The Department of State has released the July 2024 Visa Bulletin. This bulletin summarizes and provides an overview of the immigrant visas available in July 2024. The State Department presents this information in two charts: the Final Action Dates chart and the Dates for Filing chart for Employment-Based and Family-Based immigrant visas. Each month, the 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 to file their applications. For July 2024, USCIS has confirmed that applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart for Family-Based applications, while for Employment-Based cases, applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart. Below, we break down the movement seen in the July 2024 Visa Bulletin.

Employment-Based (EB) Preference Categories

In the July 2024 Visa Bulletin, we see some welcome advancements in certain categories, which we will explore further down. In July, USCIS will accept EB AOS cases based on the Final Action Dates chart. In other words, to be eligible to apply for an AOS application, foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed under their preference category and country.

EB-1

In the first preference category (EB-1, Priority Workers), we see the biggest advancement in this visa bulletin. For EB-1 India, the dates will advance by eleven months to February 1, 2022. For China EB-1, the dates will advance by two months to November 1, 2022. We see this advancement as we are halfway through the last quarter of the fiscal year.

EB-2

In the second preference category (EB-2, Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees, or Persons of Exceptional Ability), we see advancements across the board. For India EB-2, the cutoff dates advance by two months to June 15, 2012. For China, the dates advance by one month to March 1, 2020. For the rest of the world, the dates advance by two months to March 15, 2023.

The advancements we see worldwide in this category are surprising since, in the June Visa Bulletin, the State Department hinted at retrogression due to high demand. Although this is a welcome advancement, we may expect to see no further movement for the rest of the fiscal year or even retrogression.

EB-3

In the third preference category (EB-3, Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers), we see mixed movements, with a combination of advancement and retrogression. For EB-3 India, the dates will advance by one month to September 22, 2013. For China, the dates remain unchanged at September 1, 2020. For the rest of the world, the dates will retrogress by more than eleven months to December 1, 2021. Unlike in the EB-2 category, the warnings the State Department gave in the June Visa Bulletin have been realized, resulting in the retrogression in the worldwide EB-3 category.

As anticipated in the June 2024 Visa Bulletin by the State Department, the worldwide EB-3 final action date (including Mexico and the Philippines) will retrogress in July due to high demand. Continued high usage may necessitate further retrogression or rendering the category “Unavailable” in August. We will monitor and update you accordingly.

EB-4

In the fourth preference category (EB-4, Minister and Non-Minister Religious Workers Program), we see advancement for everyone. The dates advance by two months to January 1, 2021.

EB-5

In the fifth and last preference category (EB-5, Investors), the dates remain the same as in the April 2024 Visa Bulletin. For the EB-5 Unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5), the dates for India remain at December 1, 2020. For China, the dates remain at December 15, 2015. For the rest of the world, the dates remain current. For the EB-5 set-aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure), the dates will also remain current.

Family-Based Preference Categories

In the Family-Based Preference category, the July 2024 Visa Bulletin shows some welcome advancements in most of the preference categories. Unlike the EB preference categories, USCIS will accept cases based on the Dates for Filing Chart.

F-1

In the F1 category (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) in the Final Action Dates chart, we see small movements. For Mexico, the dates advance by over four months to May 8, 2002. For all countries except the Philippines, the dates advance by over three months to October 22, 2015. For the Philippines, the dates remain at March 1, 2012.

F-2

In the June 2024 Final Action Dates Chart, in the F2A, Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents category, the dates remain unchanged across the board. The dates for Mexico will remain unchanged at February 1, 2021. For the rest of the world, similarly the dates will remain unchanged at November 15, 2021. In the F2B, Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents, we see advancement for the rest of the world while the dates for Mexico and the Philippines remain stagnant. For worldwide, the dates will advance by one month to May 1, 2016. For Mexico in the F2B category, the dates will remain the same, at July 8, 2004 and for the for the Philippines, the dates will remain unchanged at October 22, 2011.

F-3

In the F3 category (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) in the Final Action Dates chart, we see advancement across the board. The dates for the world will advance by over one month to April 1, 2010. For Mexico, the dates will advance by over four months to December 1, 1999. For the Philippines, the dates will progress by four weeks to September 8, 2002.

F-4

Lastly, in the F4 category (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens), we see advancement for worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines. For Mexico, the dates will advance by seven days to February 8, 2001. For the Philippines, the dates will advance by two months to February 1, 2004. For F4 India, the dates will advance by seven days to January 22, 2006. For the rest of the world and China, the dates will advance by ten days to August 1, 2007.

We continue to monitor and report predictions and movements related to the monthly Visa Bulletin. If you have questions regarding your priority date or any other U.S. immigration-related issue, please feel free to contact us. We put our extensive experience and expertise to work for you to ensure you get the right advice.