😲 You Won’t Believe What the August 2024 Visa Bulletin Means for Your Green Card

August 2024 Visa Bulletin: The August 2024 Visa Bulletin is out, and we’ve got all the details you need to know if you’re waiting for your green card. In this guide, we’ll break down what the bulletin means, focusing especially on the EB-1 and EB-2 categories. We understand how crucial this information is, given the constant changes in immigration policies that could affect your wait time.

We’ll walk you through everything step-by-step, ensuring you grasp the implications for your green card process. Stay with us through this article for accurate, up-to-date insights that you can trust. Let’s dive in and make sense of what this month’s bulletin means for you.

Understanding the August 2024 Visa Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin, released monthly by the U.S. Department of State, is your roadmap to understanding the estimated wait times for obtaining a green card. It lists priority dates for various employment-based categories, serving as placeholders in the green card queue. These dates are crucial in determining when you can potentially file for permanent residency.

Table A: Final Action Dates – Your Ticket to the Finish Line

Table A is the most critical table in the Visa Bulletin, especially towards the end of the fiscal year. It displays the Final Action Dates, the dates when visa numbers become available, allowing you to complete the green card process. The dates in Table A are compared to your priority date, the date your application was filed. If your priority date is earlier than the date listed in the table, you’re in luck – your visa number is ready, and you can proceed to the final stages of your green card journey.

EB-1 Category: A Mixed Bag for China and India

For the EB-1 category (Priority Workers), most countries enjoy a “Current” status, meaning there’s no wait time. However, China and India face a different scenario.

• China: The final action date remains at November 2022, unchanged from the previous month.
• India: The final action date also stays put at February 2022, indicating no movement.

EB-2 Category: Stagnation for Most, Slight Progress for India

The EB-2 category, which includes professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, paints a similar picture of stagnation for most countries.

• Most Countries: The final action date is March 15, 2023, signifying a 16-month wait time. This date remains unchanged from July 2024.
• China: March 1, 2020, remains the final action date, with no progress.
• India: There’s a glimmer of hope with a one-month advancement from June 2012 to July 2012. However, the backlog for India remains significant, with over 12 years of waiting time.

What Does “No Movement” Mean?

When the final action dates remain stagnant or advance by less than a month, it’s not good news. It means the backlog of applications is growing, and the wait time is increasing. This stagnation can be frustrating for those eagerly awaiting their green cards.

The Curious Case of EB-3 and Retrogression

While this article focuses on EB-1 and EB-2, it’s worth noting that the EB-3 category (skilled workers and professionals) faces potential challenges. The August Visa Bulletin warns of possible retrogression, where the final action dates might move backward, further delaying the process for EB-3 applicants.

Historical Trends: The Bigger Picture

To truly understand the current situation, it’s essential to look at historical trends. For EB-2 applicants in most countries (except India and China), the wait time was non-existent until the end of 2022. However, since then, it has steadily increased, reaching a plateau of around 14-16 months.

China, on the other hand, enjoyed a favorable situation until the end of the 2022 fiscal year. Unfortunately, a surge in demand has led to a continuous increase in wait times, now nearing the maximum of 21 months.

India’s situation is the most dire, with a massive retrogression in summer 2023 that pushed the wait time for EB-1 to a staggering 139 months. While there has been some recovery, the backlog remains significant.

October 2024: A Glimmer of Hope?

October marks the beginning of a new fiscal year, and with it comes a renewed quota of employment-based green cards. This could potentially bring some relief to those stuck in the backlog. However, the extent of improvement remains uncertain and depends on various factors.

Conclusion

The August 2024 Visa Bulletin offers a mixed bag of news for EB-1 and EB-2 applicants. While most countries face stagnation, India sees a slight improvement in EB-2. However, the backlogs remain substantial, and it’s essential to stay informed and explore all available options to navigate the complex green card process.