Good information for Indian candidates because the US Citizenship and Immigration Services have launched the visa bulletin for the brand new yr. The January 2025 standing marks important progress throughout a number of employment-based visa classes. In EB-2, India advances by two months to October 1, 2012, whereas China strikes ahead by one to April 22, 2020.
On the opposite hand, family-sponsored classes additionally witness key modifications within the January 2025 bulletin. The F1 class for single little kids of US residents has jumped forward to November 22, 2015. Similarly, F3 and F4 have moved on to July 1, 2010, and August 15, 2006, respectively. The former is allotted for married little kids of US residents, whereas the latter is for siblings of US residents.
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Key Takeaways of January 2025 US Visa Bulletin
The USCIS’ January US visa bulletin makes use of official jargon to differentiate between “Dates for Filing” and “Final Action Dates.”
One’s precedence date should coincide (or fall earlier than) with the closing date listed alongside the nation’s visa class. The Dates for Filing decide the applying’s eligibility timeline, implying when candidates can submit their adjustment of standing or immigrant visa functions. Conversely, the Final Action Dates sign the estimated time for one’s utility approval, in the end resulting in everlasting residency.
Employment-Based preferences
1st: Priority Workers – 28.6% international employment-based desire stage + surplus numbers of fourth and fifth preferences.
2nd: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees / Persons of Exceptional Ability – 28.6% of worldwide employment-based desire stage + numbers ignored by the primary.
third: Skilled Workers, Professionals and Other Workers – 28.6% of worldwide stage + numbers left over by the primary and second preferences, with 10,000 allotted to ‘Other Workers’.
4th: Certain Special Immigrants – 7.1% of the worldwide stage.
fifth: Employment Creation – 7.1% of the worldwide stage, with 32% put aside as follows: 20% for certified immigrants investing in a rural space + 10% for certified immigrants investing in excessive unemployment areas + 2% for certified immigrants in infrastructure initiatives. The remaining 68% is unreserved and put aside for all eligible immigrants.
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Final Action Dates for Employment-based instances:
Employment-based desire | India | China-mainland born | Mexico | Philippines |
1st | February 1, 2022 | November 8, 2022 | C | C |
2nd | October 1, 2012 | April 22, 2020 | April 1, 2023 | April 1, 2023 |
third | December 1, 2012 | June 1, 2020 | December 1, 2022 | December 1, 2022 |
Other Workers | December 1, 2012 | January 1, 2017 | December 8, 2020 | December 8, 2020 |
4th | January 1, 2021 | January 1, 2021 | January 1, 2021 | January 1, 2021 |
Certain Religious Workers | U | U | U | U |
fifth Unreserved (together with C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU) | January 1, 2022 | July 15, 2016 | C | C |
fifth Set Aside: Rural (20% incl. NR, RR) | C | C | C | C |
fifth Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%, incl. NH, RH) | C | C | C | C |
fifth Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%, incl. RI) | C | C | C | C |
C: Current, i.e., numbers are approved for issuance to all certified candidates
U: Unauthorized, i.e., numbers will not be approved for issuance
(NOTE: Numbers are approved for issuance just for candidates whose precedence date is earlier than the ultimate motion date listed beneath.)
Dates for submitting Employment-based visa functions:
Employment-based pref. | India | China-mainland born | Mexico | Philippines |
1st | April 15, 2022 | January 1, 2023 | C | C |
2nd | January 1, 2013 | October 1, 2020 | August 1, 2023 | August 1, 2023 |
third | June 8, 2013 | November 15, 2020 | March 1, 2023 | March 1, 2023 |
Other Workers | June 8, 2013 | January 1, 2018 | May 22, 2021 | May 22, 2021 |
4th | February 1, 2021 | February 1, 2021 | February 1, 2021 | February 1, 2021 |
Certain Religious Workers | February 1, 2021 | February 1, 2021 | February 1, 2021 | February 1, 2021 |
fifth Unreserved (incl C5, T5, I5, R5) | April 1, 2022 | October 1, 2016 | C | C |
fifth Set Aside: Rural (NR, RR – 20%) | C | C | C | C |
fifth Set Aside: High Unemploment (NH, RH – 10%) | C | C | C | C |
fifth Set Aside: Infrastructure (RI – 2%) | C | C | C | C |
Family-based Applications:
F1: Unmarried sons + daughters of US residents [23,400 + numbers left out by fourth preference].
Second: Spouse and youngsters + single little kids of everlasting residents – 114,200 + quantity by which the worldwide household desire stage exceeds 226,000, plus any unused first desire numbers
F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents – 77% of total second desire, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country restrict.
F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years or older) of Permanent Residents – 23% of total second desire.
F3: Married Sons + Daughters of US Citizens – 23,400 + numbers ignored by first and second preferences.
F4: Brothers and Sisters of Adult US Citizens – 65,000 + surplus numbers of first three preferences.
Final Action Dates for family-sponsored functions:
Family-sponsored | India | China-mainland born | Mexico | Philippines |
F1 | November 22, 2015 | November 22, 2015 | November 22, 2004 | March 8, 2012 |
F2A | January 1, 2022 | January 1, 2022 | May 15, 2021 | January 1, 2022 |
F2B | May 22, 2016 | May 22, 2016 | July 1, 2005 | October 22, 2011 |
F3 | July 1, 2010 | July 1, 2010 | November 22, 2000 | November 8, 2002 |
F4 | April 8, 2006 | August 1, 2007 | March 1, 2001 | May 1, 2004 |
Dates for submitting family-based visa functions:
Family-sponsored | India | China-mainland born | Mexico | Philippines |
F1 | September 1, 2017 | September 1, 2017 | October 1, 2005 | April 22, 2015 |
F2A | July 15, 2024 | July 15, 2024 | July 15, 2024 | July 15, 2024 |
F2B | January 1, 2017 | January 1, 2017 | October 1, 2006 | October 1, 2013 |
F3 | July 22, 2012 | July 22, 2012 | June 15, 2001 | May 8, 2004 |
F4 | August 15, 2006 | March 1, 2008 | April 30, 2001 | January 1, 2008 |