USCIS Visa Bulletin for October 2024: A Closer Look

As we get set to enter October, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released its October Visa Bulletin, providing important updates for investors and prospective investors in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The bulletin, issued monthly by the U.S. Department of State, outlines the availability of immigrant visas and establishes priority dates for various visa categories. For investors and stakeholders in the EB-5 program, this bulletin offers good news. 

Key Updates in the October 2024 Visa Bulletin

For October 2024, the Visa Bulletin reveals several notable positive updates for EB-5.

  1. All Set Aside Categories (high unemployment, rural, infrastructure) Remain Current
  2. Unreserved Category Final Action Date Movements:
    • The final action dates for the unreserved category for China and India have shifted slightly compared to the previous month. The advancement in dates for China (Mainland) and India is particularly notable. For many applicants from these countries, this movement signifies a potentially shorter waiting period before their applications can be processed.
  3. Current Unreserved Category Final Action Dates:
    • China (Mainland-born): As of October 2024 bulletin, the final action date for EB-5 investors from China has moved from December 15,2015 to July 15, 2016. This is a significant update, given the historically lengthy wait times for Chinese nationals.
    • India: The final action date for Indian investors has moved from December 1, 2020, to January 1, 2022, 
    • Other Countries: For other countries, the unreserved EB-5 category remains current.

What it MeansPer Green Card Fund CEO and Co-Founder Kyle Walker, the October bulletin provides good news on several fronts for the EB-5 community. “It is great to see that USCIS is clearly making a concerted effort to address the Chinese and Indian backlogs,” Walker said. “Hopefully that trend continues throughout the 2025 calendar. For those considering making an EB-5 investment, now is the time. All three of the set aside categories are current for all investors and the path to a green card is as unobstructed as it has been in quite some time.”

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