The U.S. Department of State has released the May 2025 Visa Bulletin, revealing a six-month retrogression for Indian EB-5 investors in the unreserved visa categories. Meanwhile, final action dates for Chinese EB-5 investors and all other countries remain unchanged.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that it will follow the Final Action Dates chart for all employment-based Green Card applications in May.
Final Action Dates
Retrogression for Indian EB-5 Applicants
Minimal Movement in Employment-Based Visa Categories
File Your EB-5 Application Before Set-Aside Categories Face Retrogression
Work With EB5AN to Start Your Green Card Journey Today
Final Action Dates
The May 2025 Visa Bulletin outlines the current final action dates for employment-based Green Card applicants, including those in the EB-5 category. These dates determine when applicants can proceed with their immigration process based on their priority date—the date USCIS received their initial petition, such as Form I-526E for EB-5 investors.
If an applicant’s priority date is earlier than the final action date listed for their category and country, they are eligible to move forward with the visa process. A designation of “C” or “current” means visas are available immediately, with no waiting period or backlog.
Retrogression for Indian EB-5 Applicants
In May 2025, the final action date for Indian applicants in the unreserved EB-5 category will retrogress by six months, moving to May 1, 2019. Chinese applicants, however, will see no change—their final action date will remain at January 22, 2014.
For applicants from all other countries, final action dates in the EB-5 unreserved category remain current, meaning they can continue the process without delay. However, USCIS has also indicated that if demand continues to rise, a final action date may soon be introduced for worldwide EB-5 applicants in the unreserved category.
The EB-5 set-aside categories—rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure—remain current for all countries, including India and China, offering an alternative path with no visa retrogression yet.
Minimal Movement in Employment-Based Visa Categories
The May 2025 Visa Bulletin shows limited movement across most employment-based visa categories.
In the EB-1 category, final action dates remain unchanged: India stays at February 15, 2022, and China at November 8, 2022. All other countries remain current.
For EB-2, there is no forward movement this month. India holds at January 1, 2013, and China remains at October 1, 2020. Applicants from all other countries continue at June 22, 2023.
The EB-3 category sees slight advancement. India will move forward by two weeks to April 15, 2013, while China remains at November 1, 2020. All other countries continue to hold at January 1, 2023.
The EB-4 category remains unavailable, as the full allocation of immigrant visas for fiscal year 2025 has been reached. This status will continue until October 1, 2025, when the new fiscal year begins and visa numbers reset.
File Your EB-5 Application Before Set-Aside Categories Face Retrogression
Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, 32% of the total EB-5 visa allocation is reserved for set-aside categories that promote investment in targeted areas. These include 20% for rural TEAs, 10% for high-unemployment TEAs, and 2% for infrastructure projects. As of the May 2025 Visa Bulletin, all three set-aside categories remain current for applicants from all countries.
With growing demand—especially among investors from India and China—these categories may soon face retrogression. Filing now allows investors to secure a spot before potential long delays begin to form.
For Indian and Chinese applicants, choosing a rural EB-5 project remains the most effective strategy to avoid long waiting times in the unreserved category. Rural investments also benefit from priority processing of Form I-526E, making the overall immigration process significantly faster.
Work With EB5AN to Start Your Green Card Journey Today
The EB-5 process can feel complex, but with the right guidance, it becomes a clear and efficient path toward U.S. residency and eventual citizenship. Working with a knowledgeable team ensures that every step—from selecting a project to meeting program requirements—is handled with care and confidence.
EB5AN offers valuable tools and real-world insights, including interviews with past investors, to help you make informed decisions throughout your EB-5 journey.
With over ten years of experience, EB5AN has supported more than 2,300 families from 70+ countries in securing Green Cards through low-risk regional center projects.
To get started on your EB-5 journey, schedule your free consultation with our team today.
