July 2024 Visa Bulletin: What Indian Green Card Applicants Need to Know?
Last week, the U.S. Department of State released the July 2024 Visa Bulletin, which helps you determine the green card wait times for your preferred green card category.
In this blog, we analyze the visa bulletin july 2024 for employment-based green card categories. Let’s start.
What is the Visa Bulletin?
Every month, the U.S. Department of State releases a visa bulletin detailing the number of immigrant visas available for that month for each green card category.
The U.S. Visa Bulletin also helps you know when an I-140 approved green card applicant can file their adjustment of status application with USCIS based on their priority date
Breaking down the charts in the Visa bulletin
If you have noticed the employment-based green card categories section in the July 2024 Visa Bulletin, you came across two charts: the Final Action Dates chart and the Dates for Filing chart. Let’s clarify their usage.
Final Action Dates chart
In the visa bulletin, first, you need to look at the Final Action Dates chart.
If your priority date is on or before the final action date or cutoff dates for your preferred green card category and country of origin, then you can file your Adjustment of Status application with the USCIS in that particular month.
Dates for Filing chart
If your priority date is not available in the Final Action Dates chart, you need to move on to the Dates for Filing chart.
In the dates for filing chart, if your priority date matches or is earlier than the cutoff dates mentioned for your green card category and country of origin, you can file your Adjustment of Status application with the USCIS.
However, you will receive your green card only when your priority date is available in the Final Action Dates chart.
The benefit of using the Dates for Filing chart is that you can get your EAD and advance parole earlier when you submit them along with your I-485 application.
It is also worth noting that you can use the Dates for Filing chart only when the USCIS allows its use in that particular month’s Visa Bulletin.
Movement in EB Categories for India
Let’s take a quick look at the movement of final action dates for India in the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 green card categories in the visa bulletin july 2024.
EB-1 Category
In the July 2024 Visa Bulletin, the EB-1 final action date for India advanced significantly by nearly a year, moving from March 1, 2021, to February 1, 2022.
If your priority date is on or before February 1, 2022, you are now eligible to file your adjustment of status application with USCIS.
EB-2 and EB-3 Green Card Categories
In the July 2024 Visa Bulletin, the EB-2 final action date for India inched forward by two months, going from April 15, 2012, to June 15, 2012.
In the visa bulletin july 2024, the EB-3 final action date for India saw a minor movement of one month, advancing from August 22, 2012, to September 22, 2012.
Crucial Updates in the July 2024 Visa Bulletin
- The EB1 priority date or final action date for India remains on February 1, 2022, in the July Visa Bulletin 2024. Therefore, the current wait time for the EB1 category for India is two years. However, the current wait time for the EB2 and EB3 categories, based on the July 2024 Visa Bulletin, is approximately a decade long or more.
- In the Visa Bulletin July 2024, you must use only the final action date chart for all employment-based green card categories.
- USCIS mentions in the July Visa Bulletin that the EB3 category will face worldwide retrogression in the August 2024 Visa Bulletin.
Conclusion
The fact that you can observe from monthly visa bulletins is that EB1 or EB1A priority dates or final action dates for India move faster. Contrary to EB1 priority date movement, EB2 and EB3 priority dates India move at a snail’s pace.
Therefore, EB1A is the fastest path to US permanent residency for Indians. EB1A doesn’t require employer sponsorship or a job offer.
I hope you have determined the green card wait times for your preferred category based on the July 2024 Visa Bulletin.
If you need to fast-track your green card process, switch to the EB1A green card and achieve EB1A success with the Smart Green Card VIP program.
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