Visa Bulletin November 2024: Employment Green Card Queue Remains Steady; Family Categories Improve Slightly

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has released the visa bulletin for November 2024, which outlines what applicants can expect for green card processing. Unlike the previous month’s progress in the EB-5 category, there will be no changes to employment-based preferences next month. The Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing will remain the same as before, leading to longer wait times for applicants from around the world.

In contrast, family-based preferences have shown some movement, although many dates have stayed the same. The family-based cases from the Philippines experienced the least progress, with only minimal changes.

Highlights from the November 2024 US Visa Bulletin

The bulletin explains two important terms: "Dates for Filing" and "Final Action Dates." For applicants, it’s crucial that their priority dates match or are earlier than the cut-off dates for their specific visa category. The Dates for Filing indicate when an applicant can submit their applications for adjustment of status or immigrant visas, while the Final Action Dates show when an application is likely to be approved, leading to permanent residency.

Employment-Based Preferences:

Priority Workers: 28.6% of the global employment-based preference level, plus any extra numbers from the fourth and fifth categories.

Advanced Degree Holders and Exceptional Ability Workers: Also 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based level, plus leftover numbers from the first category.

Skilled Workers and Other Workers: 28.6% of the global level, including leftover numbers from the first two categories. There are 10,000 spots for ‘Other Workers.’

Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the global level, with 32% reserved for specific groups: 20% for those investing in rural areas, 10% for high-unemployment areas, and 2% for infrastructure projects. The remaining 68% is open to all eligible immigrants.

Employment Creation: 7.1% of the global level.

Family-Based Applications:

F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (23,400 plus any leftover numbers from the fourth preference).

F2: Spouses and children of permanent residents.

F2A: Spouses and children of permanent residents, making up 77% of the overall second preference, with 75% exempt from the per-country limit.

F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or older) of permanent residents, accounting for 23% of the overall second preference.

F3: Married sons and daughters of US citizens (23,400 plus any leftover numbers from the first two preferences).

F4: Siblings of adult US citizens (65,000 plus surplus numbers from the first three preferences).