The Department of State has unveiled the April 2024 visa bulletin, detailing immigrant visa availability for the month. The bulletin includes Final Action Dates and Date of Filing charts for both Employment-Based and Family-Based immigrant visas. USCIS has confirmed that for Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications filed by applicants in the United States, the Date of Filing chart can be utilized for Family-Based applications, while the Final Action Dates chart is applicable for Employment-Based cases.
In the Employment-Based (EB) preference categories, significant advancements are noted in April 2024, with little projected movement anticipated for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024. USCIS continues to accept EB AOS cases based on the Final Action Dates chart.
Highlights from the April 2024 visa bulletin include:
- EB-1 (Priority Workers) sees current dates for applicants from most countries, with India advancing by five months and China by six weeks.
- EB-2 (Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability) witnesses progress for all, with India and China moving forward by several weeks.
- EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers) shows advancements for all except China, which maintains its previous date.
- EB-4 (Minister and Non-Minister Religious Workers Program) faces potential expiration, pending congressional action.
- EB-5 (Investors) maintains previous dates for most categories.
In the Family-Based preference categories, limited changes are observed, with only a couple of date advancements noted in the April 2024 visa bulletin.
The State Department provides estimates for potential movements for the rest of FY 2024 across various categories, offering a glimpse of anticipated progress.
Though the projected movements are moderate, they signify a welcome development amidst slow progress in the Family-Based category. Monitoring and reporting on visa bulletin predictions and movements continue, with assistance available for inquiries regarding priority dates.
As the visa bulletin serves as a critical resource for applicants navigating the immigration process, comprehensive guidance is offered to ensure informed decision-making.
Source: biz legal services
