The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs recently released its Visa Bulletin for January 2025, providing updates for green card applicants. The bulletin shows significant progress for the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories, which will particularly benefit Indian applicants.
The Department of State releases a Visa Bulletin every month with updates on the availability of immigrant visa numbers for applicants lining up to apply for green cards in the US.
According to data, the limit for employment-preferred immigrants has been kept at 1.4 lakh, while the limit for family-sponsored immigrants is 2.26 lakh.
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), over a million Indians are waiting for a green card in the US.
In the employment-based categories, the gap for Indians is expected to reach 21.9 lakh by the financial year 2030, which the Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimates will take 195 years to clear.
Family sponsored visa
With a community of approximately five million people, Indians are considered one of the most influential immigrant groups in the US.
For family-sponsored preference immigrants, the limit for FY 2025 has been set at 2,26,000, while the per-country limit for preference immigrants has been set at 7% of the total number of annual family-sponsored visas.
Key changes in the US Visa Bulletin for 2025 include:
1. First preference (F1): In this category, the last date for action for Indians has been shifted from October 22, 2015 to November 22, 2015. This is a reserved category for unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens. Meanwhile, the date for filing family-sponsored visa applications remains September 1, 2017.
2. Second preference (F2A and F2B): The action deadline for the F2A category for children and spouses of permanent residents is unchanged on January 1, 2022, while for the F2B category (unmarried sons and daughters of the permanent residents) it is the same, from May 1, 2016 to May 22. , 2016.
3. Third preference (F3): The final action date shifts from April 15, 2010 to July 1, 2010. The date for submitting applications has also been reduced to July 22, 2012, from April 22, 2012.
4. Fourth preference (F4): In this category, the deadline for action has been moved from March 8, 2006 to April 8, 2006, while the filing date has been moved from August 1, 2006 to August 15, 2006.
Employment-based visa
First preference (EB-1): In this category for priority workers, the final action date remains February 1, 2022.
Second preference (EB-2): The final action date goes from August 1, 2012 to October 1, 2012. This is for members of professionals with advanced degrees and for individuals with exceptional skills.
Third preference (EB-3): The deadline for action is December 1, 2012. It was November 8, 2012.
Fourth preference (EB-4): In this category, the final action date for the specific category of immigrants is unchanged (January 1, 2021).
Fifth preference (EB-5): The final action date remains January 1, 2022.