APRIL 2025 VISA BULLETIN

Quick overview 

In the April 2025 visa bulletin, for India, the EB-5 Final Action Date is retrogressing by about two and a half years, and for China, it is retrogressing over two years. The EB-2 Final Action Date for India will move forward by one month, and for China, it will move forward by close to five months.  

India will move forward by two months, and China will move forward by three months in the EB-3 category. The EB-2 Worldwide Final Action Date will move forward by five weeks, and EB-3 Worldwide for Professional/Skilled Workers will move forward by one month. USCIS will begin accepting foreign nationals’ employment-based status adjustment requests next month with priority dates prior to the Final Action Dates in the April 2025 visa bulletin. 

Introduction 

The majority of the green card process in the United States is waiting for your priority date to become current. If you have spent the time, money, and effort to secure an immigrant visa, you might wonder when your date will become current and whether it can be expedited.  

We offer monthly summary of recent visa bulletin, monitor how dates are moving and offer predictions about future months in trying to answer these kinds of questions. This month, we will analyze the April 2025 visa bulletin. The United States Department of State has released the April 2025 visa bulletin, which contains an overview of the availability of family-sponsored and employment-based preference immigrant visa numbers. 

Family-sponsored preferences experienced some small increments in all nations. Family-based clients in all classes for April 2025 need to review the “Dates for Filing” chart in order to figure out when they are able to file their adjustment of status application.  

There was a small bit of forward movement again in a number of the employment-based categories. EB-1 did not change, except that India advanced two weeks. For India, the EB-2 moved one month and the EB-3 two months. China’s EB-2 category moved two months and EB-3 three months. For the rest of the world, the EB-2 and EB-3 categories each moved one month. 

The EB-5 category itself has suffered a big blow to Chinese and Indian petitioners. The applicants in all the employment-based categories are being asked to use the “Final Action Dates” chart. 

Comparing the final action with the filing dates 

It is super important to know the difference between final action dates (when you can actually get your visa) and filing dates (when you can submit your application). This helps applicants figure out where they stand and what to do next. 

The final action dates chart tells you when your I-485 or immigrant visas can be approved, while the dates for filing chart shows when you can file an I-485. 

If you have an adjustment of status (AOS) application still in the works, your priority date needs to be current according to the final action chart for your green card to be approved. If you are thinking about interfiling—changing your preference category—feel free to reach out to our Firm. 

As the fiscal year moves along, there might be ups and downs in demand, and some dates could go backwards. We will keep an eye on the final action dates and update predictions as new info comes in. It is a good idea for applicants to stay updated and ready for any changes in the next few months. 

Family-based green cards 

Family-based immigration has four preference levels based on how your sponsoring family member is related to you. There are five chargeability areas for this category: China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and everywhere else. Because of the pandemic and fewer appointments at overseas consulates, family-based immigrant visas are still not being used much. So, any unused family-based visas get added to the EB categories. 

Family-based dates for filing charts 

The dates for filing chart shows when someone can file an I-485. In the F-1 category, there has been no change for China, India, or the Philippines since the last update. Mexico moves ahead 6 months to April 1, 2006. 

In the F-2A category, all countries move forward three months to October 15, 2024. In the F-2B category, China, India, and all other countries stay at January 1, 2017. The Philippines stays at October 1, 2013. Mexico goes ahead 6 months to April 1, 2007. 

In the F-3 category, China, India, and all other countries stay at July 22, 2012. Mexico stays at June 15, 2001, while the Philippines moves up 4 months to September 22, 2004. In the F-4 category, China and the rest of the world move slightly forward to April 1, 2008. India goes ahead to October 1, 2006, while Mexico and the Philippines stay the same. 

Family-based final action dates chart 

The final action dates chart has seen a couple of small jumps since the last bulletin. India, China, and the global level are current through March 15, 2016, in the F-1 category. Mexico is up slightly to January 1, 2005, and the Philippines are current through July 15, 2012. 

In the F2A category, the world and China are at January 1, 2022. Mexico is at May 15, 2021, and the Philippines is at January 1, 2022. In the F-2B category, the world and China are a few months ahead to July 22, 2016. The Philippines is ahead to January 22, 2012, and Mexico is 6 months ahead to January 1, 2006. 

In the F-3 segment, India and China have taken a gigantic 9-months leap to April 1, 2011. Mexico trails only up to January 15, 2001, and the Philippines to March 22, 2003. In the F-4 group, China and the rest of the world are as of August 1, 2007, and India is a bit beyond two months, up to June 15, 2006. Mexico has moved two weeks ahead to March 15, 2001, and the Philippines is back at January 1, 2005. 

Just a reminder, if you are requesting a marriage-based green card, you are an immediate relative, so you won’t need to wait for your green card. 

Employment-based green cards 

There are five levels of preference and seven chargeability areas for employment-based category visas, which you get through your job. The chargeability areas are China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador), Vietnam, and a general category. 

Employment-based final action dates chart 

China’s cut-off date still stands at November 8, 2022 for EB-1, whereas that of India moved two weeks ahead to February 15, 2022. For all other nations, the cut-off dates continue to be current, which means that there are no backlogs, and applicants who qualify in those nations might enjoy rapid processing. 

For EB-2, China moves over 4 months to October 1, 2020. India moves one month to January 1, 2013. For all other nations, the cut-off date moves over a month to June 22, 2023. For EB-3, China moves three months to November 1, 2020. India moves two months to April 1, 2013. And all other nations move to January 1, 2023. EB-4 is not currently available. 

Employment-based filing dates chart 

These are the final action dates for work immigrant visa in the visa bulletin april 2025. 

• EB-1 China is January 1, 2023; EB-2 China is November 1, 2020, and EB-3 China is November 15, 2020. 

• EB-1 India is April 15, 2022, and EB-2 India is February 1, 2013, and EB-3 India is June 8, 2013. 

• Current EB-1 Mexico; August 1, 2023, for EB-2, and March 1, 2023, for EB-3. 

• Current EB-1 Philippines; August 1, 2023, for EB-2, and March 1, 2023, for EB-3. 

Final words! 

This is the third consecutive month that USCIS has released final action EB dates. No reason is stated in April’s visa bulletin, but, again as previously, it would have to be because there is more demand for the visas. It is sad not to be seeing more movement since April is the third quarter of the fiscal year and the State Department did indicate cut-off dates would advance every quarter. 

We will be keeping any change with respect to the immigrant visa availability and any advance official notice publication by the State Department and any point of interest and giving notice of the same in advance. 

To stay updated and informed, keep an eye out on our visa bulletin section or visit – https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html