The US Visa Bulletin for December 2024 has been released by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. The December Visa Bulletin issued by the State Department outlines the Final Action deadlines for approving a change of status application or issuing an immigrant visa.
There has been modest advancement for India EB-2 and EB-3 categories while there is no change in all other employment-based categories.
The final action date for India EB-2 will be moved forward by two weeks to August 1, 2012 and all other countries will remain at March 15, 2023, while the Final Action date for India EB-3 will advance by one week to November 8, 2012 and all other countries will remain at November 15, 2022.
The annual limit for EB-2 visas is 28.6 percent of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
The new limit for EB-2 visa was set on October 1, 2024 and embassies and consulates may issue immigrant visas in this category to qualified applicants.
Employment-Based Second Preference or the EB-2 category allows for the legal travel of individuals with advanced degrees and exceptional abilities, who significantly contribute to various industries in the U.S. economy.
An employment-based, second-preference visa may be granted to individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities in their profession.
The eligibility criteria for EB-2 visas is determined under two sub-categories – Advanced Degree and Exceptional Ability.
EB-2 visa under the Advanced Degree requires an advanced degree or foreign equivalent degree plus 5 years of work experience in the field.
EB-2 visa under the Exceptional Ability requires you to demonstrate exceptional ability in sciences, arts, or business, demonstrating expertise significantly above standard, and meeting applicable labor certification requirements.
EB-2 visa holder’s spouse and any unmarried children under 21 may be able to seek admission to the US in E-21 and E-22 immigrant status, respectively, if their I-140 petition is granted.
Under employment-based immigration, the Third Preference EB-3 visa is for a skilled worker, professional, or other worker. Skilled workers are persons whose jobs require a minimum of 2 years of training or experience, not of a temporary or seasonal nature.
For the EB-1 category, China will remain at November 8, 2022, and India at February 1, 2022, with all other nations remaining current.
The EB-3 Other Worker subcategory for India will move forward one week, to November 8, 2012. China will remain on January 1, 2017, while all other countries will remain unchanged until December 1, 2020.
China will remain at July 15, 2016, and India at January 1, 2022, in the EB-5 Unreserved categories. All other countries will stay current. The EB-5 set-aside categories (rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure) will also continue in effect.
The latest Visa Bulletin outlines the number of immigrant visas available in December for setting Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications, showing when applicants for immigrant visas should be informed to gather and submit the necessary documents to the National Visa Center.
Individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with USCIS will have to use the “Final Action Dates” to determine when they can file such applications. When USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for the fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, then applicants may instead use the “Dates for Filing Visa Applications”.
The fiscal year 2025 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants is 226,000. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320.
The fifth generation employment creation visa or the EB-5 visa is the most popular pathway for immigrants. For EB-5, the allocations are – 7.1% of the worldwide level, of which 32% are reserved as follows: 20% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in a rural area; 10% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in a high unemployment area; and 2% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in infrastructure projects. The remaining 68% are unreserved and are allotted for all other qualified immigrants.
A. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
B. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS
A. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
B. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS
