The February 2024 Visa Bulletin has been released. While not as significant as the shifts seen in the January 2024 Visa Bulletin, the February 2024 Visa Bulletin brings news of a few important changes in key priority dates. It had initially been predicted that February could, possibly, face a retrogression in the face of the major shifts of the January Bulletin. However, the Bulletin for this month brought no retrogression in priority dates.
In light of the increasing gap between visa demand and supply, it is not a surprise that the USCIS identified a need to shift priority dates to accommodate more visas for processing. As a result, this month, we are witnessing progressions in priority dates for a few major categories.
Let’s take a look at the results of the February 2024 Visa Bulletin.
February 2024 Visa Bulletin Results
Here are the results of the February 2024 Visa Bulletin and the priority date changes for both family and employment-based categories.
Family-based
Final Action Date
- F2A All Other Chargeable Areas – November 1, 2019 to February 8, 2020 +3 months & 7 days
- F2A China – November 1, 2019 to February 8, 2020 +3 months & 7 days
- F2A India – November 1, 2019 to February 8, 2020 +3 months & 7 days
- F2A Mexico – October 22, 2019 to February 1, 2020 +3 months & 10 days
- F2A Philippines – November 1, 2019 to February 8, 2020 +3 months & 7 days
Date of Filing Application
- No changes
Employment-based
Final Action Date
- EB3 All Other Chargeable Area – August 1, 2022 to September 1, 2022 + 1 month
- EB3 India – June 1, 2022 to July 1, 2022 +1 month
- EB3 Mexico – August 1, 2022 to September 1, 2022 + 1 month
- EB3 Philippines – August 1, 2022 to September 1, 2022 + 1 month
- EB4 India – June 1, 2022 to July 1, 2022 +1 month
- EB5 China – December 8, 2015 to December 15, 2015 +7 days
Date of Filing Application
- No changes
Small Changes in Certain Categories
Despite seeing major shifts in dates in the January 2024 Visa Bulletin, categories such as F2A, EB2, EB3, and EB4 incurred another progression in the priority date deadline. To reiterate a point made earlier, as the USCIS works through the backlogs of visa applications, the need for another shift in dates does not come as a shock.
Keep an eye out for any announcements made by the USCIS in the coming weeks about any key changes or observations in the processing of the categories that saw a positive shift this month, as it will not be a surprise if the USCIS takes action in the face of the increased demand in those categories.
March 2024 Visa Bulletin Predictions
In line with the initial prediction that the February 2024 Visa Bulletin will not incur shifts that compare to the major movement the January 2024 Visa Bulletin brought, this month’s Bulletin saw a few shifts in priority dates. It did come as a pleasant surprise that categories that saw major shifts last month were granted another extension in deadline this month-albeit a small jump in comparison to January.
However, as the demand for visas increases, it seems the USCIS is taking quick action to accommodate this demand by increasing its processing capabilities and goals.
That all being said, it is safe to predict that the fate of the March 2024 Visa Bulletin will be similar to that of this month’s. We foresee a few changes in priority dates for categories with heightening demand; however, we do not expect significant changes in key categories in next month’s Visa Bulletin.
Thankfully, the February 2024 Visa Bulletin brought no retrogression. As we stated previously, there is a likelihood that March will bring no retrogression as well. Regardless, there is always the possibility that the USCIS weighs the results of February’s actions and notices a need to pull back the priority dates after issuing so many positive shifts in both February and January.
Check back soon for our detailed March 2024 Visa Bulletin Predictions article. See the U.S. Department of State website to view the February 2024 Visa Bulletin.
