Green Card application: The March 2024 Visa Bulletin, released by the US Department of State, has shown small gains in EB-1 India, EB-1 China, and EB-2/3 for Rest of World.
After notable progress in the January Bulletin, February had shown no movement. For Indian applicants only EB-1 progresses by a month. EB-2 has remained at March 1, 2012, EB-3 and EB-3 Other Workers, at July 1, 2012.
The Visa Bulletin provides important information about the processing of adjustment of status applications for consular immigrant visa files and approvals, as well as the per-country priority date cutoffs that control immigrant visa availability.
Highlights from the March 2024 Visa Bulletin
The bulletin includes both a Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart and an Application Final Action Dates chart. The former guides intending immigrants on when to file applications for adjustments of status or immigrant visas, while the latter indicates when such applications may be approved, leading to the granting of permanent residence.
To file an EB adjustment application in March 2024, foreign nationals must have a priority date earlier than the listed date for their preference category and country. For categories with specific dates listed, only applicants with a priority date earlier than the specified date may submit their applications.
The final action dates play a crucial role in deciding when an immigrant visa or green card application can be processed. Progress in your immigration process is contingent upon these dates, which vary based on your visa category and the country of chargeability.
Employment-based preferences
First: Priority Workers: 28.6% of the global employment-based preference level, along with any surplus numbers not utilized for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Individuals of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the global employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not needed by the first preference.
Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, along with any numbers not required by the first and second preferences, with a cap of 10,000 allocated to "Other Workers."
Fourth: Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the global level.
Fifth: Employment Creation: 7.1% of the global level, with 32% designated as follows: 20% set aside for qualified immigrants investing in rural areas; 10% reserved for qualified immigrants investing in high unemployment areas; and 2% reserved for qualified immigrants investing in infrastructure projects. The remaining 68% is unrestricted and allocated for all other eligible immigrants.
