The September 2024 Visa Bulletin is now available. The new tables include dates for consular filing and final visa issuance action by U.S. embassies or consulates.
If you want to see the tables of the Visa Bulletin September 2024 on Filing for Adjustment of Status (immigrant visa applications filed within the U.S.) of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) click here.
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What is the Visa Bulletin?
Each month, the U.S. Department of State publishes a report that specifies the availability and priority date of immigrant visas that are ready for processing and establishes the cut-off date after which visas will no longer be available for each visa category.
The Visa Bulletin The program orders applicants' priority dates according to visa categories: family-based, employment-based, and diversity visa program (visa lottery) petitions. It also updates the dates for the various categories based on the immigrants' countries of origin, the number of visas that have been issued so far, and an estimate of the demand for visas. Information in the Visa Bulletin may change from month to month.
It is useful to find out how much of a delay there is for different types of visa applications. This monthly visa bulletin serves as a guide for the National Visa Center (NVC) for visa processing and visa issuance in the United States. U.S. consulates and embassies.
USCIS also uses the Visa Bulletin to determine whether it can accept or adjudicate an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
If you are waiting your turn for a visa, this document allows you to monitor and check the progress, delay or non-movement of deadlines to know when your priority date is being processed.
How to read the September 2024 Visa Bulletin priority tables and dates
The U.S. Department of State and USCIS publish two tables for all visa preference categories with the following information:
In sections where a "C" is marked, it means that the category is current or available, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant's priority date.
If your priority date is current, you may apply for a visa when you meet the requirements.
In the sections where a "U" is marked, it means that the category is "not current" or "unavailable", and that "no" applications can be filed regardless of the applicant's priority date.
Final Action Dates: dates on which immigrant visas can finally be issued.
Dates for Filing: earliest date a person can file an application for a visa. An immigrant's country of birth is also a factor in determining the availability of a visa.
The NVC notifies immigrants by email or regular mail about how to apply for a visa through the consular channel. You should review and follow their instructions carefully.
Visa Bulletin September 2024
These are the tables of the Visa Bulletin for September 2024 of the U.S. Department of State published for cases based on the family, employment and the visa lotteries for fiscal years 2024 and 2025:
Final Action Dates for Visa Bulletin Family-Based Case Applications September 2024
Types of Family Preference
- First preference (F1): unmarried children, over the age of twenty-one, of U.S. citizens.
- Second preference A (F2A): spouses of permanent residents and unmarried children, under the age of twenty-one, of permanent residents.
- Second preference B (F2B): unmarried children, over the age of twenty-one, of permanent residents.
- Third preference (F3): married children of U.S. citizens, their spouses and unmarried children under the age of twenty-one.
- Fourth preference (F4): Siblings of U.S. citizens, their spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age.
All countries except those listed
| Family-based preference | All countries except those listed | MEXICO |
| F1 | 22OCT15 | 08MAY02 |
| F2A | 15NOV21 | 01FEB21 |
| F2B | 01MAY16 | 08JUL04 |
| F3 | 01ABR10 | 01MAR00 |
| F4 | 01 AUG07 | 08FEB01 |
Mainland China, India and the Philippines
| Family-based preference | CHINA - mainland | INDIA | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 22OCT15 | 22OCT15 | 01MAR12 |
| F2A | 15NOV21 | 15NOV21 | 15NOV21 |
| F2B | 01MAY16 | 01MAY16 | 22OCT11 |
| F3 | 01ABR10 | 01ABR10 | 08SEP02 |
| F4 | 01 AUG07 | 22JAN06 | 01FEB04 |
Dates for submitting family-based case applications from Visa Bulletin September 2024
All countries except those listed
| Family-based preference | All countries except those listed | MEXICO |
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01ABR05 |
| F2A | 15JUN24 | 15JUN24 |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01MAY05 |
| F3 | 01JAN11 | 15JUN01 |
| F4 | 01MAR08 | 30ABR01 |
Mainland China, India and the Philippines
| Family-based preference | CHINA - mainland | INDIA | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | 15JUN24 | 15JUN24 | 15JUN24 |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 01JAN11 | 01JAN11 | 08NOV03 |
| F4 | 01MAR08 | 15JUN06 | 01ABR06 |
Final action dates for employment-based case applications from Visa Bulletin September 2024
Types of Employment Preference:
- First preference (EB-1): priority workers.
- Second preference (EB-2): professionals with advanced degrees and persons of exceptional ability.
- Third preference (EB-3): skilled workers, professionals and unskilled workers.
- Fourth preference (EB-4): certain special immigrants.
- Fifth preference (EB-5): immigrant investors.
All countries except those listed
| Category based on employment | All countries except those listed | MEXICO |
| 1st | C | C |
| 2nd | 15MAR23 | 15MAR23 |
| 3rd | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 |
| Other Workers | 01DEC20 | 01DEC20 |
| 4th | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| 5th No Reservations (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Rural (20%) | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: High Unemployment Rate (10%) | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C |
Mainland China, India and the Philippines
| Category based on employment | CHINA mainland | INDIA | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | 01NOV22 | 01FEB22 | C |
| 2nd | 01MAR20 | 15JUL12 | 15MAR23 |
| 3rd | 01SEP20 | 22OCT12 | 01DEC20 |
| Other Workers | 01JAN17 | 22OCT12 | 01MAY20 |
| 4th | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| 5th No Reservations (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | 15DEC15 | 01DEC20 | C |
| 5th Reserve: Rural (20%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: High Unemployment Rate (10%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C |
Dates for submitting applications for employment-based cases from Visa Bulletin September 2024
All countries except those listed
| Category based on employment | All countries except those listed | MEXICO |
| 1st | C | C |
| 2nd | 22MAR23 | 22MAR23 |
| 3rd | 01FEB23 | 01FEB23 |
| Other Workers | 08ENE21 | 08ENE21 |
| 4th | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| 5th No Reservations (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Rural (20%) | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: High Unemployment Rate (10%) | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C |
Mainland China, India and the Philippines
| Category based on employment | CHINA mainland | INDIA | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | 01JAN23 | 08FEB22 | C |
| 2nd | 01JUN20 | 22JUL12 | 22MAR23 |
| 3rd | 01JUL21 | 01NOV12 | 01JAN23 |
| Other Workers | 01JUN17 | 01NOV12 | 15MAY20 |
| 4th | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| 5th No Reservations (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | 01JAN17 | 01ABR22 | C |
| 5th Reserve: Rural (20%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: High Unemployment Rate (10%) | C | C | C |
| 5th Reserve: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C |
How to read the table of cases based on the Diversity Visa Program (DV, visa lottery) fiscal years. 2024 and 2025
Below are the allocation cut-off numbers for diversity visas, based on region or eligible countries, for applicants who meet all requirements. When a maximum number is shown, it means that there are only visas available for DV applicants below the number specifically allocated in the region.
The person who "wins the lottery" is only entitled to receive immigrant status in the DV category until the end of the visa fiscal year for which he or she was selected. For all applicants registered in the FY 2024 visa lottery, that entitlement ends on September 30, 2024. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2024 lottery participants after that date.
This also applies to the spouses and children of the winners of the fiscal year 2024 visa lotteryThe DV visas are only eligible for derivative DV status until September 30, 2024. There can be no guarantee that DV visas will be available until the end of fiscal year 2024, because they could be exhausted before September 30, 2024.
Dates for filing FY 2024 visa lottery-based case applications by September 2024 as of September 2024 based on the Visa Bulletin September 2024
| Region | All DV chargeability areas except those listed separately | |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | C |
Except: Algeria 108,500 Egypt 57,000 Morocco 70,000 |
| ASIA | 27.500 |
Except: Iran 22,000 Nepal 13,000 |
| EUROPE | 50.000 |
Except: Russia 49,500 Uzbekistan 17,000 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | C | |
| OCEANIA | 2.700 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 5.000 |
Dates for submitting applications for cases based on the fiscal year 2025 visa lottery by November 2024 according to the Visa Bulletin September 2024
| Region | All DV chargeability areas except those listed separately | |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 15.000 |
Except: Algeria 6,500 Egypt 8,250 Morocco 8,250 |
| ASIA | 3.000 |
Except: Iran 2,950 Nepal 2,950 |
| EUROPE | 6.000 |
Except: Russia 5,950 Uzbekistan 4,900 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 2 | |
| OCEANIA | 500 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 825 |
Additional information and forecasts from Visa Bulletin September 2024
Employment-based visas available during September
Throughout the fiscal year, there has been a steady increase in demand for employment-based visas from USCIS and the U.S. Department of State. As a result, it is anticipated that most of the employment-based preferred category restrictions for FY 2024 will be reached in September, if not sooner.
If at any time the annual limit is reached, the preference category should be declared "unavailable" immediately and no further visa applications will be processed.
Backward movement in the "Other Workers" (EW) and Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3) categories.
It has become necessary to backdate the EB-3 final action dates for the Philippines, Mexico and the Rest of the World, as well as the EW final action dates for the Philippines and Mexico, as readers were informed was possible in item D of the Visa Bulletin of July 2024 and August 2024. This decrease in emission rates is necessary as emission totals in these categories are rapidly approaching the FY2024 annual limit.
Final action dates are expected to move forward in October 2024; however, date movement is dependent on the estimated FY-2025 category cap and overall demand for EB-3 and EW visas.
2025 Visa Lottery Results (DV-2025)
The persons chosen to participate in the Diversity Visa Program DV-2025 have been registered and notified by the U.S. Department of State.
By fiscal year 2025, there will be up to 55,000 diversity visas available. The State Department distributes these visas among six geographic regions, and no country may receive more than seven percent of the available visas in any one year.
The Department of State received 19,927,656 qualified entries for the 2025 visa lottery. This is 2,257,963 fewer qualified entries than the 22,185,619 they received for the 2024 visa lottery.
Approximately 131,080 potential candidates have been registered in the 2025 visa lottery and informed of their eligibility to apply for a visa. This higher number of applicants should ensure that all diversity visas can be used during FY 2025, as the selection does not take into account the number of family members who could immigrate with the selectee and it is likely that some of those selected will not complete their cases or will not be eligible for a visa.
Those selected for the fiscal year 2025 visa lottery (October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025) must act immediately on their visa applications and complete all necessary steps by September 30, 2025. The FY 2025 program will come to an end once all available diversity visas have been issued.
Determination of the numerical limits of immigrants required by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Sections 201(c) and (d) of the INA state that the Department of State must calculate each year the limits on the number of persons in each country.
These figures are based in part on information from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the number of immediate relative adjustments in the previous year and the number of aliens paroled into the United States under Section 212(d)(5) in the second preceding year. Without this knowledge, you cannot make an official decision on what the annual limits are.
Pursuant to Section 203(g) of the INA, the Visa Office (VO) makes allocations based on reasonable estimates of the anticipated number of visas that will be available under the annual caps. This prevents processing delays while awaiting USCIS data. On July 19, 2024, USCIS provided VO with the information it needed.
In accordance with Section 201 of the INA, the Department of State has established numerical limits for family and employment preference for FY 2024. The numerical limits for FY 2024 are listed below:
* Limit for family-based preference worldwide: 226,000
* Employment-based preference limit for the entire world: 160,791
Under Section 202(a) of the INA, the limit for each country is set at 7% of the annual limits for family and labor. For FY2024, each country can only have 27,075. The limit for a dependent area each year is 2%, or 7,736.
These figures do not take into account the INA 203(b)(5)(B) extension provisions. The dependent zone limit is 7,953 and the maximum per country is 27,837 with these extended visa figures included.
Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for employees in the United States
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, enacted on December 22, 2023, may impact certain current and former U.S. Government employees overseas who are applying for SIVs or adjustment of status under section 101(a)(27)(D) of the INA.
Some Iraqis and Afghans applying for SQ and SI SIV are exempt from this rule. For more information on the impact of such a rule on their case, applicants may contact the consular office where they filed their Form DS-1884.
Immigration consultation
Anyone who has questions about U.S. immigration law, including how to read the Visa Bulletin and apply for an immigrant visa through consular channels or adjustment of status, should immediately consult with a licensed and experienced U.S. immigration attorney to determine their legal immigration options.
Avoid being victim of immigration fraud and never consult with notaries, immigration consultants, paper-fillers, multi-services and others. unlicensed persons to obtain immigration legal advice.
Dr. Nelson A. Castillo is an immigration attorney with over 20 years of legal experience and author of La Tarjeta Verde: Cómo Obtener la Residencia Permanente en los Estados Unidos (Green Card: How to Obtain Permanent Residence in the United States). He is a former President of the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Westlake South Neighborhood Council of Los Angeles.
To program a immigration consultation with Dr. Castillo, click on the link.
