US Announces Green Card & Work Visa Changes from Dec 2024

The U.S. has announced several significant changes to its Green Card and work visa policies, set to take effect in December 2024. These changes are part of efforts to streamline the visa process and make it more efficient for applicants. One of the most notable changes is the adjustment in the allocation of family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visas, which will impact wait times, particularly for applicants from oversubscribed countries like India, China, and Mexico. These countries often face long delays due to their high demand for U.S. immigration opportunities. As a result, applicants from these nations may experience longer waits before their visas are processed, especially in categories like EB-2 and EB-3 for skilled workers.

The December 2024 Visa Bulletin, issued by the U.S. Department of State, will outline new “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing” for family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories. These dates indicate when applicants are eligible to submit their documentation or expect a visa decision. For family-sponsored visas, a cap of 226,000 immigrant visas has been set for FY 2025, with a focus on categories like unmarried children of U.S. citizens (F1), spouses and children of permanent residents (F2A), and siblings of U.S. citizens (F4). In employment-based categories, there will be significant impacts on dates, particularly for workers from countries with high demand, such as India and China.

The U.S. immigration system is also introducing a more rigid structure for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which now has specific provisions for applicants from high-unemployment or rural areas. Additionally, changes to the H-1B visa process are expected, with stricter requirements for employers to ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria for sponsoring skilled workers. This aims to prevent misuse of the program while ensuring that businesses can still access the global talent pool they need to thrive.

The new visa rules, including adjustments to caps and filing processes, reflect ongoing efforts to address the growing demand for U.S. immigration, particularly in the face of rising global competition for skilled labor. The updates are expected to provide some relief to those in oversubscribed categories, although applicants from high-demand countries may still face delays in obtaining their visas.