The January 2025 Visa Bulletin brings new updates on employment-based immigration, including notable changes in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories for Indian applicants. This month’s bulletin also highlights the increasing activity in EB-5 set-aside categories, signaling potential adjustments in the future. Below, we break down the data and provide insights into what these changes mean for applicants.

Final Action Dates Movement: December 2024 to January 2025

Category	Chargeability Area	December 2024	January 2025	Change
EB-1	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	Current (C)	Current (C)	No change
	China	08NOV22	08NOV22	No change
	India	01FEB22	01FEB22	No change
EB-2	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	15MAR23	01APR23	Minor forward movement
	China	22MAR20	22APR20	Minor forward movement
	India	01AUG12	01OCT12	Minor forward movement
EB-3	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	15NOV22	01DEC22	Forward movement
	China	01APR20	01JUN20	Minor forward movement
	India	08NOV12	01DEC12	Forward movement
EB-3 Other Workers	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	01DEC20	08DEC20	Minor forward movement
	China	01JAN17	01JAN17	No change
	India	08NOV12	01DEC12	Forward movement
EB-5	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	Current (C)	Current (C)	No change
	China	15JUL16	15JUL16	No change
	India	01JAN22	01JAN22	No change

 

Dates for Filing Movement: December 2024 to January 2025

Category	Chargeability Area	December 2024	January 2025	Change
EB-1	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	Current (C)	Current (C)	No change
	China	01JAN23	01JAN23	No change
	India	15APR22	15APR22	No change
EB-2	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	01AUG23	01AUG23	No change
	China	01OCT20	01OCT20	No change
	India	01JAN13	01JAN13	No change
EB-3	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	01MAR23	01MAR23	No change
	China	15NOV20	15NOV20	No change
	India	08JUN13	08JUN13	No change
EB-3 Other Workers	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	22MAY21	22MAY21	No change
	China	01JAN18	01JAN18	No change
	India	01JUN13	01JUN13	No change
EB-5	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	Current (C)	Current (C)	No change
	China	01OCT16	01OCT16	No change
	India	01APR22	01APR22	No change

 

Key Takeaways from the Visa Bulletin Movement (December 2024 to January 2025)

1. Minor Advancements in EB-2 and EB-3:

• EB-2 advanced slightly across All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed, China, and India, with India moving from 01AUG12 to 01OCT12.

• EB-3 for India and All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed also progressed, with India’s final action date advancing from 08NOV12 to 01DEC12.

2. Steady EB-5 Priority Dates:

• No changes were observed for EB-5 priority dates across any chargeability areas, maintaining stability in this category.

3. Increased Activity in EB-5 Set-Aside Categories:

• Both the Department of State and USCIS have noted increased approvals of I-526E petitions and growing numbers of applications being processed to completion. To ensure annual limits are not exceeded, it may become necessary to establish Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates for these categories during the fiscal year. Applicants in these set-aside categories should monitor future bulletins for potential adjustments.

What This Means for Employment-Based Applicants

1. Optimism for Indian Applicants in EB-2 and EB-3:

• The forward movement in these categories is a positive sign for Indian applicants nearing their priority dates. Preparation for filing should continue as dates move incrementally forward.

2. Opportunities in EB-5:

• While priority dates for EB-5 remain stable, applicants in set-aside categories should be aware of the potential for new Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates to manage demand. This may impact timelines for those currently in the process.

3. Consistency for Other Regions:

• For applicants from All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed and China, stability in filing and final action dates provides predictability in planning.

The January 2025 Visa Bulletin shows modest progress for some categories while maintaining stability for others. Applicants, especially in EB-5 set-aside categories, should stay alert for future updates that may impact their application timelines.