Quick Hits
- The November 2024 Visa Bulletin shows no change from last month’s bulletin for employment-based categories for both final action dates and dates for filing, except for fourth preference for Certain Religious Workers.
- USCIS will honor dates for filing for I-485 Adjustment of Status applications filed in November 2024.
- USCIS recently confirmed that the annual limit for fiscal year (FY) 2025 will be higher than pre-pandemic numbers but lower than in FY 2021 through 2024.
USCIS has announced that it will accept Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, from foreign nationals with a priority date that is earlier than the dates for filing listed. The dates for filing chart from the U.S. Department of State’s November 2024 Visa Bulletin is available below:
Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications
| Employment-based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01JAN23 | 15APR22 | C | C |
| 2nd | 01AUG23 | 01OCT20 | 01JAN13 | 01AUG23 | 01AUG23 |
| 3rd | 01MAR23 | 15NOV20 | 08JUN13 | 01MAR23 | 01MAR23 |
| Other Workers | 22MAY21 | 01JAN18 | 08JUN13 | 22MAY21 | 22MAY21 |
| 4th | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 01OCT16 | 01APR22 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Rural – 20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment – 10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure – 2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Source: U.S. Department of State, November 2024 Visa Bulletin
USCIS recently confirmed the employment-based annual limit for fiscal year (FY) 2025 will be higher than was typical before the pandemic, though lower than in FY 2021-2024.
The bulletin also notes that federal government appropriations legislation enacted last month extended the employment fourth preference category for Certain Religious Workers until December 20, 2024.
Ogletree Deakins’ Immigration Practice Group will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on the Immigration blog as additional information becomes available.
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