February 2024 Visa Bulletin Reveals Stagnation in Indian Employment-Based Categories

The eagerly anticipated February 2024 Visa Bulletin, unveiled by the US Department of State, has brought disheartening news for Indian applicants seeking green cards. Unlike the January Bulletin, which showed promising progress, this month's release unveils a frustrating standstill in the Dates for Filing in crucial employment-based categories for Indian nationals.

This marks the fifth consecutive month that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be utilizing the Dates for Filing to determine the eligibility of employment-based applications in February. However, there is a silver lining to this situation. Typically, the Final Action Dates chart tends to feature more forward-looking cutoff dates compared to the Dates for Filing chart, offering a glimmer of hope for applicants in these categories.

The Visa Bulletin serves as a vital resource for those navigating the labyrinthine process of adjustment of status applications, consular immigrant visa filings, and approvals. It also sheds light on the per-country priority date cutoffs, which dictate the availability of immigrant visas.

Despite the current stagnation, hopeful applicants and immigration advocates continue to watch these bulletins closely, as they provide critical insights into the evolving landscape of US immigration policies.