Key Highlights
October 2024 Visa Bulletin is good news for Indians looking to get a US Green Card. The long-awaited changes show progress in the green card line for EB categories, especially for Indians who have been waiting for a long time. This post explains the changes, the reasons for them, and what they mean for Indian applicants.
October 2024 Visa Bulletin
The October 2024 Visa Bulletin from the US Department of State shows the latest visa availability by category. This bulletin is the key to understanding the green card flow by nationality and preference categories. Indians have been waiting for a long time due to high demand, especially in the Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3) category. But October 2024 is a change and a ray of hope for many.
Highlights:
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EB-2 and EB-3 Movement: Indians move forward in these employment-based categories.
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EB-1 Steady: EB-1 is steady for India and moving faster than EB-2 and EB-3.
Employment-Based Categories: Breakdown
Let's look at some employment-based categories:
EB-1: Priority Workers
EB-1 is for individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and multinational executives. EB-1 is not affected by backlog. For Indians, the dates for filing and final action are moving forward in this category and is one of the fastest ways to get a green card.
Also Read: OFC Appointment Guide: Everything You Need to Know
What it Means:
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Processing times are reasonable with minimal wait. EB-2: Professionals with Advanced Degrees
EB-2 is for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability. EB-2 has moved forward. For Indians, this has been a long pending issue for years, and the October 2024 bulletin brings some respite.
Forward Movement:
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Priority dates have moved several months forward. Many can now file their application and get final approval.
EB-3: Skilled Workers and Professionals
EB-3 has been the longest waiting category for Indians due to high demand. However, the October 2024 bulletin shows a big improvement with priority dates moving forward, and many can now file their green card application.
Progress Details:
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Priority dates for India in EB-3 have moved several months forward.
Why the Forward Movement for Indian Applicants?
Let us answer the very important question: Why the Forward Movement for Indian Applicants?
Reduced Demand from Other Countries
One of the reasons for the forward movement in the Visa Bulletin for Indian applicants is reduced demand from other countries. As the quota system is country-cap, unused visas from other countries are redistributed to countries like India with high demand.
U.S. Immigration Policy Changes
Changes in U.S. immigration policy, especially those to address labour shortages in key industries, have contributed to the forward movement in some employment-based categories. India is a big contributor to the U.S. tech and healthcare industries, and policymakers want to speed up the green card process for highly skilled workers.
Pandemic Backlogs Clearing Up
Backlogs caused by the pandemic are clearing up, and the U.S. immigration system is catching up with the pending applications. As the system normalizes, applicants, especially from India, are seeing faster processing times.
For Indian Nationals
The October 2024 Visa Bulletin has several implications for Indians:
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Faster Processing: Many Indians in EB-2 and EB-3 can now file their green card application and reduce their overall wait time.
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Hope: The forward movement is a good sign that the U.S. immigration system will continue to make progress on the huge backlog for Indians.
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Professional Mobility: As green card processing speeds up, Indian professionals in U.S. will have more freedom to switch jobs without jeopardizing their visa status.
Still, a Long Way to Go
While the October 2024 Visa Bulletin is good news, Indians in the green card queue still face challenges. The sheer number of Indians in the queue is still much higher than the number of available visas and will take time to clear.
Visa Caps and Retrogression
The U.S. immigration system’s country cap is a big hurdle for Indians. Each country has a fixed number of visas regardless of the demand. This creates a bottleneck for countries like India, where demand is much higher than supply.
Retrogression Unpredictable
While the October 2024 bulletin shows forward movement, retrogression (dates moving backwards due to oversubscription of visas) is still possible. Applicants should be cautious as future bulletins may reverse some of the progress made in October.
Read More: US Visa Bulletin September 2024: Green Card Setback Details
The Road Ahead: What to Expect for Indians
Looking forward, Indians can expect slow but steady progress in their green card journey. October 2024 Visa Bulletin is good news but patience is key for those waiting.
Points to Remember:
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Watch Future Bulletins: Applicants should keep an eye on upcoming bulletins for any changes or retrogression.
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Be Document Ready: As priority dates move forward, applicants should have their documents ready for filing to avoid delays.
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Stay Informed on Policy Changes: With U.S. immigration policies changing, staying updated on legislative changes will give you insight into future green card processing.
Conclusion
October 2024 Visa Bulletin is good news for Indians waiting for their green card. With forward movement in EB-2 and EB-3, many can now get closer to their American Dream. While visa caps and retrogression still exist, overall, it’s a good sign for the future. To know more about the US immigration systems and visas, you must contact TerraTern. With more than a hundred immigration services and an expert team, TerraTern is your go-to for all your immigration needs!
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