The September 2024 Visa Bulletin released by the U.S. Department of State reflects significant retrogression in the EB-3 categories of Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers.1 United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will continue to accept Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, utilizing the Final Action Dates chart for all employment-based preference categories.2
Congress limits the number of immigrant visas (“green cards”) which may be issued each year. A per-country limit of 7 percent of the annual quota of available employment-based immigrant visas applies. Each month, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) releases a Visa Bulletin indicating the availability of statutorily-limited visas for prospective immigrants.
The cut-off dates reflected in the Visa Bulletin, coupled with USCIS’ confirmation of which chart will apply, dictate eligibility to file a Form I-485 application in each month. In addition, the Final Action Dates chart in the applicable Visa Bulletin determines whether a pending Form I-485 or immigrant visa application may be approved.
In the September 2024 Visa Bulletin, the DOS notes that it was necessary to retrogress the EB-3 Final Action Dates for Professional and Skilled Workers (rest of the world, Mexico, and the Philippines), and Other Workers (rest of the world and Mexico) as the totals in these categories are “rapidly” approaching the annual limit for FY 2024, necessitating a slow down of issuance rates.3 The DOS anticipates that the Final Action Dates will advance in the October 2024 Visa Bulletin, however, the movement will depend on the worldwide demand for EB-3 visas and the estimated FY 2025 category limit.4 Due to the retrogression, it is recommended to submit I-485 applications for eligible applicants, especially those in the EB-3 preference category, in early September.
Employment-Based Preference Category Cut-Off Dates
The cut-off dates for the Dates of Filing Chart for September 2024 for the noted countries of chargeability are as follows5:
EB-1: All countries of chargeability except the People’s Republic of China (“China”) and India will remain current. The cut-off date for China remains January 1, 2023, and the cut-off date for India remains February 8, 2022.
EB-2: The cut-off dates for all countries except China and India remain March 22, 2023. The cut-off date for China will stay at June 1, 2020, and the cut-off date for India of July 22, 2012, is unchanged.
EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: The cut-off dates for all countries of chargeability except China, India, and the Philippines remain February 1, 2023. China’s cut-off date will stay July 1, 2021. India’s cut-off date will stay November 1, 2012. The Philippines’ cut-off date will stay January 1, 2023.
EB-3 Other Workers: All countries of chargeability except China, India, and the Philippines will keep their cut-off dates of January 8, 2021. China’s cut-off date will remain June 1, 2017. India’s cut-off date will remain November 1, 2012. The Philippines’ cut-off date will remain May 15, 2020.
EB-4: The cut-off dates for all countries remain February 1, 2021.
Certain Religious workers: The cut-off dates for all countries remain February 1, 2021.
EB-5: Cut-off dates are current for all countries, except for the C5, T5, I5, and R5 (i.e., 5th Unreserved) programs for China and India. The 5th Unreserved cut-off date for China remains January 1, 2017, and the 5th Unreserved cut-off date for India remains April 1, 2022.
Cut-Off Dates for Dates of Filing Chart for September 2024
The cut-off dates for the Dates of Filing Chart for September 2024 for the noted countries of chargeability are as follows5:
EB-1: All countries of chargeability except the People’s Republic of China (“China”) and India will remain current. The cut-off date for China remains January 1, 2023, and the cut-off date for India remains February 8, 2022.
EB-2: The cut-off dates for all countries except China and India remain March 22, 2023. The cut-off date for China will stay at June 1, 2020, and the cut-off date for India of July 22, 2012, is unchanged.
EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: The cut-off dates for all countries of chargeability except China, India, and the Philippines remain February 1, 2023. China’s cut-off date will stay July 1, 2021. India’s cut-off date will stay November 1, 2012. The Philippines’ cut-off date will stay January 1, 2023.
EB-3 Other Workers: All countries of chargeability except China, India, and the Philippines will keep their cut-off dates of January 8, 2021. China’s cut-off date will remain June 1, 2017. India’s cut-off date will remain November 1, 2012. The Philippines’ cut-off date will remain May 15, 2020.
EB-4: The cut-off dates for all countries remain February 1, 2021.
Certain Religious workers: The cut-off dates for all countries remain February 1, 2021.
EB-5: Cut-off dates are current for all countries, except for the C5, T5, I5, and R5 (i.e., 5th Unreserved) programs for China and India. The 5th Unreserved cut-off date for China remains January 1, 2017, and the 5th Unreserved cut-off date for India remains April 1, 2022.
Cut-Off Dates for Dates of Final Action Chart for September 2024
The cut-off dates for the Dates of Final Action Chart for September 2024 for the noted countries of chargeability are as follows6:
EB-1: All countries of chargeability except China and India will be current. The cut-off date for China remains November 1, 2022. The cut-off date for India remains February 1, 2022.
EB-2: The cut-off dates for all countries except China and India remain March 15, 2023. The cut-off date for China will stay March 1, 2020, and the cut-off date for India will be unchanged at July 15, 2012.
EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: The cut-off dates for all countries of chargeability except China and India retrogressed by one (1) year to December 1, 2020. China’s cut-off date will remain September 1, 2020, and India’s cut-off date will stay October 22, 2012.
EB-3 Other Workers: All countries of chargeability except China, India, and the Philippines have retrogressed by one (1) month to December 1, 2020. China’s cut-off date will remain January 1, 2017. India’s cut-off date will remain October 22, 2012. The cut-off date for the Philippines will remain May 1, 2020.
EB-4: The cut-off dates for all countries remain January 1, 2021.
Certain Religious workers: The cut-off dates for all countries remain January 1, 2021.
EB-5: Final Action Dates are current for all countries, except for the C5, T5, I5, and R5 (i.e., 5th Unreserved) programs for China and India. The 5th Unreserved cut-off date for China will remain December 15, 2015, and the cut-off date for India remains December 1, 2020.
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