Visa Bulletin for February 2024

What the State Department said

Scheduled expiration of the employment fourth preference religious workers (SR) category

Pursuant to H.R. 6363, signed on November 16, 2023, the non-minister special immigrant program expires on February 2, 2024. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight February 1, 2024. Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until February 1, 2024, and all individuals seeking admission in the non-minister special immigrant category must be admitted (repeat admitted) into the United States no later than midnight February 1, 2024.

The SR category is available and subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability for February. In the event there is no legislative action extending the category beyond February 2, 2024, the category will immediately become “Unavailable” as of February 2, 2024. In the event there is legislative action extending the category beyond February 2, the published dates will continue to be in effect for the remainder of February.

U.s. government employee special immigrant visas (SIVS)

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, signed into law on December 22, 2023, may affect certain current and former employees of the U.S. Government abroad applying for SIVs or adjustment of status, as described in section 101(a)(27)(D) of the INA. This does not affect certain Iraqis and Afghans applying for SQ and SI SIVs. Applicants should contact the consular section at which they filed their Form DS‑1884 for further information on the impact of that law on their case.