Minor Advancements for Indian applicants in EB-2 & EB-3 categories.
For Indian applicants, there have been slight advancements in the employment-based categories EB-2 and EB-3, while family-sponsored visa categories remain static across all regions.
Key updates for Indian applicants:
The Final Action cutoff date for the EB-3 visa category for India, which permits foreign workers to obtain US permanent residency, has progressed by one week to November 8, 2012. In contrast, the cutoff dates for applicants from other countries, including China and Mexico, remain unchanged.
Additionally, the EB-2 visa category, which includes siblings of US citizens among other employment-based visa types, has also experienced a one-week advancement in India’s Final Action cutoff date, now established at March 8, 2006.
Understanding the Visa Bulletin and its function:
The US Visa Bulletin is a monthly document that outlines priority dates for green card applicants across various categories. It serves as a guide for applicants to gauge when they may advance in the immigration process, taking into account the volume of visa applications currently in the queue. The Department of State evaluates visa availability each month and adjusts the dates based on the number of pending applications in different categories.
Exploring options for progress in the US immigration process:
Applicants have two primary pathways based on their current location:
- Adjustment of status: This option is available for individuals already in the US, allowing them to transition their visa status to that of a permanent resident.
- Immigrant visa application: Those outside the US must apply for an immigrant visa at a US consulate or embassy.
Overview of employment-based visa categories:
The Visa Bulletin outlines five categories for employment-based visas, each allocated specific percentages of the total available visas:
EB-1 Priority Workers: This category is assigned 28.6% of global employment-based visas, along with any surplus from EB-4 and EB-5 visas.
EB-2 Advanced Degree Professionals/Exceptional Ability: This category also receives 28.6% of global visas, in addition to any unused visas from EB-1.
EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals: This category is allocated 28.6% of visas, with 10,000 specifically set aside for ‘other workers.’
EB-4 Special Immigrants: This category receives 7.1% of the total global visas, with a portion allocated for investors in designated sectors.
EB-5 Employment Creation: This category is assigned 7.1% of worldwide employment-based visas for investors.
Family-sponsored visa categories remain unchanged:
The bulletin indicated that there are no updates for family-based visa categories for India, Mexico, the Philippines, and other regions. The current cutoff dates are as follows:
F4 (Brothers and sisters of US citizens): The Final Action date for India remains at March 8, 2006, with Dates for Filing at August 1, 2006.
F1 (Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens): For Mexico, the date is November 22, 2004, while for other countries, it is November 15, 2021.
F2A (Spouses and children of permanent residents): The cutoff for Mexican applicants is April 15, 2021, while for other countries, it is January 1, 2022.
F3 (Married sons and daughters of US citizens): The cutoff for Mexico is October 22, 2000, while for India and other regions, it is March 1, 2010.
What is the status of employment-based categories?
For December, there were no new developments in the employment-based categories:
EB-1: The cutoff for China remains on November 8, 2022, and for India at February 1, 2022.
EB-2: The date for China is March 22, 2020, while India advances to August 1, 2012.
EB-3: The dates for professionals and skilled workers remain unchanged, with India still at November 8, 2012.
EB-5: The unreserved categories for China and India remain the same.
The Visa Bulletin continues to be a vital resource for green card applicants, providing clarity on their position within the U.S. immigration process. The next Visa Bulletin is anticipated to be released in January 2025, which may include updates for additional categories.
