The February 2025 Visa Bulletin provides the latest updates on the availability of immigrant visas for family-sponsored and employment-based categories. This month’s bulletin reflects notable changes in employment-based categories, particularly for applicants from oversubscribed chargeability areas such as India and China. A notable development this month is that USCIS has announced the use of Final Action Dates for adjustment of status applications, a decision that carries significant implications this early in the fiscal year. Below, we break down the changes and explore their broader impact.
Final Action Dates Movement: January 2025 to February 2025
| Category | Chargeability Area | January 2025 | February 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 | 01APR23 | 01APR23 | No change |
| China | 22APR20 | 22APR20 | No change | |
| India | 01OCT12 | 15OCT12 | Minor forward movement | |
| EB-3 | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | 01DEC22 | 01DEC22 | No change |
| China | 01JUN20 | 01JUL20 | Minor forward movement | |
| India | 01DEC12 | 01JAN13 | Minor forward movement | |
| EB-3 Other Workers | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | 08DEC20 | 08DEC20 | No change |
| China | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | No change | |
| India | 01DEC12 | 01JAN13 | Minor 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: January 2025 to February 2025
| Category | Chargeability Area | January 2025 | February 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 (February 2025)
- USCIS to Use Final Action Dates: In a significant development, USCIS announced it will accept adjustment of status applications based on Final Action Dates for February 2025. This decision allows eligible applicants with current Final Action Dates to file their applications immediately, bypassing the Dates for Filing chart.
- Minor Progress for India and China: EB-2 for India advanced slightly from 01OCT12 to 15OCT12, and EB-3 progressed from 01DEC12 to 01JAN13. EB-3 for China moved forward by one month, from 01JUN20 to 01JUL20. These movements, while incremental, offer hope for applicants in these heavily backlogged categories.
- Stability Across Most Categories: Categories like EB-1, Other Workers (EB-3), and EB-5 remain unchanged, offering predictability for applicants outside oversubscribed regions.
- Broader Implications of Final Action Dates: The use of Final Action Dates this early in the fiscal year signals a high demand for visa numbers and proactive management of annual limits by USCIS and the Department of State. It helps ensure that visa allocations remain balanced and predictable throughout the year.
What This Means for Applicants
- Opportunity for Eligible Applicants: Applicants whose priority dates are current under the Final Action Dates chart for February 2025 should file their adjustment of status applications promptly. This provides benefits like employment authorization (EAD) and advance parole (AP) while their applications are pending.
- Preparation for Potential Retrogressions: The cautious use of Final Action Dates indicates USCIS is managing demand carefully to avoid overshooting visa allocations later in the fiscal year. Applicants should remain vigilant for potential retrogressions in oversubscribed categories like EB-2 and EB-3 for India and China.
- Stability for Non-Backlogged Applicants: For applicants in categories like All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed, the stability in Final Action Dates provides confidence for planning their filings without fear of sudden retrogressions.
- Long-Term Outlook for EB-5: EB-5 set-aside categories remain current (C), creating favorable conditions for eligible investors. However, given increased activity, USCIS may establish Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing for these categories later in the fiscal year.
The February 2025 Visa Bulletin demonstrates careful management of visa demand, offering filing opportunities for eligible applicants while signaling potential challenges ahead. Applicants should act quickly if eligible under Final Action Dates and remain prepared for future changes.