The U.S. Department of State's October 2024 Visa Bulletin reveals progress in several key categories since last month. However, EB-3 China has retrogressed, and some final action dates have seen little change. This retrogression is unusual for October, as it typically coincides with the start of the fiscal year when visa numbers are renewed.

• Progress in Employment-Based Categories: The dates for filing chart shows movement in most employment-based categories, while the final action dates chart sees limited changes.
• EB-3 China Retrogression: Both the final action date and filing date for EB-3 China will retrogress, by five months and nearly eight months, respectively.
• EB-3 Worldwide Advances: The final action date for EB-3 Worldwide will jump forward by almost two years.
• USCIS Adjustment of Status: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will use the dates for filing chart for accepting adjustment of status applications in October.
• FY 2024 Visa Limits Reached: The State Department announced that the FY 2024 numerical limit for employment-based preference immigrants was 160,791, and those limits have been reached as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2024.

Final Action Dates Chart Analysis – October 2024 Visa Bulletin

The October 2024 Visa Bulletin reveals the following changes in the final action dates for employment-based categories:

• EB-1:

  • Worldwide remains current.
  • India holds steady at February 1, 2022.
  • China advances by one week to November 8, 2022.

• EB-2:

  • No movement for Worldwide or India.
  • China progresses by 21 days to March 22, 2020.

• EB-3:

  • Worldwide jumps forward nearly two years to November 15, 2022.
  • India advances by eight days to November 1, 2012.
  • China retrogresses by five months to April 1, 2020, as noted earlier.

These changes reflect ongoing shifts in visa availability, with notable advancements in EB-3 Worldwide, while EB-3 China faces a significant setback.

Dates for Filing Chart Analysis – October 2024 Visa Bulletin

The October 2024 Visa Bulletin dates for filing chart presents the following updates:

• EB-1:

  • All Other countries,  remain unchanged from September.
  • India advances by two months to April 15, 2022.

• EB-2:

  • All Other countries,  move forward nearly five months to August 1, 2023.
  • China advances by four months to October 1, 2020.
  • India jumps almost six months to January 1, 2013.

• EB-3:

  • All Other Areas, China, Mexico, Philippines progress by one month to March 1, 2023

  • India advances more than seven months to June 8, 2013.
  • China retrogresses by eight months.

• EB-4: Special Immigrants

  • • All Countries: No changes.

• EB-5: Investors

  • • China: Retrogresses by 3 months (to October 1, 2016).
    • India, All Other Areas, Mexico, Philippines: No changes.

      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

These changes reflect moderate advancements across most employment categories, with EB-2 and EB-3 India seeing substantial forward movement, while EB-3 China faces a notable setback.

Here's an analysis of key movements from the October 2024 Visa Bulletin for family-based categories:

Dates for Filing Chart Analysis: Family-Based Categories:

The October 2024 Visa Bulletin dates for filing chart presents the following updates:Visa Bulletin

1. F-1: Unmarried Children (21+) of U.S. Citizens

   • All Other Areas, China, India, Philippines: No changes.
   • Mexico: Advances by 6 months (to October 1, 2005).
   •  

2. F-2A: Spouses and Unmarried Children (Under 21) of U.S. Green Card Holders

   • All Countries: Advances by 1 month (to July 15, 2024).

3. F-2B: Unmarried Children (21+) of U.S. Green Card Holders

   • Mexico: Moves forward by 3 months (to August 1, 2005).
   • All Other Areas, China, India, Philippines: No changes.

4. F-3: Married Children of U.S. Citizens

   • All Other Areas, China, India: Advances by 6 months (to July 1, 2011).
   • Philippines: Advances by 6 months (to May 8, 2004).
   • Mexico: No changes.

5. F-4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens

   • Philippines: Moves forward by 4 months (to August 1, 2006).
   • All Other Areas, China, India, Mexico: No changes.

     Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
     F1	01SEP17	01SEP17	01SEP17	01OCT05	22APR15
     F2A	15JUL24	15JUL24	15JUL24	15JUL24	15JUL24
     F2B	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN17	01AUG05	01OCT13
     F3	01JUL11	01JUL11	01JUL11	15JUN01	08MAY04
     F4	01MAR08	01MAR08	15JUN06	30APR01	01AUG06

These updates provide a snapshot of backlogs and advancements in both family F2A and employment-based categories, with significant progress in EB-2 and EB-3 for India and F-1 for Mexico, though EB-3 China and EB-5 China face notable retrogression.