The Department of State has released the December 2024 Visa Bulletin, providing an overview of the immigrant visas available in December 2024. The bulletin includes two charts: the Final Action Dates chart and the Dates for Filing chart, applicable to both Employment-Based and Family-Based immigrant visas. Each month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirms which chart applicants physically present in the United States, and filing for Adjustment of Status (AOS), must use. For December 2024, USCIS has confirmed that applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart for both Family-Based and Employment-Based cases.

Below, we break down the movements observed in the December 2024 Visa Bulletin

Family-Based Preference Categories

In the Family-Based Preference category, there is no advancement or retrogression. In the Final Action Date chart for the F1 category (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens), the date for Mexico will remain November 22, 2004. For the Philippines, it remains March 1, 2012, and for the rest of the world, the date stays at October 22, 2015.

In the F2A category (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents), the cutoff date for Mexico will hold steady at April 15, 2021, while for the rest of the world, it will remain at January 1, 2022, in the Final Action Date chart. In the F2B category (Unmarried Sons and Daughters, 21 years of age or older, of Permanent Residents), the date for Mexico will remain July 1, 2005, and for the Philippines, it will stay at October 22, 2011. For the rest of the world, the date remains unchanged at May 1, 2016.

In the F3 category (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens), the Final Action Date cutoff for Mexico will remain at October 22, 2000. For the Philippines, the date stays at September 8, 2002. For India and the rest of the world, the date remains April 15, 2010.

In the F4 category (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens) in the Final Action Date chart, the dates will hold steady for all countries. For Mexico, the cutoff date will remain March 1, 2001; for the Philippines, it will stay at February 1, 2004; for India, it will remain March 8, 2006; and for the rest of the world, it will continue to be August 1, 2007.

Employment-Based (EB) Preference Categories

The December Visa Bulletin shows a small advancement for some Indian nationals, while it remains steady for everyone else. The absence of regression offers hope that we may see more significant progress in the second quarter. In December, the Date for Filing Chart remains the same as in the October 2024 Visa Bulletin.

In the first preference category (EB-1, Priority Workers), there is no advancement, but there is also no retrogression. The cutoff date for China will remain November 8, 2022, while the cutoff date for EB-1 India will stay at February 1, 2022. All other countries will continue to be current. Under the Date for Filing Chart, the cutoff date for applicants from China to file their AOS applications will remain January 1, 2023, and for India, it will remain April 15, 2022.

In the second preference category (EB-2, Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability), there is modest advancement for India in the Final Action Date chart. The cutoff date for India will advance by two weeks to August 1, 2012. The cutoff date for EB-2 China will remain at March 22, 2020, while for the rest of the world, it will stay at March 15, 2023. Under the Date for Filing Chart, applicants may file their AOS applications as per the following: for India, the cutoff date will remain January 1, 2013; for China, it will remain October 1, 2020; and for the rest of the world, it will remain August 1, 2023.

In the third preference category (EB-3, Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers), under the Final Action Date Chart, we see a modest advancement for India. The cutoff date for India will advance by one week to November 8, 2012. The cutoff date for China remains at April 1, 2020, while for the rest of the world, it will stay at November 15, 2022. Under the Date for Filing Chart for EB-3, the cutoff date for India will remain June 8, 2013; for China, it will stay at November 15, 2020; and for the rest of the world, it will remain March 1, 2023.

In the fourth preference category (EB-4, Minister and Non-Minister Religious Workers Program), the cutoff date will remain January 1, 2021. Under the Date for Filing Chart, the cutoff date will stay at February 1, 2021.

In the fifth and final preference category (EB-5, Investors), the dates remain the same as in the October Visa Bulletin. For the EB-5 Unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5), the cutoff date for India will stay at January 1, 2022, and for China, it will remain July 15, 2016. All other countries will continue to be current. The EB-5 set-aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current. Under the Date for Filing Chart for the EB-5 Unreserved categories, the cutoff date for China will stay at October 1, 2016, and for India, it will remain April 1, 2022, with all other countries current. The EB-5 set-aside categories will also continue to be current.

We will continue to monitor and report predictions and movements in the monthly Visa Bulletin. If you have any questions about your priority date or the December 2024 Visa Bulletin, please feel free to contact us. Backed by our extensive experience, we are committed to ensuring you get the right advice.