The Department of State has released the August 2024 Visa Bulletin, providing important updates for immigrant visa applicants. For EB-5 investors, the bulletin brings largely stable news with some key insights into future trends.
Key Takeaways for EB-5
Unreserved Categories: There are no changes in the EB-5 Final Action Dates for the unreserved categories. Priority dates for backlogged countries remain stagnant, highlighting the ongoing delays in these standard channels.
Set-Asides Remain Current: Crucially, the EB-5 Set-Aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) remain "Current" for all countries, including China and India. This confirms that investors choosing TEA projects can still bypass the significant backlogs facing unreserved applicants.
Other Employment-Based Updates
In other categories, India EB-2 and EB-3 saw a modest advancement of one month. However, the priority dates remain heavily backlogged by over a decade, making the EB-5 set-aside categories a far more viable option for Indian nationals seeking expedited residency.