The U.S. Department of State has published the March 2025 Visa Bulletin, showing modest progress for most countries in EB-2 and EB-3 categories.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will be honoring final action dates next month.
Final Action Dates
- No Changes for Indian and Chinese EB-5 Applicants
- Slight Advancement in EB-2 and EB-3 Visa Categories
Dates for Filing
File Your EB-5 Application Now to Avoid Upcoming Visa Retrogression
EB5AN Can Help You Get a Green Card
Final Action Dates
The March 2025 Visa Bulletin outlines the final action dates for employment-based immigrant visas, which are used to determine when immigrant visas are available based on the priority dates of applicants. The priority date reflects the submission date of the initial Green Card application with USCIS. For EB-5 applicants, this is the filing date of Form I-526E.
If an applicant’s priority date is earlier than the relevant final action date, they can proceed with their visa application. When a final action date shows as “C” or “current,” it means there is no backlog, allowing for immediate issuance of immigrant visas once approved.
No Changes for Indian and Chinese EB-5 Applicants
The final action dates for the EB-5 category will remain the same next month. For the unreserved EB-5 category, the cut-off dates stay at January 1, 2022, for India, and July 15, 2016, for China. Applicants from other countries continue to have current dates, meaning they can move forward without delays.
Additionally, the EB-5 set-aside categories, established by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, remain current for all countries, including both India and China.
Slight Advancement in EB-2 and EB-3 Visa Categories
The March 2025 Visa Bulletin shows advancement in some employment-based visa categories. For the EB-2 category, India will move forward by six weeks to December 1, 2012, while China will progress by two weeks to May 8, 2020. All other countries will advance by six weeks to May 15, 2023.
The EB-3 category also experiences advancements. Under the skilled workers category, India will move forward by six weeks to February 1, 2013, while China will advance by one month to August 1, 2020. All other countries will remain at December 1, 2022.
Under the “other workers” category, India will move forward by six weeks to February 1, 2013, while China will remain at January 1, 2017. The Philippines will progress by five weeks to January 15, 2021. All other countries will advance by nearly two months to February 1, 2021.
Dates for Filing
The “Dates for Filing” chart specifies when applicants are eligible to submit their visa applications following petition approval. For EB-5 and other employment-based categories, there will be no changes next month. With the exception of China and India, all reserved and unreserved categories remain current, where the cut-off dates stay the same as in the February 2025 Visa Bulletin.
File Your EB-5 Application Now to Avoid Upcoming Visa Retrogression
Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, 32% of the annual EB-5 visa allocation is designated for set-aside visas aimed at projects in targeted employment areas and infrastructure initiatives. These visas are divided into specific categories: 20% for rural areas, 10% for high-unemployment zones, and 2% for infrastructure projects. According to the March 2025 Visa Bulletin, all of these categories still remain current.
However, due to the limited availability of set-aside visas and the strong possibility of backlogs, it’s advisable for investors to begin their EB-5 applications sooner rather than later to capitalize on this opportunity.
For investors from high-demand nations like India and China, participating in rural EB-5 projects offers a way to bypass long wait times in the unreserved visa pool. This approach also grants priority processing of Form I-526E, helping to speed up the overall Green Card process.
EB5AN Can Help You Get a Green Card
The EB-5 process can seem complex, but with the right guidance, it becomes much more straightforward and efficient. A knowledgeable team helps investors navigate each step seamlessly, from selecting the right project to meeting program requirements and submitting a strong application.
EB5AN offers valuable resources, including interviews with successful investors, providing key insights to support informed decision-making throughout the process.
With over a decade of experience, EB5AN has helped more than 2,300 families from 70+ countries secure U.S. residency through low-risk regional center projects.
To explore your EB-5 investment options, schedule a free call with our expert team today.
