The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has released the January Visa Bulletin, revealing no updates to the family-based green card filing dates. This stagnation has left many applicants waiting for family-based green cards increasingly frustrated. The filing dates for January remain identical to December, effectively a “copy-paste” from the previous bulletin.
For spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders in the U.S., concurrent filing of the I-130 petition and I-485 green card application has not been allowed since September 2023. This means applicants must first file the I-130 petition and wait for their priority date to be current before submitting the I-485 application.
The priority dates for applicants within the U.S. in January are as follows: unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens with priority dates before September 1, 2017; spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders with priority dates before July 15, 2024; unmarried adult children of green card holders with priority dates before January 1, 2017; married children of U.S. citizens with priority dates before July 22, 2012; and siblings of U.S. citizens with priority dates before March 1, 2008. USCIS has confirmed these dates for accepting I-485 applications in January.
For applicants outside the U.S., interviews for immigrant visas at U.S. embassies are scheduled based on final action dates. These dates include unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens with priority dates before November 22, 2015; spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders with priority dates before January 1, 2022; unmarried adult children of green card holders with priority dates before May 22, 2016; married children of U.S. citizens with priority dates before July 1, 2010; and siblings of U.S. citizens with priority dates before August 1, 2007.
The Final Action Dates, which determine eligibility for visa interviews, have shifted slightly. Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens saw a one-month advancement, while unmarried adult children of green card holders gained 22 days. Married children of U.S. citizens saw a more significant progression of three and a half months. However, there was no change for spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders or siblings of U.S. citizens.
Currently, spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders are facing a three-year wait for visa appointments at U.S. embassies. The wait time for siblings of U.S. citizens to receive a green card has now reached 17 years and 4 months, with those who filed I-130 petitions after 2007 still unable to secure immigrant visas. As per the January Visa Bulletin, unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens face a wait time of 9 years and 2 months, while unmarried adult children of green card holders face a wait time of 8 years and 7 months. Married children of U.S. citizens have a wait time of 14 years and 5 months.
Applicants from India, Mexico, and the Philippines face even longer waiting periods across most family-based categories due to country-specific limits.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
