The October 2024 visa bulletin has been released by the Department of State and our team at Garvish Immigration Law Group has once again summarized the important changes and noteworthy items. As Attorney Elizabeth Garvish has stated, October marks the beginning of the 2025 fiscal year and it seems that USCIS has enough employment-based adjustment of status applications in the pipeline for this entire fiscal year.

USCIS determination for this month on which chart to use for determining when to file for adjustment of status for employment categories has changed for the Octo ber 2024 visa bulletin. This month applicants in all employment-based preference categories will now use the Dates for Filing chart. Applicants inall family-sponsored preference categories will continue to use the Dates for Filing chart, remaining consistent with the previous months.

Employment-based preference categories:

October for employment-based preference categories displays some forward movement. Noteworthy changes are shown under the Dates for Filing chart under the employment-based preference category with progress in categories ranging from 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 7 months. However, 5th Unreserved China displays a setback from the September 2024 visa bulletin, regressing from January 1, 2017 to October 1, 2016.

EB4 all countries and EB4 Certain Religious Workers for all countries remain the same. Final Action Dates chart displays major progress for EB3 Worldwide, Mexico and Philippines. Applicants in these categories display almost 2 years forward movement from December 1, 2020 to November 15, 2022.

Seven months progress is displayed from EB5 China and 1 year progress is shown for EB5 India. Family-sponsored preference categories: Dates for Filing progress remain consistent from the previous visa bulletin with 6 months of progres shown in certain categories. F1 Mexico displays 6 months forward movement from April 01, 2005 to October 1, 2005; F3 Worldwide, China and India similarly displays 6 months forward movement from January 01, 2011 to July 01, 2011; and F3 Philippines displays 6 months forward movement from November 08, 2003 to May 08, 2004.

Final Action Dates charts under the Family-sponsored preference category remain consistent from the September 2024 visa bulletin, with F2A Worldwide, China, India and Philippines displaying only 7 days of progressive movement. Mexico displays progress in all categories. Please click here to see the summary of Mexico’s progress for the October 2024 visa bulletin under the Final Action Dates Chart. Whether you’re in the process of applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. Consulate abroad or seeking adjustment of status to permanent residence within the United States, staying informed about these updates is crucial. Don’t miss out on the latest developments that may impact your immigration journey. Schedule a consultation with one of our immigration attorneys to begin your journey today.

About the Author

Raquiyah Dunger
Associate Attorney at Garvish Immigration Law Group | (800) 951-4980 | rdunger@goimmigrationlaw.com | Profile | + posts

Raquiyah (Kya) Dunger is an Associate Attorney at Garvish Immigration Law Group, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia. Kya’s passion for the law arose from seeing her family’s interaction with the law. Kya’s first introduction to law was working at a personal injury law firm in Atlanta, Georgia. It was there that Kya found her passion for helping others. However, it was love that led Kya to immigration law; going through the immigration process with her husband showed her that she was not limited in the ways that she could help others in the legal field. Kya now focuses her work on employment-based immigration and nonimmigration petitions, as well as family-based immigration petitions.