December 12, 2023
The DOS posted its January 2024 Visa Bulletin. USCIS determined that for January 2024, applicants in family-based and employment-based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart.
The Dates for Filing chart remains the same as the December 2023 Visa Bulletin. Compared to last month’s visa bulletin, Final Action Dates in several family-based preference categories moved forward by months.
For employment-based preference categories, dates for filing dates also moved forward in several categories. Of note, the EB-1 preference category for Indian nationals moved up to January 1, 2021, from last month’s date of July 1, 2019. Further, the EB-3 Category for China-mainland-born individuals moved up to July 1, 2021, from last month’s date of September 1, 2020. There was also forward movement in several categories in the final action dates chart for employment-based preference categories.
To discuss what the dates in January’s Visa Bulletin may mean for your case, please request a consultation with one of our attorneys by filling out our Consultation Request Form.
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA-mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
F1 | 01JAN15 | 01JAN15 | 01JAN15 | 01MAY01 | 01MAR12 |
F2A | 01NOV19 | 01NOV19 | 01NOV19 | 22OCT19 | 01NOV19 |
F2B | 01OCT15 | 01OCT15 | 01OCT15 | 22OCT03 | 22OCT11 |
F3 | 22APR09 | 22APR09 | 22APR09 | 08SEP98 | 08JUN02 |
F4 | 22MAY07 | 22MAY07 | 15NOV05 | 15SEP00 | 15OCT02 |
DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS
Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01APR05 | 22APR15 |
F2A | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 | 01SEP23 |
F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01AUG04 | 01OCT13 |
F3 | 01MAR10 | 01MAR10 | 01MAR10 | 15JUN01 | 08NOV03 |
F4 | 01MAR08 | 01MAR08 | 22FEB06 | 15APR01 | 22APR04 |
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
1st | C | 01JUL22 | 01SEP20 | C | C |
2nd | 01NOV22 | 01JAN20 | 01MAR12 | 01NOV22 | 01NOV22 |
3rd | 01AUG22 | 01SEP20 | 01JUN12 | 01AUG22 | 01AUG22 |
Other Workers | 01SEP20 | 01JAN17 | 01JUN12 | 01SEP20 | 01MAY20 |
4th | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 |
Certain Religious Workers | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 | 15MAY19 |
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) |
C | 08DEC15 | 01DEC20 | C | C |
5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
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 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 |
Certain Religious Workers | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 | 01SEP19 |
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) |
C | 01JAN17 | 01APR22 | C | C |
5th Set Aside: (Rural – 20%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment – 10%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure – 2%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
Updated: 12/13/2023
September 8, 2025
DOS Requires Temporary Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants to Apply in Their Country of Nationality or Residence Important update on temporary nonimmigrant visa processing! As of September 6, the Department of State requires all nonimmigrant visa applicants...MoreSeptember 4, 2025
DHS Terminates 2021 Designation of Venezuela for TPS On September 3, 2025, DHS announced its intention to terminate the 2021 designation of TPS for Venezuela which is set...More