US Visa Bulletin Update: What Immigrants Need to Know
US Visa Bulletin is one of the most anticipated news on immigration to millions of individuals aspiring to work in and live in the United States. The viewpoints released monthly by the U.S. Department of State, the visa bulletin defines who is allowed to continue with the green card applications according to priority dates and availability of the visa.
As the backlogs continue to grow and demand in the employment-based and family-sponsored categories remain high, these changes about the current US visa bulletin update are essential to those intending to structure their next move as an immigrant.
What Is the US Visa Bulletin?
The US Visa Bulletin is a monthly edition indicating the immigrant visa availability (green cards) on the basis of:
- Categories sponsored by the families.
- Employment based categories.
- Country of chargeability (India, China, Mexico and the Philippines)
It assists the applicants to ascertain whether they are able to:
- Application to adjust the status.
Continue consular processing.
- Delays are to be anticipated because of backlog.
The Visa Bulletin So Matter of Activities.
The US Visa bulletin is used to regulate the timing of an immigrant to proceed with the green card process. Applicants are not granted anything until their priority date is current even in case a petition is approved.
The bulletin can be affected by delays that can affect:
- Work authorization
- Travel plans
- Family reunification
- Settlement decisions (long-term settlement).
The movement or the lack of movement of a month is what can alter future plans of many immigrants.
Significant Important Parts of the Visa Bulletin.
Final Action Dates
This chart provides information about the time when green cards can be issued in fact. In case your priority date is earlier than the date in the list, your case could be completed.
Dates for Filing
This chart enables some of the applicants to advance some documents even in the absence of a visa number.
USCIS determines the chart the applicants may utilize on a monthly basis.
An Overview of Family-Sponsored Visa Categories.
Family-based visas are still on high demand particularly in the categories like:
F1: The unmarried adult children of the U.S citizens.
Family of permanent residents F2A & F2B.
- F3: Married children of U.S citizens.
- F4: Siblings of U.S. citizens
Backlogs are important to the countries that have high volumes of applications and hence cause long waiting lines.
Visa Categories Update based on employment.
There are employment based green cards which are categorized into:
- EB-1: Priority workers
- EB-2: Professionals of the advanced degree.
- EB-3: Skilled and unskilled employees.
EB-4 and EB-5: Special immigrants and investors.
The application has sluggish progress especially in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories where there is high demand and especially among the applicants of India and China.
Why Visa Backlogs Continue
Visa delays are due to a number of factors:
- Numerical limits imposed by law on an annual basis.
- Country-specific caps
- Slowdowns in processing of the past years.
- Demand on US immigration increase.
Visa numbers are fixed even in case of an increase in demand throughout the world, forming lengthy queues.
What Should Immigrants do now?
Monitor Monthly Updates
Monitor the movement in your category using the visa bulletin every month.
Seek the services of an Immigration Attorney.
Professional counseling prevents errors of filing and lost opportunities.
Prepare Documents Early
Being able to have paperwork ready makes an action speedier once the dates have become current.
Understand Chart Usage
USCIS can permit dates of filing in some months- this can prove a great benefit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Green card is guaranteed with a condition of entry.
For months, Bulletin updates are ignored.
Making a filing without consultation with USCIS charts.
Betting on rumors of social media.
Only the official sources of the government can be trusted.
The Future Expectations in Months to come.
Immigration experts expect:
Still sluggish movement in categories of high demand.
Possible small improvements based on the use of the US Visa bulletin.
- No significant structural reform that can be carried out unless legislative reform.
Applicants must strategize on long term terms as opposed to fast approvals.
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FAQs – US Visa Bulletin Update
❓ What is a priority date?
It is the date you have applied to immigrate and it gives your position in the queue.
❓ What are the frequency of the visa bulletin?
The U.S. department of state issues the visa bulletin on a monthly basis.
❓ Can dates move backward?
This is referred to as retrogression and occurs when demand is greater than supply.
❓ Is approval a guarantee of a green card?
No. It has to be in reference to a visa number depending on the US Visa bulletin.
❓ what is the official updates location?
The official websites of the U.S. Department of State and the USCIS.