The May 2024 Visa Bulletin has pleasantly surprised many with yet another round of positive shifts in priority dates. This marks the fifth consecutive visa bulletin announcement in 2024 to bring only positive changes, with no regressions.
In our May 2024 Visa Bulletin Predictions article, we took a look at how the H-1B Lottery process in March could affect the results of the May 2024 Visa Bulletin. Despite initial concerns following the few setbacks in the H-1B Lottery for FY 2025, the USCIS has continued its streak of positive announcements. It appears that USCIS has actually increased capacity for visa processing.
In another surprising turn of events, we were not expecting the May 2024 Visa Bulletin shifts to match the level of activity as the previous announcements as the USCIS wraps up their visa processing for H-1B visas and begins looking at petitions. However, the May 2024 Visa Bulletin announcement activity rivaled that of the April 2024 Visa Bulletin. It even showed some shifts in the the Family-Based Date of Filing Application dates, indicating movement in this category after a period of stagnancy over the past few bulletin announcements.
It is wonderful news that the USCIS was able to find room to increase their visa processing despite the upcoming months being so busy for their office.
Let’s take a look at the results of the May 2024 Visa Bulletin.
May 2024 Visa Bulletin Results
Here are the results of the May 2024 Visa Bulletin and the priority date changes for both family and employment-based categories.
Family-based
Final Action Date
- F1 All Other Chargeable Areas – February 8, 2015 to July 8, 2015 + 5 months
- F1 China – February 8, 2015 to July 8, 2015 + 5 months
- F1 India – February 8, 2015 to July 8, 2015 + 5 months
- F1 Mexico – May 1, 2001 to October 15, 2001 + 5 months & 14 days
- F2A All Other Chargeable Areas – September 8, 2020 to June 1, 2021 + 8 months & 24 days
- F2A China – September 8, 2020 to June 1, 2021 + 8 months & 24 days
- F2A India – September 8, 2020 to June 1, 2021 + 8 months & 24 days
- F2A Mexico – August 15, 2020 to November 8, 2020 + 2 months & 24 days
- F2A Philippines – September 8, 2020 to June 1, 2021 + 8 months & 24 days
- F2B All Other Chargeable Areas – November 22, 2015 to April 1, 2016 + 4 months & 10 days
- F2B China – November 22, 2015 to April 1, 2016 + 4 months & 10 days
- F2B India – November 22, 2015 to April 1, 2016 + 4 months & 10 days
- F2B Mexico – October 22, 2003 to March 1, 2004 + 4 months & 8 days
- F3 All Other Chargeable Areas – October 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010 + 3 months
- F3 China – October 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010 + 3 months
- F3 India – October 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010 + 3 months
- F3 Mexico – September 8, 1998 to July 22, 1999 + 10 months & 14 days
- F4 All Other Chargeable Areas – June 8, 2007 to July 22, 2007 + 1 month & 14 days
- F4 China – June 8, 2007 to July 22, 2007 + 1 month & 14 days
- F4 India – December 15, 2005 to January 15, 2006 + 1 month
- F4 Mexico – October 15, 2000 to January 22, 2001 + 3 month & 7 days
- F4 Philippines – June 15, 2003 to September 8, 2003 + 2 months & 24 days
Date of Filing Application
- F3 All Other Chargeable Areas – March 10, 2001 to June 1, 2010 + 1 month
- F3 China – March 10, 2001 to June 1, 2010 + 1 month
- F3 India – March 10, 2001 to June 1, 2010 + 1 month
- F4 India – April 8, 2006 to June 15, 2006 + 2 months & 7 days
- F4 Philippines – April 22, 2005 to June 1, 2005 + 1 month & 8 days
Employment-based
Final Action Date
- No Changes
As we stated in the previous announcement, you can now see that the Certain Religious Workers category is no longer authorizing numbers for issuance.
Date of Filing Application
- No Changes
The USCIS Stays Committed to Improving the System
As we have covered in the past, there were many initial concerns that there was a high possibility that the USCIS could slow down processing after spending much of March on the H-1B FY 2025 lottery process. Despite having more capacity for visa processing with the official announcement of the visa cap being reached, there was also a chance that the USCIS might pull back on priority dates. The delays and glitches faced during the H-1B FY 2025 granting process raised concerns about the USCIS adjusting their processing speed.
However, the USCIS remains more committed than ever before to changing the US visa system. The USCIS has tirelessly been introducing revamps and reforms to the visa processing system. The department has recognized years of corruption and unnecessary delays and has been working ten-fold to turning their words of change into action and commitment.
We can only hope that all these positive shifts don’t lead to an influx of visa applications so great that the USCIS decides there is a need to pull back some priority dates.
June 2024 Visa Bulletin Predictions
As usual, we are happy to see that this month brings so many positive shifts with it. The May 2024 Visa Bulletin joins its predecessors and becomes the fifth announcement this year to give us news of no retrogression.
Looking ahead to June 2024, we remain hopeful for more positive shifts in priority dates. However, it is important to note that there was no movement the Employment-Based categories saw no shifts this month. Could this be a sign that June may be the first to bring us a month of no change? Or even worse, retrogression?
Increasing visa demand may lead to a surge in applications. While USCIS is working hard to enhance processing capacity, there’s a possibility they may need to pull back on priority dates if application numbers grow too quickly.
It’s essential to stay cautious and anticipate the possibility of stagnant priority dates or even retrogression in the next announcement. USCIS may reassess their efforts after weighing the results of the first quarter of the year. Nonetheless, we remain optimistic that USCIS will continue its efforts to streamline the visa application process and announce more positive shifts in priority dates.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for another round of positive news in the June 2024 Visa Bulletin.
Check back soon for our detailed June 2024 Visa Bulletin Predictions article. See the U.S. Department of State website to view the May 2024 Visa Bulletin.
