The U.S. Department of State has released the US Visa Bulletin for March 2025, outlining the availability of immigrant visa numbers for the upcoming month. This bulletin provides critically important information for individuals seeking to adjust their status or apply for immigrant visas. It details both the "Final Action Dates" and "Dates for Filing Applications," which are necessary for applicants to determine when they can proceed with their applications.
The Visa Bulletin serves as a monthly publication by the U.S. Department of State, indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center. It features two key charts: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications.
The Final Action Dates indicate when visas may finally be issued. Applicants with priority dates earlier than the listed dates are eligible for visa issuance or adjustment of status. On the other hand, the Dates for Filing Applications suggest when applicants should submit their documentation to the National Visa Center, indicating their priority date is approaching the time when it will become current. Understanding and referring to these charts is imperative for applicants to ascertain their eligibility to file applications.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) specifies each month which chart applicants should primarily use for filing adjustment of status applications. For March 2025, USCIS has instructed applicants to utilize the “Final Action Dates” chart for employment-based preference categories, whereas the “Dates for Filing” chart is for family-sponsored preference categories.
Within the family-sponsored preference categories, there are several subdivisions. These include:
- F1: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- F2B: Adult unmarried children (21 or older) of permanent residents
- F3: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F4: Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
For March 2025, the Visa Bulletin reports minimal movement within the family-sponsored categories. Notably, the F3 category for the Philippines has advanced by two and a half months to January 22, 2003. Likewise, the F4 category for the Philippines has progressed by five and a half months to October 15, 2004. Unfortunately, other categories have remained static compared to the previous month.
Turning to employment-based preference categories, these categories include:
- EB-1: Priority Workers
- EB-2: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability
- EB-3: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
- EB-4: Certain Special Immigrants
- EB-5: Employment Creation (Investors)
This March 2025 Visa Bulletin presents significant movements particularly noteworthy for employment-based categories:
- EB-2:
- India: Advances by six weeks to December 1, 2012.
- China: Advances by two weeks to May 8, 2020.
- All Other Countries: Advances by six weeks to May 15, 2023.
- EB-3:
- India: Advances by six weeks to February 1, 2013.
- China: Advances by one month to August 1, 2020.
- All Other Countries: Remains at December 1, 2022.
- EB-4:
- All Countries: Retrogresses by approximately 17 months to August 1, 2019.
The notable retrogression seen in the EB-4 category is attributed to heightened demand and number usage early within the fiscal year. The Department of State has indicated potential measures might be necessary shortly, including possibly making the EB-4 category "Unavailable" within upcoming months, potentially as early as April 2025.
For applicants hailing from India and China, the advancements seen within the EB-2 and EB-3 categories are perceived as positive developments, potentially shortening wait times for visa issuance. Conversely, the retrogression within the EB-4 category may lead to extended waiting periods for applicants classified under this category.
It is advised for applicants to carefully review the Visa Bulletin and seek counsel from immigration professionals to fully comprehend how these changes impact their specific situations. Staying updated about priority dates and category movements is imperative for timely submission of applications and strategic planning.
The March 2025 Visa Bulletin clearly reflects both advancements and setbacks across different immigrant visa categories. For those eager to navigate the U.S. immigration system effectively, monitoring these developments is key.