United States moves Mexico EB-3 cutoff to Sept. 1 for skilled workers

The United States advanced Mexico’s EB-3 Final Action Date from Aug. 1, 2024, to Sept. 1, 2024, effective Aug. 1, 2026.

Dates before Sept. 1 are current

The change covers EB-3 skilled workers, professionals and other workers chargeable to Mexico. Applicants with priority dates earlier than Sept. 1, 2024, may now qualify for green card approval or further processing, according to the August Visa Bulletin.

A priority date is generally the date an employer filed the applicant’s labor certification. When no labor certification is required, it’s usually the Form I-140 filing date.

Applicants newly eligible in August

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires employment-based applicants to use the Final Action Dates chart during August. That chart applies both to visa availability and eligibility to file Form I-485 for adjustment of status.

Applicants inside the United States with priority dates from Aug. 1 through Aug. 31, 2024, are newly current under the August cutoff. Those who are otherwise eligible and relying on this month’s chart must submit Form I-485 by Aug. 31, since future cutoff dates can move forward or backward based on demand.

Applicants outside the country may proceed through the National Visa Center and a U.S. consulate once their cases are documentarily complete and visa numbers are available.

Visitor and nomad rules don’t change

The movement doesn’t affect ESTA travel, B-1/B-2 visitor visas or other short-term entry rules. Digital nomads and expats benefit only if a U.S. employer is sponsoring them for EB-3 and they meet the separate requirements for adjustment of status or consular processing.

Workers already in the country under H-1B, TN, L-1 or E-2 status may be affected if they have qualifying EB-3 cases. The change concerns permanent residence, not permission to work remotely while visiting; those distinctions are covered in the United States residency guide.