The January 2024 Visa Bulletin was released. There were multiple significant movements in this month’s Visa Bulletin. See below for more details
Commentary:
January 2024
Final Action Dates Update
For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F1 category regressed 31 days to December 01 2014; F2A category advanced to Current, F2B remains at September 22 2015, F4 category regressed 31 days to March 22 2007; EB1 remains Current; EB2 advanced 109 days to November 01 2022; and EB3 advanced to Current.
For India only: F2A category advanced to Current, F2B remains at September 22 2015, F4 regressed 23 days to September 15 2005; EB1 advanced 1857 days (5 years) to February 01 2022; EB2 regressed 85 days to October 08 2011; EB3 advanced 45 days to June 15 2012; All EB5 visas are current except for Unreserved which advanced 328 days to November 08 2019.
For China only: EB1 regressed 14 days to February 01 2022; EB2 regressed 136 days to June 08 2019; EB3 regressed 539 days (1 year, 5 months) to August 01 2018; All EB5 visas are current except for the Unreserved (I5 and R5) which regressed 193 days to March 22 2015.
Vietnam is not individually listed and should use all countries category.
Can file your immigrant applications if PD before:
F2A advanced to Current; F2B remains at January 01 2017 for All Areas, China, and India except Mexico which regressed 943 days (2 years 7 months) to January 01 2002 and Philippines remains at October 01 2013; F4 regressed 77 days to December 15 2007 for All Areas and China except India remains at February 22 2006, Mexico regressed 14 days to April 01 2001, and Philippines remains April 22 2004.
EB-1 PDs remain current for all countries, Mexico, and Philippines except for China and India. China’s EB-1 regressed 61 days to June 01 2022. India’s EB-1 advanced 1066 days (2 years 11 months) to June 01, 2012; EB-2 PDs regressed 31 days to December 01 2023 for all countries, Mexico, and Philippines except for India whose PD regressed 14 days to May 01 2012 and China whose PD regressed 177 days to July 08 2019; EB-3 PDs advanced to Current for all countries, Mexico, and Philippines except for India whose PD remains at August 01 2012, China whose PD regressed 731 days (2 years) to September 01 2018; EB-2 India regressed 14 days to May 01 2012; EB-3 India remains at August 01 2012; EB-2 China regressed 177 days to July 08 2019; EB-3 China regressed 731 days (2 years) to September 01 2018; EB-5 China (C5, T5, I5, R5) regressed 365 days (1 year) to January 01 2016; All other EB-5 China remain Current; Vietnam is not individually listed and should use the all countries category.
“B. DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY
Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years. The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. This will result in reduction of the DV-2024 annual limit to approximately 54,850. DV visas are divided among six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year.
For January, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2024 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 22,000 | Except: Algeria 15,000 Egypt 15,000 Morocco 20,000 |
| ASIA | 5,500 | Except: Iran 5,450 Nepal 3,000 |
| EUROPE | 12,000 | Except: Russia 11,500 Uzbekistan 4,750 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 5 | |
| OCEANIA | 650 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 1,000 |
Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2024 program ends as of September 30, 2024. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2024 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2024 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2024. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2024 cannot be taken for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30.
C. THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANT CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN FEBRUARY
For February, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2024 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 26,500 | Except: Algeria 26,000 Egypt 25,000 Morocco 25,000 |
| ASIA | 5,500 | Except: Iran 5,450 Nepal 4,500 |
| EUROPE | 13,500 | Except: Russia 13,250 Uzbekistan 5,500 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 5 | |
| OCEANIA | 875 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 1,600 |
D. EMPLOYMENT FOURTH PREFERENCE (SR) RELIGIOUS WORKERS CATEGORY EXTENDED
H.R. 6363, signed on November 16, 2023, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until February 2, 2024. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight February 1, 2024. Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until February 1, 2024, and all individuals seeking admission in the non-minister special immigrant category must be admitted (repeat admitted) into the United States no later than midnight February 1, 2024.
The SR category is subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.
E. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV
Department of State Publication 9514
CA/VO: December 4, 2023″