this category. This ceiling is further broken down into several subcategories, reflecting various familial relationships with U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Updates in Family-Sponsored Visas
Family Preference immigrant visas are remarkably backlogged, displaying that many applicants must wait several years before their visas can be processed. For instance, the January 2024 bulletin shows that unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens from the Philippines under the F1 preference category have a Final Action Date of March 1, 2012. This means that only those whose priority date is before this date can expect to have their permanent residency processed.
Family Preference Visa Availability
The following are the key numerical cutoffs for the January 2024 Visa Bulletin, highlighting the protracted wait times that applicants might face:
- F1 (Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens): The Final Action Dates vary greatly, with Mexico’s cutoff being May 1, 2001, suggesting a much longer wait compared to other regions.
- F2A (Spouses and children of permanent residents): This category is relatively current which indicates shorter waiting periods.
- F2B (Unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents): Dating back to October 3, 2003, for Mexico, the delays continue to underscore the backlog.
- F3 (Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens): As of January 2024, the oldest cutoff date is September 8, 1998, for Mexico.
- F4 (Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens): Shows significant delays with the oldest date listed for Mexico as September 15, 2000.
Employment-Based Preference Update
A minimum of 140,000 visas are allocated for employment-based preferences, distributed across five preference categories. These categories are designed to benefit the U.S. economy by allowing skilled and needed workers to immigrate based on job offers or investments.
January 2024 Highlights for Employment Visas
For many employment-based applicants, particularly from India and China where demand is high, backlogs are substantial. For example, Indian applicants in the second employment-based preference (EB-2) face a Final Action Date of March 12, 2012, revealing a multi-year waiting period. However, the first preference category (EB-1), which includes priority workers, remains current for all countries except for China and India.
The Fifth Preference category, which is tied to employment creation (also known as the EB-5 category), is current across many countries, offering a viable path for investors and their families to obtain permanent residence.
Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
The Diversity Visa (DV) program grants up to 55,000 visas annually to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. The bulletin provides the regional cut-off numbers for the program, which can change month-to-month based on the allocation and the regional limits set by immigration law.
Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases
Here is a simplified version of the January 2024 Final Action Dates table for easy reference:
| Family-Sponsored | All Areas Except Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01JAN15 | 01JAN15 | 01JAN15 | 01MAY01 | 01MAR12 |
| F2A | 01NOV19 | 01NOV19 | 01NOV19 | 22OCT19 | 01NOV19 |
| F2B | 01OCT15 | 01OCT15 | 01OCT15 | 22OCT03 | 22OCT11 |
| F3 | 22APR09 | 22APR09 | 22APR09 | 08SEP98 | 08JUN02 |
| F4 | 22MAY07 | 22MAY07 | 15NOV05 | 15SEP00 | 15OCT02 |
To clarify, “C” signifies that visa numbers are available for all qualified applicants, and “U” means unauthorized or unavailable.
Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications
The Date for Filing is when applicants can submit their paperwork. Below is the simplified January 2024 Dates for Filing chart:
| Family-Sponsored | All Except Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01APR05 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01AUG04 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 01MAR10 | 01MAR10 | 01MAR10 | 15JUN01 | 08NOV03 |
| F4 | 01MAR08 | 01MAR08 | 22FEB06 | 15APR01 | 22APR04 |
Employment-Based Preferences
Employment-based preferences concern individuals seeking to migrate based on job skills. In FY 2024, at least 140,000 visas are allocated for employment-based preferences.
Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases
Here’s the condensed January 2024 Final Action Dates for Employment-based Preferences:
| Employment-Based | All Except Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01JUL22 | 01SEP20 | C | C |
| 2nd | 01NOV22 | 01JAN20 | 01MAR12 | 01NOV22 | 01NOV22 |
| 3rd | 01AUG22 | 01SEP20 | 01JUN12 | 01AUG22 | 01AUG22 |
| Other Workers | 01SEP20 | 01JAN17 | 01JUN12 | 01SEP20 | 01MAY20 |
| 4th | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 |
| 5th (Unreserved) | C | 08DEC15 | 01DEC20 | C | C |
Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications
Below is a summary of the Dates for Filing for Employment-based Preferences in January 2024:
| Employment-Based | All Except Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01JAN23 | 01JAN21 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15FEB23 | 01JUN20 | 15MAY12 | 15FEB23 | 15FEB23 |
| 3rd | 01FEB23 | 01JUL21 | 01AUG12 | 01FEB23 | 01JAN23 |
| Others | 15DEC20 | 01JUN17 | 01AUG12 | 15DEC20 | 15MAY20 |
| 4th | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 |
Diversity Immigrant (DV) Category for January 2024
The DV program allocates up to 55,000 visas yearly for individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. The January 2024 Visa Bulletin defines accessibility by region:
DV Cut-Off Numbers for January 2024
| Region | All DV Areas Except Listed |
|---|---|
| AFRICA | 22,000 |
| ASIA | 5,500 |
| EUROPE | 12,000 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 5 |
| OCEANIA | 650 |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 1,000 |
Please note that specific countries within these regions, such as Algeria, Egypt, and others, have individual cut-off numbers as detailed in the full bulletin.
Employment Fourth Preference (SR) Religious Workers Category Extended
As per H.R. 6363, the Certain Religious Workers (SR) category has been extended until February 2, 2024. No SR visas can be issued after this date, and admissions must occur before midnight February 1, 2024.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Applicants and their sponsors should meticulously review each month’s Visa Bulletin to remain current on their application status. Active engagement with the bulletin can offer a strategic advantage, as the possibility to file early for adjustment of status or visa application can expedite access to a work permit and travel authorization.
It is imperative for those affected to stay proactive and consult with an immigration attorney or a qualified immigration consultant. This engagement ensures that applicants can navigate the often complicated process with clarity and confidence, maximizing their chances of successfully obtaining a U.S. visa.
While the Visa Bulletin offers predictability for some, it serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of U.S. immigration policy and the profound need for comprehensive reform. Nonetheless, with careful planning and thorough understanding of this bulletin, immigrants can better manage their journey to the United States.
Please note that the Visa Bulletin is subject to change, and this information is for educational purposes only.
