The United States Department of State has unveiled the highly anticipated November 2024 Visa Bulletin, bringing crucial updates for thousands of Green Card applicants worldwide. The latest bulletin shows significant movement across several employment-based categories, offering renewed hope for many stuck in lengthy queues.
Key Highlights for Employment-Based Categories
The November bulletin reveals substantial progress in employment-based preferences, particularly benefiting applicants from countries with high demand like India and China.
Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1)
All countries remain current, allowing eligible applicants to proceed with their applications without delay.
Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2)
India sees significant forward movement, advancing to February 1, 2012 - a jump of nearly six months from the previous bulletin. This represents one of the most substantial advances for Indian applicants in recent memory.
China also progresses to January 1, 2020, while all other countries remain current.
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3)
Indian professionals in the EB-3 category witness remarkable progress, moving to May 1, 2012 - an advancement of over eight months that will benefit thousands of applicants.
Chinese applicants advance to January 1, 2020, while Mexico, Philippines, and all other countries maintain current status.
Family-Sponsored Preferences Show Steady Progress
The family-sponsored categories demonstrate consistent forward movement across most preferences:
- F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): All countries advance by several weeks
- F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents): Remains current for all countries
- F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents): Steady advancement across categories
- F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): Moderate progress for most countries
- F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens): Consistent forward movement
What This Means for Applicants
The significant movement in employment-based categories, particularly for India, indicates the U.S. government's efforts to address backlog reduction. Applicants with priority dates earlier than the dates listed in the November bulletin can now proceed with filing their Adjustment of Status applications.
"The substantial advances in EB-2 and EB-3 categories for Indian applicants represent the most positive development we've seen this fiscal year," notes an immigration expert familiar with the bulletin.
Looking Ahead
The Visa Bulletin serves as a critical roadmap for immigration attorneys, employers, and applicants navigating the complex U.S. immigration system. The continued advancement in priority dates suggests ongoing efforts to process the massive backlog of applications, particularly from high-demand countries.
Applicants are advised to consult with immigration professionals to understand how these changes affect their specific cases and to prepare necessary documentation for the next steps in their immigration journey.
