The December 2024 US Visa Bulletin is good news for Indians who are waiting for their Green Card; minor changes in some sections make this change relevant for future consideration of Indian candidates for family sponsorship and employment. Now the further evolution of the topic in question and the effects stemming from the recent innovations are to be disclosed.
What Is the Visa Bulletin?
Visa Bulletin is a publication that reflects the situation of the American Department of State on the availability of visas for different categories and countries, issued every month. It serves as an important guide for applicants waiting to advance in their immigration journey.
Why Is the Visa Bulletin Crucial for Immigrants?
The Visa Bulletin is the compass for most aspiring immigrants because it signals where they should head next. It shows the change in visas offered, pointing to how far that has gone regarding certain categories. So it became a key instrument in planning and controlling the Green Card application process.
Key Highlights of the December 2024 Visa Bulletin
New changes for the December 2024 Visa Bulletin include changes affecting family-based green card applicants as well as employment-based green card applicants. These changes are especially favorable for applicants from different countries with visa backlogs history, including India and China. Here we present the key point of this month’s bulletin and how it affects the immigration applicant intending to permanently reside in the United States.
Family-Sponsored Preference Categories
Family-sponsored preference categories are for those sponsored by relatives of US citizens and permanent residents to migrate. These categories, often denoted by F1, F2, F3, and F4, serve different familial relationships:
- F1: Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens
- F2A: Spouses and unmarried children (under 21) of lawful permanent residents
- F2B: Unmarried adult children of lawful permanent residents
- F3: Married children of U.S. citizens
- F4: Siblings of U.S. citizens
In family-sponsored bulletins that came out in December of 2024, there has been a borderline increase for the preferential categories. Notably:
- The F2A category remains current all over the world, meaning that relatives of a green card holder can file for this visa without any hold-up.
- F1, F3, and F4 have shifted slightly ahead for most countries, including Mexico and the Philippines; nevertheless, the backlogs remain for the heavily desired countries such as India and China.
Such incremental changes allow hope for a reunited family during wait times due to immigration, although particular groups may wait for years.
Employment-Based Preference Categories
For the employment-based categories, many shifts were observed in December 2024, especially for Indians and Chinese, who often experience a long wait because of this category’s high popularity and the per-country limit. These categories are structured as follows:
- EB-1: Priority Workers
- EB-2: Professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability
- EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers
- EB-4: Special immigrants
- EB-5: Immigrant investors
Your Ultimate Guide to US Green Card: A Focus on Indian Applicants
The Green Card process for citizens of India can take a long time and can be full of twists and turns because of high interest and the seven-year limit for visas per country. Being in a line for up to 30 years in some of the employment-based categories, those interested in applying from India must be knowledgeable and possibly proactive in their pursuit. Below are some guidelines to consider when getting to the other side of this process.
Understand Priority Dates and Category-switching
Your priority date is the key that determines your position on the line for a Green Card application. Priority dates are therefore significant for Indian applicants to know how to read them. For cases where your current category is, for instance, EB-3, you realize that there are serious backlogs; in such a case, the best option would be to seek to be transferred to EB-2 since this will help you to spend less time waiting. More specifically, it is called “interfiling” or “porting, and this lets you move your priority date from one category to another, which can shorten your wait time for getting a Green Card.
Stay Updated with the Visa Bulletin
The other key resource for Green Card applicants is a medium called the monthly Visa Bulletin, issued by the US Department of State. This document contains information on the priority dates for different visa categories to assist with keeping abreast of Green Card status positions. Indian applicants, especially the EB-2 and EB-3, should keep an eye on this bulletin. It will enable you to be informed whether there are new developments or a relapse that may inform your next course of action; for example, filing for adjustment of status or preparing for consular processing.
Take Advantage of Concurrent Filing
In the extent that your prioritized date is currently available based on the Dates for Filing Chart, you can apply under concurrent filing, whereby you can file both Form I-140, the Immigrant Petition, and Form I-485, the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, together. You can then use it to gain benefits such as employment authorization (EAD) and advance parole (AP) as you wait for the green card.
Explore Legislative Updates and Advocacy
The proposed EAGLE Act targets to end per-country caps, which should be watched out for when determining when immigration reforms are likely to occur. Speaking to a specialist or becoming a member of an advocacy or support group can give further information and news.
Thus, Indian applicants must remain active, informed, and always on the lookout for professional advice, which will help reduce Green Card procedure time.
Conclusion
The current December 2024 Visa Bulletin provides important information about the availability of green cards in family-sponsored and employment-sponsored immigration categories. It is for such reasons and the expected turning of priority dates as well as crucial visa application deadlines that many candidates are optimistic. To endure such a complicated process one has to obtain the latest facts and consult an immigration lawyer. For more information get in touch with US Area Immigration Services. Here you will get all the important information regarding your Green Card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques – What is the processing time for a green card in 2024?
Ans – The processing time for a green card in 2024 varies depending on several factors, including:
- Type of green card
- Priority date
- Visa category
- USCIS processing times
Ques – Why does the Visa Bulletin date change every month?
Ans – Visa Bulletin dates change depending on demand for the visa, the per-country limit policies and the overall U.S immigration policy. Some categories may progress, stagnate or even go into a regression depending on backlogs and annual visa quotas.