United States advances Mexico EB-3 cutoff to Sept. 1

The United States advanced the Mexico EB-3 Final Action Date from Aug. 1, 2024, to Sept. 1, 2024, effective Aug. 1, giving some employer-sponsored green card applicants an earlier path to file or receive approval.

One month of forward movement

The August Visa Bulletin moves the cutoff forward by one month for EB-3 skilled workers and professionals chargeable to Mexico. Applicants need a priority date before Sept. 1, 2024, to qualify under the August chart.

A priority date is generally tied to the filing of the PERM labor certification or, in cases that don’t require PERM, the immigrant petition. The change affects timing only. It doesn’t alter the category’s education, experience, employer sponsorship or labor certification requirements.

EB-3 covers professionals whose jobs require a U.S. bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent and skilled workers whose positions require at least two years of training or experience. The separate EB-3 “Other Workers” category has a different, slower cutoff.

August filing and approval rules

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is using the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based adjustment applications in August. Eligible Mexico EB-3 applicants inside the country may file Form I-485 this month only when their priority dates fall before Sept. 1, 2024.

That creates a concrete August deadline for applicants newly covered by the one-month advance: Those with dates from Aug. 1 through Aug. 31, 2024, may file by the end of August if they otherwise qualify. Pending applications in that range may be approved, while consular posts may issue immigrant visas to eligible applicants processing abroad.

Applicants should still check the monthly chart because cutoff dates can move, stop or retrogress. The broader United States residency rules and USCIS fee schedule remain unchanged.

Tourists and typical nomads aren’t affected

The bulletin applies to employment-based immigrant visas, not temporary travel categories. It doesn’t change B-1/B-2 visitor rules, student or exchange visas, permitted stays or work rights for remote workers.

Digital nomads don’t gain permission to work in the United States through this update. Its direct benefit is limited to Mexican professionals and skilled workers already pursuing an employer-sponsored EB-3 green card.