As we continue to provide the latest updates on immigration news and policies, today we’re diving into the details of the recently released August 2024 Visa Bulletin. We’ll also compare it to the previous bulletins to highlight significant changes and trends.
OVERVIEW OF THE AUGUST 2024 VISA BULLETIN
The Visa Bulletin for August 2024 includes essential updates on the availability of immigrant numbers for both family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories. These updates inform applicants when they should assemble and submit the required documentation to the National Visa Center.
A. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
The final action dates for family-sponsored preference cases indicate whether a class is oversubscribed. Here are the details for August 2024:
| Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 22OCT15 | 22OCT15 | 22OCT15 | 08MAY02 | 01MAR12 |
| F2A | 15NOV21 | 15NOV21 | 15NOV21 | 01FEB21 | 15NOV21 |
| F2B | 01MAY16 | 01MAY16 | 01MAY16 | 15JUL04 | 22OCT11 |
| F3 | 01APR10 | 01APR10 | 01APR10 | 01MAR00 | 08SEP02 |
| F4 | 01AUG07 | 01AUG07 | 22JAN06 | 08FEB01 | 01FEB04 |
B. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS
These dates reflect when applicants should file their visa applications. For August 2024, the dates are as follows:
| Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01APR05 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | 15JUN24 | 15JUN24 | 15JUN24 | 15JUN24 | 15JUN24 |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01MAY05 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 01JAN11 | 01JAN11 | 01JAN11 | 15JUN01 | 08NOV03 |
| F4 | 01MAR08 | 01MAR08 | 15JUN06 | 30APR01 | 22APR06 |
5. Section 203(b) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Employment-based immigrant visas as follows:
A. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
| Employment- based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01NOV22 | 01FEB22 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15MAR23 | 01MAR20 | 15JUL12 | 15MAR23 | 15MAR23 |
| 3rd | 01DEC21 | 01SEP20 | 22OCT12 | 01DEC21 | 01DEC21 |
| Other Workers | 01JAN21 | 01JAN17 | 22OCT12 | 01JAN21 | 01MAY20 |
| 4th | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 15DEC15 | 01DEC20 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
B. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS
| Employment- based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01JAN23 | 08FEB22 | C | C |
| 2nd | 22MAR23 | 01JUN20 | 22JUL12 | 22MAR23 | 22MAR23 |
| 3rd | 01FEB23 | 01JUL21 | 01NOV12 | 01FEB23 | 01JAN23 |
| Other Workers | 08JAN21 | 01JUN17 | 01NOV12 | 08JAN21 | 15MAY20 |
| 4th | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 01JAN17 | 01APR22 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Rural – 20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment – 10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure – 2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
EMPLOYMENT-BASED IMMIGRANT VISAS
EMPLOYMENT-BASED, FIRST PREFERENCE (EB1) CATEGORY
There is no change in the EB1 category. EB1 India’s cutoff date remains set on February 1, 2022, while EB1 China’s cutoff date holds firm on November 1, 2022. The EB1 category remains current for all other countries of chargeability.
Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2) Category
In the EB2 category, India’s cutoff date moves ahead to July 15, 2012. China keeps its cutoff date of March 1, 2020. The EB2 cutoff date for all other countries remains set on March 15, 2023.
Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3) Category
The only movement in the EB3 category is for EB3 India, which advances to October 22, 2012. EB3 China’s cutoff date is still set at September 1, 2020. The EB3 cutoff date for all other countries of chargeability remains stuck on December 1, 2021.
The DOS cautions that next month, which will be the final visa bulletin of fiscal year 2024, it likely will be necessary either to retrogress the EB3 category or make it “unavailable.” It appears the DOS is referring to countries of chargeability other than India and China.
EB3 Other Workers
Similarly, in the EB3 other workers category, India’s cutoff date moves ahead to October 22, 2012. For China, the cutoff date is still locked on January 1, 2017. The EB3 other workers cutoff date for Philippines remains unchanged on May 1, 2020. For all other countries of chargeability, the cutoff date is left unchanged on January 1, 2021.
Employment-Based, Fourth Preference (EB4) Category
In the EB4 category, the cutoff date for all countries remains set on January 1, 2021.
Employment-Based, Fifth Preference (EB5) Category
In the EB5 category, China’s unreserved (i.e., EB5 immigrant visa numbers not set aside for rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure projects) cutoff date remains set on December 15, 2015. India’s unreserved cutoff also remains unchanged on December 1, 2020. EB5 remains current for all other EB5 categories and countries of chargeability.
CONCLUSION
The August 2024 Visa Bulletin highlights ongoing trends in both family-sponsored and employment-based categories. There are notable backlogs in certain categories, particularly for applicants from Mexico, India, and China, reflecting high demand and limited visa availability.
For personalized guidance on your immigration case and to understand how these changes might affect you, please contact ALO. Our team of experienced immigration attorneys is here to help you navigate the complexities of the visa application process.
Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns!
This article, under no circumstances, acts as legal advice; therefore, for any immigration questions, please contact your Attorney or the Ahluwalia Law Offices, P.C. (Team ALO).
