Visa Bulletin May 2025
Are you waiting for a green card? We’ve got updates for you — The U.S. Department of State has published its Visa Bulletin for May 2025. This bulletin shows which green card applications can move forward based on priority dates.
By:
Chelsea Spinos
Reviewer:
Nicole Gunara
8 min read • Mar 14, 2025
Biggest updates
EB-1 Sees No Movement for India or China – There’s no movement in the EB-1 category this month. Wait times for applicants from India and China remain the same.
EB-2 Remains Stagnant – No progress for EB-2 applicants from India or China, continuing months of stalled movement in this highly backlogged category.
EB-3 Advances Slightly (by 2 weeks) for India – India sees modest forward movement from April 1, 2013 to April 15, 2013, while EB-3 remains unchanged for all other countries, including China.
EB-4 Category Still Unavailable – No green cards will be issued in the EB-4 category. It remains unavailable for all countries until further notice.
EB-5 Final Action Dates Retrogress for India – EB-5 investor visa timelines retrogress for Indian applicants with noticeable backwards movement by 6 months, while China and other regions see no change.
Government Envisions Possible EB-5 Retrogression in the Future - Per the notes on the visa bulletin, the DOS notes that “it may also become necessary to establish a final action date for Rest of World.” Applicants hoping to file an adjustment based on the EB-5 should move quickly to file in anticipating future retrogressions.
Family-Based Categories See Limited Progress – The most notable movement is in the F2A category and a modest advance in F4. Other family-based preferences remain largely frozen, with long delays for Mexico and the Philippines.
USCIS Adjustment of Status Acceptances - For next month, USCIS for adjustment of status purposes will use the following charts when accepting cases for the month of May:
For Family Sponsored Filings - Dates of Filing Chart
For Employment-Based Filings - Final Action Dates
The USCIS Visa Bulletin for May 2025 has introduced several important updates that could impact your visa application.
Employment Based Visas:
EB-1: There is no movement in the EB-1 category this month. India remains at February 15, 2022, and China holds steady at November 8, 2022. All other countries remain current, indicating that only India and China face significant delays in this category.
EB-2: The EB-2 category also sees no change. India remains at January 1, 2013, and China holds at October 1, 2020. All other countries, including Mexico and the Philippines, remain stagnant at June 22, 2023.
EB-3: India sees a modest advancement of 14 days, with the new cut-off date set at April 15, 2013, up from April 1. China remains at November 1, 2020. All other countries, including Mexico and the Philippines, hold at January 1, 2023.
EB-4:
The EB-4 category continues to be “Unauthorized” (Unavailable) for all countries. This means USCIS and the DOS are not accepting any adjustment of status filings nor consular processing requests in this category for the time being.
EB-5: India sees a significant retrogression of six months, moving from November 1, 2019 to May 1, 2019 - moving backward the cut off date by 6 months. . China remains unchanged at January 22, 2014. All other countries remain current.
Family-Based Visas:
For family-sponsored visas, progress remains slow but steady across most categories.
F-1: No movement this month. The cut-off date for filing cases remains September 1, 2017 for most countries, with April 1, 2006 for Mexico and April 22, 2015 for the Philippines.
F-2A: This category sees notable movement, with all countries advancing to February 1, 2025, up from October 15, 2024 — a 4-month improvement, making this one of the most favorable family-based categories at the moment.
F3: No changes in this category. All countries remain at July 22, 2012, except for Mexico (June 15, 2001) and the Philippines (September 22, 2004), where the backlogs remain extensive.
F4: This category sees notable movement. Most countries advance by 2 months, with the cut-off date moving from April 1, 2008 to June 1, 2008. China mirrors this movement. India holds at October 1, 2006, while Mexico and the Philippines remain unchanged.
The USCIS Visa Bulletin, released monthly by the U.S. Department of State, indicates which green card applications are eligible to advance.
Your position in line is determined by your priority date, assigned when you file an immigrant petition (Form I-140 or Form I-130). When your priority date becomes "current," you have reached the front of the line.
Priority Dates: These dates serve as placeholders in the green card queue. The Department of State reviews the number of applications in each category monthly to estimate when applicants can proceed.
Dates for Filing: If your priority date is on or before the cut-off date for your category, you can move to the next step of your application.
Final Action Dates: These dates estimate when your application will be processed and finalized. The time between the Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates reflects the expected USCIS processing time.
In order to read the visa bulletin chart, you need to know two things:
Your priority date
Your preference category
F1: Unmarried children over the age of 21 of U.S. citizens.
F2A: Spouses and unmarried children (under 21 years old) of lawful permanent residents.
F2B: Unmarried children over the age of 21 of lawful permanent residents.
F3: Married children of U.S. citizens.
F4: Siblings of U.S. citizens.
Employment-Based Green Card Backlogs
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Why is the visa bulletin not moving?
Occasionally, the priority dates on the visa bulletin chart stay the same or even move backward compared to the previous month. This situation is known as visa retrogression.
Visa retrogression happens when the number of applicants in a certain category or from a specific country exceeds the available visas for that month. This is especially common towards the end of the fiscal year when the annual visa limits for certain categories or countries are nearly reached.
What is the next step if my green card priority date is current?
How long do I have to file once my priority date is current?
Once your priority date becomes current, you have one year to apply for your immigrant visa.
During this time, it's crucial to start the application process and respond promptly to any messages from the National Visa Center (NVC). If you don't begin the process within this one-year period, you might miss the chance to get your immigrant visa and keep your priority date. You'd then need to reapply for the visa.
Navigate the green card process with ease
When your priority date becomes current according to the USCIS visa bulletin, our team of immigration attorneys is here to help. We'll guide you through completing and submitting all the necessary forms, like the I-485, I-765, and I-131, accurately and on time.
We'll also prepare you for any interviews you may need to attend, ensuring you present your case confidently and effectively.
At Manifest Law, our immigration attorneys have over 10 years of experience and have successfully handled thousands of visa and green card applications. Plus, we offer flexible payment plans that span up to 6 months, along with a visa-approved or money-back guarantee (terms apply).
Book a free visa consultation with us today to get the support and guidance you need on your immigration journey.
