The Visa Bulletin effective October 1, 2025 brings news of relief for many Green Card applicants, especially in the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.
With the start of the new fiscal year, new quotas are opened and priority dates are repositioned, allowing certain groups to submit their applications or be closer to approval.
Main advances
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EB-5 for India: the Final Action Date for unreserved applications under the EB-5 category for India is moved forward by almost 15 months, which represents a significant jump.
EB-2 and EB-3 for India and China: both categories show progress in dates, allowing more applicants to move from waiting status to being able to file their complete documents.
Family – F2A (spouses and minor children of permanent residents, “Green Card Holders”): The F2A category for applicants from India experiences an advance in priority date of about five months. This allows those who qualify to file their adjustment of status application sooner.
EB-4 is reopened for certain nationalities that had been on hiatus or “unavailable”.
Who will be able to advance in the October 2025 Visa Bulletin?
As of October 2025, applicants whose priority dates have been advanced to the point where they coincide with the new Bulletin dates for their category will be able to take the next step. In summary:
Applicants for EB-2, EB-3, EB-5 employment, especially from India and China, whose priority dates are before the new Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates, depending on the category.
Immediate relatives in the F2A category of permanent residents of India or other countries for whom the date has been advanced. Individuals whose I-130 petition was filed prior to the new filing date in the Bulletin may file their adjustment of status now.
Limitations and caveats
Although progress has been made, the EB-2, EB-3 and EB-5 categories are still subject to annual country limits.
India and China have many applicants, which creates persistent delays, even when progress is made.
Just because the “Dates for Filing” category is moved forward does not mean that all applicants can adjust their status immediately; if the category is still in delay or if there are no visas available (“Final Action Date” not yet in effect), the wait may continue.
It is important to keep documents up to date, prompt responses to USCIS requests and to be alert to possible setbacks if the annual quota is reached.
This article was originally published in Nueva News.
