The USCIS Visa Bulletin April 2024 from the U.S. Department of State (USCIS) is an essential tool for applicants navigating the intricate world of U.S. immigration as it offers key information on the availability of immigrant visa numbers.
USCIS Visa Bulletin April 2024
A crucial resource for applicants navigating the complicated world of U.S. immigration is the U.S. Department of State’s (USCIS) Visa Bulletin for April, which offers critical updates on the availability of immigrant visa numbers.
It provides in-depth information on the processes used to ascertain the availability of visas, the yearly limits placed on different immigration categories, and the precise distributions for nations and preference categories.Â
The bulletin also covers the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program and pertinent special announcements for applicants, such as the expiry of certain visa categories and changes to legislation that may impact Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs).
USCIS Visa Application Procedures
Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications: It is recommended that applicants consult the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website to find the appropriate chart to use when submitting applications for adjustment of status.
Priority Dates and Oversubscription: Priority dates are used to determine the distribution of visas; countries or categories that have an excess of demand are considered oversubscribed.
Family-Sponsored Preference Immigrants
- Annual Limit: The cap for the fiscal year 2024 is 226,000 visas.
- Per-Country Limit: set at 25,620 visas, or 7% of the overall yearly quota.
- Preference Categories: Comprehensive analyses of the First (F1), Second (F2A and F2B), Third (F3), and Fourth (F4) preferences, including particular distributions and information on oversubscription, are provided.
Employment-Based Preference Immigrants
- Annual Limit: There are at least 140,000 employment-based preference visas available.
- Preference Categories: Contains information on particular allocations and oversubscription for the following categories: First Class Workers, Professionals with Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability, Second Class Skilled Workers/Professionals/Other Workers, Fourth Class Certain Special Immigrants, and Fifth Class Employment Creation.
USCIS Visa Diversity Immigrant (DV) Category
- Annual Allocation: Up to 55,000 visas, including a thorough breakdown per area and exclusions for specific nations, and modified for NACARA applicants.
- May Projections: Expected threshold values for different areas, signifying accessibility for DV-2024 candidates.
Special Notices
- Expiration of Employment Fourth Preference Religious Workers (SR) Category: Notifications of the category’s expiry and its effects on the granting of visas and entry into the United States.
- Visa Availability in Coming Months: Provide estimates for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories while advising against making assumptions about long-term developments.
US Visa Bulletin April 2024 Key Takeaways
Consultation of USCIS Website for Filing Applications:
- For anyone looking to change their immigration status in the United States, the USCIS)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ( website is an essential resource. Two charts are available on the website: “Dates for Filing Applications” and “Final Action Dates.”Â
- To find out when they may file their petitions for an adjustment of status, applicants must select which chart best fits their circumstances. The appropriate chart to use may change from month to month depending on USCIS guidelines and the availability of visas.
Detailed Information on Visa Availability:
- Comprehensive information on the availability of visas for different countries and categories may be found in the Visa Bulletin. Knowing this information is essential to knowing when an applicant may be able to get a visa.
Projections for Visa Availability:
- The bulletin offers estimates for potential changes in visa availability shortly, giving certain categories cause for cautious optimism. It also issues a warning, saying that one should not assume that the existing patterns in visa availability will be steady.
Impact of Legislative Changes and Category Expirations:
- The application process may be greatly impacted by changes to laws and regulations as well as the expiry of certain visa categories. The Employment Fourth Preference Religious Workers (SR) category’s expiry, for example, demonstrates how legislative acts or inactions may have a direct impact on the allocation of visas.Â
To make sure they understand their eligibility and any possible effects on their visa applications, applicants need to remain up to date on current legislation and any changes.