The most recent U.S. visa bulletin offers a mix of updates for Indian applicants pursuing employment-based green cards. While the EB-1 category remains steady, both EB-2 and EB-3 categories experienced modest progress. Despite these advancements, considerable backlogs continue, especially for applicants from India. Additionally, the bulletin outlines important details regarding the priority dates for family-sponsored green card categories.

The U.S. Department of State has published the December visa bulletin, providing updates on the availability of immigrant visas in different employment-based (EB) categories. For applicants, especially those from India, the bulletin highlights modest progress in employment-based categories. It also outlines key information on final action dates and dates for filing, which help applicants determine the appropriate time to apply for permanent residency or adjust their status.

An Overview of Employment-Based Visa Categories: December Cutoff Dates

The December visa bulletin outlines the cutoff dates for employment-based (EB) categories, signaling when applicants can begin receiving visas or have their status adjustment processed.

For applicants from India :

EB-1 (Priority Workers) : The final action date remains unchanged at February 1, 2022.

EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals) : Progressed by two weeks, now set to August 1, 2012.

EB-3 (Professionals and Skilled Workers) : Advanced by one week to November 8, 2012.

EB-3 (Other Workers) : Aligns with the EB-3 professionals cutoff date of November 8, 2012.

EB-5 (Immigrant Investors) : The unreserved categories stay at January 1, 2022, while the set-aside categories (Rural, high unemployment, infrastructure) remain current for all countries.

The filing dates remain the same as in November, with no immediate changes for applicants under this chart.

Allocation percentages for employment-based categories are as follows :

Immigrant visas are allocated among the employment-based preference categories as follows :

The allocation of immigrant visas for employment-based categories is as follows :

– Priority Workers (28.6%) : Individuals with extraordinary abilities, exceptional professors, or multinational executives.

– Advanced Degree Professionals (28.6%) : Individuals holding advanced degrees or possessing exceptional skills.

– Skilled/Unskilled Workers and Professionals (28.6%).

– Special Immigrants (7.1%) : Religious workers, U.S. armed forces members, and other qualifying individuals.

– Employment Creation (7.1%) : Investors in rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure projects.

Adjustment of Status Applications: Awaiting USCIS Decision

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will determine whether the final action dates or dates for filing chart will be applicable to December adjustment of status applications. Applicants are advised to keep an eye on the USCIS Visa Bulletin webpage for updates, as this will influence their eligibility to file.

What Do Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Mean?

The date for filing represents the earliest date applicants can submit their adjustment of status or immigrant visa applications.

The final action date indicates the expected approval timeframe for permanent residency applications, which varies depending on the visa category and the applicant’s nationality.

Family-Sponsored Immigrant Visas: Key Updates

The December visa bulletin also provides important updates regarding the family-sponsored immigrant visa process, which enables family members of U.S. Family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents can apply for green cards. The distribution of immigrant visas in family-sponsored categories is mainly influenced by priority dates and demand. When demand surpasses the number of available visas, a category may become oversubscribed, leading to the establishment of a final action date.

F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) : The final action date for India remains unchanged at October 22, 2015.

F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents) : The cutoff date for India advances to January 1, 2022, up from the prior date of November 22, 2021.

F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents) : The final action date stays the same at May 1, 2016.

F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) : The final action date for India progresses to April 15, 2010, up from the previous date of April 1, 2010.

F4 (Siblings of Adult U.S. Citizens) : The final action date for India moves forward to March 8, 2006, from March 1, 2006.

Family-Sponsored Green Cards : Updates on Final Action Dates and Filing Deadlines

For Indian applicants seeking family-sponsored green cards, the following updates are provided in the visa bulletin :

– F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) : The date remains the same as September 1, 2017.

– F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents) : The cutoff date moves forward to July 15, 2024, up from June 15, 2024.

– F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents) : The date stays steady at January 1, 2017.

– F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) : The final action date progresses to April 15, 2010, from April 1, 2010.

– F4 (Siblings of Adult U.S. Citizens) : The cutoff date advances to March 8, 2006, from March 1, 2006.

Employment-Based Green Cards: Final Action Dates

The updated final action dates for employment-based green cards for applicants from India are as follows :

– EB-1 (Priority Workers) : The date remains unchanged at February 1, 2022.

– EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals) : The cutoff date moves to August 1, 2012, from July 15, 2012.

– EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals) : The final action date progresses to November 8, 2012, from the previous date of November 1, 2012.

– EB-4 (Special Immigrants) : The date remains unchanged at January 1, 2021.

– EB-5 (Immigrant Investors) : For unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, R5), the date remains January 1, 2022. The set-aside categories for rural (20%), high unemployment (10%), and infrastructure (2%) remain current, indicating no backlog for these classifications.

Employment-Based Green Cards: Dates for Filing

The dates for filing for employment-based green card applicants from India are as follows :

– EB-1 (Priority Workers) : The date moves slightly to April 15, 2022, from April 14, 2022.

– EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals) : The filing date remains the same, set at January 1, 2013.

– EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals) : The date remains steady at June 8, 2013.

– EB-4 (Special Immigrants, including certain religious workers) : The filing date remains February 1, 2021.

– EB-5 (Immigrant Investors, unreserved categories) : The filing date remains April 1, 2022. The EB-5 set-aside categories for rural (20%), high unemployment (10%), and infrastructure (2%) remain current, with no backlog.

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