The Immigration Team at Song Law Firm would like to provide you with an update regarding the Department of State's January 2025 Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin For January 2025

The Immigration Team at Song Law Firm would like to provide you with an update regarding the Department of State’s January 2025 Visa Bulletin. Please refer to the tables below for details:

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASE

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 11/22/2015 11/22/2015 11/22/2015 11/22/2004 03/08/2012
F2A 01/01/2022 01/01/2022 01/01/2022 05/15/2021 01/01/2022
F2B 05/22/2016 05/22/2016 05/22/2016 07/01/2005 10/22/2011
F3 07/01/2010 07/01/2010 07/01/2010 11/22/2000 11/08/2002
F4 08/01/2007 08/01/2007 04/08/2006 03/01/2001 05/01/2004

 

DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 09/01/2017 09/01/2017 09/01/2017 10/01/2005 04/22/2015
F2A 07/15/2024 07/15/2024 07/15/2024 07/15/2024 07/15/2024
F2B 01/01/2017 01/01/2017 01/01/2017 10/01/2006 10/01/2013
F3 07/22/2012 07/22/2012 07/22/2012 06/15/2001 05/08/2004
F4 03/01/2008 03/01/2008 08/15/2006 04/30/2001 01/01/2008

 

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES
1st C 11/08/2022 02/01/2022 C C
2nd 04/01/2023 04/22/2020 10/01/2012 04/01/2023 04/01/2023
3rd 12/01/2022 06/01/2020 12/01/2012 12/01/2022 12/01/2022
Other Workers 12/08/2020 01/01/2017 12/01/2012 12/08/2020 12/08/2020
4th 01/01/2021 01/01/2021 01/01/2021 01/01/2021 01/01/2021
Certain Religious Workers U U U U U
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU) C 07/15/2016 01/01/2022 C C
5th Set Aside: Rural (20%, including NR, RR) C C C C C
5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%, including NH, RH) C C C C C
5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%, including RI) C C C C C

 

DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS

Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO  PHILIPPINES 
1st C 01/01/2023 04/15/2022 C C
2nd 08/01/2023 10/01/2020 01/01/2013 08/01/2023 08/01/2023
3rd 03/01/2023 11/15/2020 06/08/2013 03/01/2023 03/01/2023
Other Workers 05/22/2021 01/01/2018 06/08/2013 05/22/2021 05/22/2021
4th 02/01/2021 02/01/2021 02/01/2021 02/01/2021 02/01/2021
Certain Religious Workers 02/01/2021 02/01/2021 02/01/2021 02/01/2021 02/01/2021
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) C 10/01/2016 04/01/2022 C C
5th Set Aside:
(Rural: NR, RR – 20%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
(High Unemployment: NH, RH – 10%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
(Infrastructure: RI – 2%)
C C C C C

 

On September 26, Congress signed a bill extending the EB-4 Certain Religious Workers category through December 20, 2024. As a result, the issuance of visas by embassies and the adjudication of status adjustment cases by USCIS in this category cannot proceed after midnight December 19, 2024. The Department of State has announced that if Congress takes additional action, the extension for this category will likely be applied immediately.

 

ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS FILING CHARTS PROVIDED BY USCIS

For individuals residing in the United States and applying for a green card through Adjustment of Status, it is important to pay attention not only to the Visa Bulletin but also to official announcements from USCIS. USCIS provides guidance on its “Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin” page, indicating whether to use the Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates chart for eligibility to submit Form I-485 during a given month. For the January Visa Bulletin, USCIS has announced the following:

 

  • Family-Sponsored Preference Categories: Use the Dates for Filing chart.
  • Employment-Based Preference Categories: Use the Dates for Filing chart.

 

Please note that when filing a Form I-485 Application to Adjust Status within the United States, failing to confirm your Priority Date against the Visa Bulletin’s Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates may result in your application being rejected and returned. You can submit Form I-485 only if your Priority Date is earlier than the applicable Dates in the Visa Bulletin and USCIS’s Adjustment of Status Filing Charts. If your Priority Date is later than these dates, you must wait to file your application.

 

If you have any questions about green cards or immigrant visas, please feel free to contact us at mail@songlawfirm.com.

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