The December 2024 Visa Bulletin released by the U.S. Department of State reflects little change relative to the November 2024 Visa Bulletin.1 Similar to November 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will continue to accept employment-based Forms I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, according to the Dates for Filing chart in December 2024.2
WHY THIS MATTERS
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.
Employment-Based Preference Category Cut-Off Dates
Cut-Off Dates for Dates of Filing Chart for December 2024
The cut-off dates in the employment-based Dates for Filing chart for December 2024 show no movement from the current month’s Visa Bulletin. The Dates for Filing for next month are as follows:3
EB-1: All countries of chargeability except the People’s Republic of China (“China”) and India are current. The cut-off date for China remains January 1, 2023, and the cut-off date for India remains April 15, 2022.
EB-2: The cut-off dates for all countries except China and India remain August 1, 2023. The cut-off for China will stay October 1, 2020, and the cut-off for India remains January 1, 2013.
EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: The cut-off dates for all countries of chargeability except China and India remain March 1, 2023. China’s cut-off date will stay November 15, 2020, and India’s cut-off date will remain June 8, 2013.
EB-3 Other Workers: All countries of chargeability except China and India will have a cut-off date of May 22, 2021. China’s cut-off date will remain January 1, 2018, and India’s cut-off date will remain June 8, 2013.
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 October 1, 2016, and the 5th Unreserved cut-off date for India remains April 1, 2022.
Cut-Off Dates for Dates of Final Action Chart for December 2024
The cut-off dates for the Dates of Final Action chart for December 2024 for the noted countries of chargeability are as follows:4
EB-1: All countries of chargeability except China and India are current. The cut-off date for China remains November 8, 2022, and for India, the cut-off date remains February 1, 2022.
EB-2: The cut-off dates for all countries except China and India remain March 15, 2023. The cut-off for China will remain March 22, 2020, and the cut-off for India will move forward to August 1, 2012.
EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: The cut-off dates for all countries of chargeability except China and India remain November 15, 2022. China’s cut-off date will remain April 1, 2020, and India’s cut-off date will progress to November 8, 2012.
EB-3 Other Workers: All countries of chargeability except China and India will have a cut-off date of December 1, 2020. China’s cut-off date will remain January 1, 2017, and India’s cut-off date will move forward to November 8, 2012.
EB-4: The cut-off dates for all countries will remain January 1, 2021.
Certain Religious workers: The cut-off dates for all countries will 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 July 15, 2016, and the cut-off date for India remains January 1, 2022.
The USCIS has determined that for the month of December 2024, employment-based Forms I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, will be accepted based on the Dates for Filing chart.5
FOOTNOTES:
1 “Visa Bulletin For December 2024,” U.S. Department of State website.
2 See the “Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin” page on the USCIS website.
3 "Visa Bulletin For December 2024," U.S. Department of State website.
4 Ibid.
5 See the “Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin” page on the USCIS website.
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The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Canada.
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