Visa Bulletin for June 2024 – Key Updates and Insights
The U.S. Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for June 2024, providing crucial information for immigrants who are waiting to process their visa applications. This monthly publication outlines the availability of immigrant visa numbers and has notable changes and updates for various categories.
#### Overview of Changes
June’s Visa Bulletin reveals several shifts in priority dates across both family-based (FB) and employment-based (EB) visa categories, reflecting ongoing changes in visa demand and regulation.
#### Family-Based Visa Updates
- **FB-1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens)**: Priority dates have advanced by two months across most countries, a significant shift indicating a loosening in this previously backlogged category.
- **FB-2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents)**: Continues to be current, allowing immediate processing for applicants in this category without waiting for a priority date to become current.
#### Employment-Based Visa Highlights
- **EB-1 (Priority Workers)**: All countries remain current, maintaining a steady flow for top-priority workers.
- **EB-2 (Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees)**: Notable advancement for India, with priority dates moving forward by six months, signaling a reduction in the longstanding backlog.
- **EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)**: Slight advancement for most countries, with an additional two-week shift forward, aiding in gradual backlog alleviation.
#### Special Mentions
- **Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery**: The bulletin specifies numbers for the DV-2024, ensuring that applicants know their status and when they can proceed with their applications.
- **Retrogression Alert**: Some EB-3 categories for specific countries have experienced minor retrogression due to high demand and per-country visa limits.
#### Insights
The Visa Bulletin is a vital resource for applicants, lawyers, and anyone involved in the immigration process. It offers insights into the complexities of U.S. immigration policy and visa allocation strategies, reflecting broader geopolitical dynamics and domestic policy changes.