April 2024 Visa Bulletin

Getting your U.S. green card is an exciting prospect. But the process of obtaining an immigration visa can be daunting and stressful. You will have invested a significant amount of time, money, and effort into filing for your visa, and waiting for priority dates can be very taxing.

Most people tend to worry about things such as “How long does this process take?” or “Which charts should I use to check my dates?” In this article, we will go over everything you need to know regarding the Visa Bulletin for April, including all the different charts to cross-check the dates for yourself.

April 2024 Visa Bulletin Overview

The dates for family-based green cards have shown significant movement from previous months. Only the Final Action Dates for all chargeability areas for the F-2A preference level are current.

When it comes to the employment-based categories, there is a substantial movement for the EB-1 category, which is now current for all chargeability areas. The Final Action cut-off dates for the EB-2 category have seen significant movement with the dates for India advancing by three months and those for China by more than a month. The same holds for the EB-3 category, with the date moving up by two months for India and one month for China.

Family-Based Green Cards

Family-based green cards are among the most common ways immigrants obtain lawful residency in the U.S. Family members of U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents can get green cards through four different preference levels according to which family member is sponsoring their visa. China, Mexico, the Philippines, India, and other countries make up the five chargeability areas under the family-based immigration visas.

Family-Based Dates for Filing Charts

It is important to note that when it comes to family-based dates for filing visa applications, there is significant movement in April 2021. This chart compares the dates between March and April. If there is nothing below a date, there has been no movement in April 2021.

Family-Based Final Action Date Charts

It is important to note that the USCIS has not yet given any indication regarding whether to follow the Dates for Filing charts or the Final Action charts in the April 2021 bulletin. However, here is the chart for the final action dates from the April 2021 Visa Bulletin for family-based green cards.

The most movement in this chart is the Philippines’ date in the F-4 category, which has moved up by 38 days. The 2-FA category for all chargeability areas is “current” in the April 2021 bulletin.

Employment-Based Green Cards

Many immigrants opt to get employment-based immigration visas where they ask an employer to sponsor their visa. Employment-based green cards have five different preference levels and are spread across seven chargeability areas.

This chart outlines the final action dates from the April 2021 Visa Bulletin for employment-based green cards. As you will see from the chart, the final action dates are “current” for many preference levels and chargeability areas.

Important April 2024 Visa Bulletin Dates

Those who are new to the process of obtaining a green card will find themselves at sea when it comes to certain terms such as “priority dates” and “final action dates.” If you are trying to obtain an immigration visa yourself, it is essential to familiarize yourself with these terms.

Priority Dates

A priority date is given to each person who files for a visa with the USCIS. This is the date on which the U.S. government has received your petition, and it helps you get in line for a green card. Priority dates do not show any movement, and they cannot be easily changed. Priority dates are not relevant if you are an immediate family member of a U.S. citizen, i.e., a spouse or a minor child.

Final Action Dates

Final Action Dates move significantly based on both preference levels and chargeability areas. However, if the final action date and the priority date you receive match, your priority date will become “current,” and this is when you will begin the process of getting an immigration visa.

Date for Filing Charts and I-485

Many visa applicants will wonder which chart they need to follow to file for a visa — the Dates for Filing chart or the Final Action Dates chart. Well, it depends on whether you are filing an adjustment of status form, i.e., Form I-485 or not.

If you are filing this form, you will need to follow the Final Action Dates charts, but if not, you should follow the Dates for Filing charts. However, this may change based on the number of applicants and the number of visas available. Make sure to stay updated on all information the USCIS puts out, as they will also announce which charts you need to use at least a week after the release of the Visa Bulletin.

Read More

• How Do I Speak to a Live Person at USCIS?
• How Many Citizenships Can You Have?
• How Do I Know Which USCIS Service Center?
• How Do I Know If USCIS Received My Application?
• What “Country of Residence” and How to Know Yours When on a Visa
• How to Check Dropbox Eligibility with the App

Conclusion

We hope this answered all the questions you had regarding the April 2021 Visa Bulletin, how much movement there’s been in dates, what charts you should refer to, and whether your priority date is “current.”

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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