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Analysis of the August 2025 Employment-Based Visa Bulletin, Compared to July 2025

The August 2025 Visa Bulletin has been released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). As with previous months, USCIS has confirmed it will continue using the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based adjustment of status filings. While most employment-based categories remain static, there was some retrogression in the EB-2 categories, slight advancements in the EB-3 and Other Workers categories for India, and notable advances in EB-5 Unreserved for India and China.

Employment-based

All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed

CHINA-
mainland
born

INDIA

MEXICO

PHILIPPINES

1st

C

15NOV22

15FEB22

C

C

2nd

01SEP23

15DEC20

01JAN13

01SEP23

01SEP23

3rd

01APR23

01DEC20

22MAY13

01APR23

08FEB23

Other Workers

08JUL21

01MAY17

22MAY13

08JUL21

08JUL21

4th

U

U

U

U

U

Certain Religious Workers

U

U

U

U

U

5th Unreserved
(including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU)

C

08DEC15

15NOV19

C

C

5th Set Aside:
Rural

(20%, including NR, RR)

C

C

C

C

C

5th Set Aside:
High Unemployment (10%, including NH, RH)

C

C

C

C

C

5th Set Aside:
Infrastructure

(2%, including RI)

C

C

C

C

C

Key Takeaways from the August 2025 Visa Bulletin

  • USCIS Will Continue Using Final Action Dates: Applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart in August 2025 to determine their eligibility to file Form I-485. This continues the current policy as the government manages employment-based visa usage in the final two months of the fiscal year.

  • EB-2 for “All Other Areas,” Mexico, and the Philippines Retrogresses:  The EB-2 category for All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed, Mexico, and the Philippines retrogresses from October 15, 2023, to September 1, 2023.

  • EB-3 India and Other Workers India Advance Slightly: EB-3 India moved from April 22, 2013, to May 22, 2013. The Other Workers category for India moved forward by the same increment, from April 22, 2013, to May 22, 2013. These modest advances reflect careful pacing of visa usage as the fiscal year draws to a close.

  • EB-5 Unreserved Sees Significant Forward Movement for India and China: India (Unreserved): sees forward movement from May 1, 2019, to November 15, 2019, which suggests reallocation of remaining visa numbers in the final quarter. China (Unreserved) also advances by nearly 2 years from January 22, 2014, to December 8, 2015, representing a substantial update for long-waiting investors.

What This Means for Applicants

  • EB-3 and Other Workers India Applicants: The marginal advancement suggests limited visa number availability. While movement remains positive, applicants should be aware that further forward progression may be minimal in the upcoming bulletin.

  • EB-5 Unreserved Applicants from India and China: The significant advancement in this category is an encouraging shift, especially following months of stagnation and retrogression. Investors eligible to file should act promptly, as the movement may be temporary and subject to reversal at the start of the new fiscal year.

Conclusion

The August 2025 Visa Bulletin brings moderate forward for some EB-3 categories and a notable update in EB-5 unreserved categories for India and China. As visa allocations are finalized before the end of the fiscal year, applicants with current priority dates are encouraged to take action without delay.