The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the March 2024 Visa Bulletin providing the dates that the visa number becomes available to file for and obtain legal permanent residency (also known as immigrant or “green card” status).
For those interested in holding green card status, it is very important to check the Visa Bulletin each month to learn if a visa number is available to apply for a green card. A foreign national who is eligible to file to adjust status to legal permanent residency for the green card in the month noted in the Visa Bulletin chart should file that month. This is because the visa numbers can slide backwards (retrogress) in successive months, making the foreign national ineligible until the visa number becomes available again.
Also, USCIS announced that Form I-485 applicants for adjustment of status to legal permanent residency (“green card” status) must use the Final Action dates chart from DOS’s March 2024 Visa Bulletin to determine eligibility for filing. In prior months, USCIS had allowed filers to use the Dates of Filing chart.
Applicants for adjustment of status who have a priority date earlier than the date in the ‘Final Action Dates for Employment-based Preference Cases’ chart may file their Forms I-485. Applicants whose priority date for a visa number is currently available in February 2024 should file their Form I-485 by the end of February 2024. The Form I-485 provides lawful status in the US for those who are eligible to adjust.
For family-based green card adjustment of status cases, USCIS announced that for March 2024 applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart.
Applicants for immigrant visas at U.S. consulates abroad may use the ‘Dates for Filing of Employment-based Visa Applications’ chart.
In the charts below, the “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. For family-based cases, the priority date is the date that the Form I-130 was filed for the alien relative. For employment-based cases, the priority date is the date that the PERM labor certification, or if not required, the Form I-140 was filed. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 15JUL22 | 01OCT20 | C | C |
| 2nd | 22NOV22 | 01JAN20 | 01MAR12 | 22NOV22 | 22NOV22 |
| 3rd | 08SEP22 | 01SEP20 | 01JUL12 | 08SEP22 | 08SEP22 |
| Other Workers | 08SEP20 | 01JAN17 | 01JUL12 | 08SEP20 | 01MAY20 |
| 4th | 01DEC19 | 01DEC19 | 01DEC19 | 01DEC19 | 01DEC19 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01DEC19 | 01DEC19 | 01DEC19 | 01DEC19 | 01DEC19 |
DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01JAN23 | 01JAN21 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15FEB23 | 01JUN20 | 15MAY12 | 15FEB23 | 15FEB23 |
| 3rd | 01FEB23 | 01JUL21 | 01AUG12 | 01FEB23 | 01JAN23 |
| Other Workers | 15DEC20 | 01JUN17 | 01AUG12 | 15DEC20 | 15MAY20 |
| 4th | 01JAN20 | 01JAN20 | 01JAN20 | 01JAN20 | 01JAN20 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN20 | 01JAN20 | 01JAN20 | 01JAN20 | 01JAN20 |