It gives people the information they need to successfully navigate the immigration process by offering vital updates, forecasts, and numerical allocations for both employment and family-based categories amid this complex landscape.

In this article, we explore the information offered by the July 2024 Visa Bulletin, illuminating the difficulties, outlooks, and consequences for individuals pursuing permanent residency in the United States.

July 2024 Visa Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin forecasts provide a sense of when the millions of individuals in the employment-based and family-based categories will be able to apply for and be granted green cards. The July 2024 Visa Bulletin has been released by the State Department.

According to government forecasts, the number of green cards available to individuals in the employment categories will decrease to 165,000 in fiscal year 2024 from 197,000 in fiscal year 2023. but 25,000 more than the 140,000 legally required because 25,000 family-based green cards were not used in fiscal year 2023.

There are delays in obtaining green cards under the employment-based and family-based categories, according to the State Department Visa Bulletin dated July 2024. Your country of birth and the type of petition you are filing will determine how long it will take you to receive a green card. Every month, the Visa Bulletin is updated; you can read our blogs to stay current on the latest information.

Visa Bulletin Predictions for August 2024

It is not advisable to rely on these Visa Bulletin predictions as legal advice, as they are only estimations based on recent changes in the family-based categories. They show the potential forward or backward movement of the final action dates in the upcoming month.

      F1: unmarried adult sons and daughters of US citizens

• Mexico: 2 to 3 months
• Philippines: little or no forward movement
• All other countries: 1 to 2 months

F2a: spouses and minor unmarried Sons and Daughters of LPRs

• Mexico: little or no forward movement
• All other countries: little or no forward movement

F2b: unmarried adult sons and daughters of LPRs

• Mexico: little or no forward movement
• Philippines: little or no forward movement
• All other countries: 2 to 4 weeks

F3: married adult sons and daughters of US citizens

• Mexico: 2 to 3 months
• Philippines: 1 to 2 months
• All other countries: 2 to 4 weeks

F4: brothers and sisters of US citizens

• Mexico: little or no forward movement
• India: little or no forward movement
• Philippines: 3 to 6 weeks
• All other countries: little or no forward movement

Numbers for the Family-based Preference Categories

• F1 (unmarried adult sons and daughters of US citizens): 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference
• F2 (spouses and children and unmarried Sons and Daughters of permanent residents): 114,200 plus the number, if any, by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, plus any unused first preference numbers
• F2a (spouses and children of permanent residents): 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit
• F2b (unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents): 23% of the overall second preference limitation
• F3 (married Sons and Daughters of US citizens): 23,400 plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences
• F4 (brothers and sisters of adult US citizens): 65,000 plus any numbers not required by the first three preferences

Employment-based Categories Visa Bulletin Predictions for August 2024

It is not advisable to rely on these Visa Bulletin predictions as legal advice, as they are only projections based on recent changes in the employment-based categories.

The US State Department reports that to keep the number used within the maximum permitted under the fiscal year 2024 annual limit, there will probably be a need to retroactively apply the worldwide final action date, which includes Mexico and the Philippines, in the upcoming month due to high demand in the employment second category. We will keep a close eye on this situation and make any necessary adjustments as needed.

To keep the number used within the maximum permitted under the fiscal year 2024 annual limit, excessive demand in the employment third category will also probably require retrogression of the worldwide final action date, including Mexico and the Philippines, in the following month. We’ll keep an eye on this situation and make any required improvements as needed.

EB1: Priority Workers

• India: 2 to 4 months
• China: 1 to 2 months
• All other countries remain current

EB2: members of the professions holding Advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability

• India: little or no forward movement
• China: little or no forward movement
• All other countries: possible retrogression

EB3: professionals and skilled workers

• India: little or no forward movement
• China: little or no forward movement
• All other countries: retrogression

Numbers for the Employment-based Preference Categories

• EB-1 priority workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences
• EB2 (members of the professions holding Advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability): 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level plus any numbers not required by first preference
• EB3 (skilled workers professionals and other workers): 28.6% of the worldwide level plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000, of which are for other workers
• EB4 (certain special immigrants): 71% of the worldwide level
• EB5 (employment creation): 7.1% of the worldwide level, of which 32% are reserved as follows:

1. 20% is reserved for eligible immigrants who make investments in rural areas
2. 10% set aside for eligible immigrants who make investments in areas with high unemployment
3. 2% set aside for eligible immigrants who make investments in infrastructure
4. The remaining 68% are available to all other eligible immigrants and are not reserved.

The 7% Per-Country Cap for the Family and Employment Preference Categories

Certain categories have lengthy wait times, which have a greater impact on certain nations. For most of the world, US citizens must wait more than 15 years to sponsor their siblings; however, for siblings from the Philippines and Mexico, the wait is 20 years and more than 22 years, respectively.

Millions of people are in line overseas to obtain green cards through family sponsorship. Hundreds of thousands of people are awaiting green cards through employment sponsorship. The majority of these individuals are in the US on temporary work visas. But many of them fear losing their legal immigration status in the US when their children turn 21 and run the prospect of being split up from their families.

More than 1.2 million employment-based immigrants were awaiting green cards as of June 2023.

Conclusion

The Visa Bulletin continues to be a vital tool for anyone navigating the application process for a green card, even as the United States struggles with immigration laws and procedures. It provides insight into the fluctuating dynamics of wait times, green card availability, and category-specific forecasts with its monthly updates.

People can better manage the difficulties of the immigration system by being proactive and knowledgeable, giving them the tools and resources they need to achieve their goals of obtaining permanent status in the United States.