The Department of State (DOS) has issued its November 2024 Visa Bulletin. This month, we see forward movement in most of the family-based immigrant visa categories. However, there is no movement in any employment-based immigrant visa categories. Fortunately, none of the categories will retrogress. 

For family-based final action dates, there will be slight forward movement in the F-2A category for all nationals, and the F-3 category for nationals of all countries except for the Philippines. Additionally, nationals of Mexico will continue to see forward movement in all family-based categories. 

Insofar as employment-based categories, there will be no movement and priority dates remain the same. 

The good news is that USCIS will continue to honor the Dates for Filing Chart for both employment and family-based petitions in November. Compared to last month, a few family-based categories move forward, but remain the same for employment-based categories. While there hasn’t been much progress in the Dates for Filing, they are further ahead than the Final Action Dates, so beneficiaries of immigrant visa petitions can at least get their applications filed and in process until the government can actually approve their application. 

Employment-Based Movement 

Employment-based final action dates see no movement from last month. 

Here’s a chart for easy reference:

That said, USCIS will honor the Dates for Filing (further below), which are further ahead than Final Action Dates. 

Family-based Movement

The F-1 category does not move forward in November except for nationals of Mexico, whose priority date will significantly advance by almost two years. 

For the F-2A category, priority dates for all countries will move forward by five weeks. The F-2B category remains the same for all nationals except Mexicans, who will see a five-month and fourteen-day advancement in their priority date. 

The F-3 category moves forward by two months for nationals of Mexico, and fourteen days for nationals of all other countries, except for nationals of the Philippines, for whom the priority date will remain the same.

Lastly, in the F-4 category, only nationals of Mexico and India will see slight progression in priority dates, showing seven-day advancements. 

Here’s a chart for easy reference:

As mentioned previously, USCIS will honor the Dates for Filing chart (further below) for the family-based immigrant visa categories. 

By way of reminder, the categories are:

• F-1 category:  unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens

• F2-A category: spouses and children under 21 of lawful permanent residents

• F2-B category: unmarried adult children (over 21) of lawful permanent residents

• F-3 category:  married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens

• F-4 category:  siblings of U.S. citizens

WHAT DATES IN THE VISA BULLETIN SHOULD YOU USE FOR FILING YOUR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS APPLICATION WITH USCIS?

If USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, then USCIS will state here that you may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin, which usually has dates later than the Final Action Dates noted above. Otherwise, USCIS will indicate on its website that you must use the Application Final Action Dates chart (above) to determine when you may file your adjustment of status application in the United States.

For November 2024, USCIS has confirmed the Dates for Filing (below) should be used for both family and employment-based categories. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. Please contact us if you would like to discuss these developments further.