May 2024 Visa Bulletin Predictions

The April 2024 Visa Bulletin brought exciting news as it continued the trend of announcing only positive shifts in priority dates. While not as groundbreaking as the March 2024 Visa Bulletin, the April Bulletin’s changes were significant, especially in key categories.

We had initially hypothesized that April would follow in the path of its predeceasing Visa Bulletin announcements and only announce positive shifts. We were weary of there being a possibility of the April 2024 Visa Bulletin being the first 2024 Visa Bulletin announcement that brings a pull back in priority dates. his raises the question: why only positive changes this year?

The recent announcement of changes the USCIS will begin to implement-with the most recent one being aimed at improving the H-1B FY 2025 Lottery process and the expedite request process-sheds light on the USCIS’s shift in mindset and operational approach.

Acknowledging past shortcomings marred by corruption and unfair practices, the USCIS has made it very clear they are prioritizing creating a more equitable and efficient visa system. This transformation has been warmly received by both lawyers and visa applicants, instilling hope for a fairer and more transparent process.

As the April 2024 Visa Bulletin closed on a positive note, attention turns to the potential impact on the May 2024 Visa Bulletin.

Let’s take a look at what we can expect to see in the upcoming May 2024 Visa Bulletin.

May 2024 Visa Bulletin Predictions

Looking ahead to May 2024, we consider how April’s announcements might affect the upcoming Visa Bulletin. There’s a possibility that USCIS could slow down processing after spending much of March on the H-1B FY 2025 lottery process. While they may now have more capacity for processing, there’s also a chance they might pull back on priority dates. Before processing had even begun, the USCIS experienced delays which caused the registration deadline to be pushed. Later, as applicants began to hear of selection notifications being sent out, many lawyers noticed a glitch in the system. The delays and glitches faced during the H-1B FY 2025 granting process raise concerns about USCIS adjusting their processing speed.

Despite these uncertainties, we remain hopeful for positive shifts in priority dates in May. Each bulletin announcement fills us with anticipation for further improvements. However, we must also be realistic and understand that USCIS faces challenges in balancing visa demand with processing capacity. While we hope for the best, we should also brace ourselves for the possibility of stagnant or retrogressive priority dates. USCIS’s decisions will reflect their efforts to create a fair and efficient visa system. Let’s stay optimistic and keep our fingers crossed for more good news in the May 2024 Visa Bulletin.

May 2024 Visa Bulletin Release Date

Based on recent trends, we expect the May 2024 Visa Bulletin to be released anywhere between April 8, 2024, or the following week around April 15, 2024.

Check back as soon as the bulletin is released for our complete breakdown of priority date changes and updates.

Additional Visa Bulletin Resources

Here are some additional resources that can help you navigate the visa bulletin and green card process.

All About the Visa Bulletin

How to Read the Visa Bulletin

Adjustment of Status Process

Employment-based Green Card Overview

Family-based Green Card Overview

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