Visa Bulletin December 2024: EB-3 Priority Dates & Filing Guidance

The U.S. Department of State has released the December 2024 Visa Bulletin, governing immigrant visa number availability for the month. The bulletin sets the framework for both Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications, which determine when applicants can submit adjustment of status applications to USCIS or assemble documentation for the National Visa Center. For fiscal year 2025, the worldwide employment-based preference immigrant limit is set at a minimum of 140,000 visas annually. The per-country cap remains at 7% of the combined family-sponsored and employment-based total, equating to approximately 25,620 visas per country. These limits directly affect EB-3 applicants from high-demand countries. The four oversubscribed chargeability areas for December 2024 are China (mainland born), India, Mexico, and the Philippines. Applicants from these countries face extended wait times due to per-country caps and high petition volumes. The bulletin's allocations were based on demand reported to the State Department by November 4, 2024. EB-3 applicants are advised to verify on the USCIS website (uscis.gov/visabulletininfo) whether the Dates for Filing chart is authorized for use each month, as USCIS determines this based on projected annual visa availability. When not authorized, applicants must rely solely on the Final Action Dates chart. Applicants with priority dates close to the cutoff dates should monitor monthly bulletins closely, as retrogression can occur if a category becomes oversubscribed mid-year. Staying current with each bulletin is essential for timely filing of I-485 adjustment of status applications.