The January 2025 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State, indicates forward movement in several employment-based visa categories, especially for applicants from India.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not yet announced which chart will be used to determine adjustment of status filing eligibility for January 2025.
Final Action Dates
- No Changes for India and China in the EB-5 Unreserved Category
- Advancements in EB-2 and EB-3 Categories
- Family-Based Categories See Some Advancements
- Advancements in EB-2 and EB-3 Categories
Dates for Filing
Get Your Green Card Faster With EB-5 Reserved Categories
Start the EB-5 Process With EB5AN
Final Action Dates
The final action dates for employment-based immigrant visas, as published in the January 2025 Visa Bulletin, determine the availability of immigrant visas based on applicants’ priority dates. The priority date marks when the initial Green Card application was filed with USCIS. For EB-5 applicants, this is the date of filing Form I-526E. If an applicant’s priority date precedes the corresponding final action date in their category, they can move forward with their immigrant visa application. A final action date listed as “C” or “current” signifies no backlog, allowing immigrant visas to be issued immediately upon approval.
No Changes for India and China in the EB-5 Unreserved Category
There are no changes in the final action dates for the EB-5 category next month. In the unreserved EB-5 category, the cut-off dates remain unchanged for India at January 1, 2022, and for China at July 15, 2016. For all other countries, dates remain current, enabling applicants to proceed without delays.
The EB-5 set-aside categories, created under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, also remain current for all countries, including India and China.
Advancements in EB-2 and EB-3 Categories
The January 2025 Visa Bulletin highlights some progress in several employment-based categories. In the EB-2 category, the final action date for India advanced to October 1, 2012, while China moved forward to April 22, 2020. All other countries advanced by two weeks to April 1, 2023.
The EB-3 category also saw progress. India advanced to December 1, 2012, and China moved forward to June 1, 2020. For all other countries, the final action date is now December 1, 2022. In the EB-3 Other Workers category, India advanced by three weeks to December 1, 2012, while other countries, excluding China, moved forward to December 8, 2020.
Family-Based Categories See Some Advancements
Family-based categories also experienced progress in January 2025. The F-1 category for unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens advanced to November 22, 2015, for most countries, including India and China, and to March 8, 2012, for the Philippines.
The F-2A category for spouses and children of permanent residents saw movement to May 15, 2021, for Mexico, while other countries remained unchanged.
The F-2B category for unmarried adult children of permanent residents advanced to May 22, 2016, for most countries. The F-3 category for married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens progressed to July 1, 2010, for most countries, with Mexico advancing to November 22, 2000, and the Philippines to November 8, 2002. In the F-4 category for siblings of U.S. citizens, advancements ranged from April 8, 2006, for India to May 1, 2004, for the Philippines.
Dates for Filing
The “Dates for Filing” chart determines when applicants can submit visa applications after petition approval. For EB-5 or other employment-based categories, there are no changes next month. All reserved and unreserved categories remain current, except for China and India, which retain the same cut-off dates as the previous visa bulletin.
On the other hand, the January 2025 Visa Bulletin shows advancements in the dates for filing for several family-sponsored categories, including F-2B for applicants from Mexico, F-3 for applicants from India, China, and worldwide, and F-4 for applicants from the Philippines and India.
Get Your Green Card Faster With EB-5 Reserved Categories
The RIA allocated 32% of the annual EB-5 visa quota as set-aside visas for projects in targeted employment areas (TEAs) and infrastructure projects. These visas are reserved for specific categories, including rural areas (20%), high-unemployment areas (10%), and infrastructure projects (2%). The January 2025 Visa Bulletin confirms that these categories remain current for all countries. However, given the limited supply of reserved visas and potential backlogs in the near future, it is crucial for investors to start their EB-5 journey as soon as possible to take advantage of this opportunity.
Investors from high-demand countries, such as India and China, can avoid the lengthy wait times in the unreserved visa queue by investing in rural EB-5 projects and benefit from priority processing of I-526E petitions, further expediting their Green Card process.
Start the EB-5 Process With EB5AN
The EB-5 journey can be complex, but with expert guidance, the process becomes far more manageable and straightforward. By partnering with a trusted team like EB5AN, investors can confidently navigate each step, from selecting the ideal project to meeting the program’s requirements and submitting a strong application.
EB5AN offers valuable resources, including firsthand insights from successful investors through its interview series, helping you make informed decisions every step of the way.
To learn more and receive personalized advice tailored to your situation, schedule a free consultation with EB5AN’s expert team today.
