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🇺🇸 US Green Card Applicants: Exciting Updates in the January 2025 Visa Bulletin

The January 2025 US Visa Bulletin provides significant updates on immigrant visa availability, Final Action Dates, and Dates for Filing Applications. It also outlines the necessary documentation required by the National Visa Center for visa applicants.

Whether you’re pursuing an employment-based visa, a family-sponsored visa, or applying through the Diversity Visa (DV) Program, understanding these updates is essential for your immigration journey.

Table of Contents

Highlights of the January 2025 Visa Bulletin

Employment-Based Visa Updates

EB-1: First Priority Workers

This category, which includes multinational executives and individuals with extraordinary abilities, remains unchanged for all countries, including India and China.

EB-2: Second Priority Workers
  • China: Advances by one month to April 22, 2020.
  • India: Moves forward by two months to October 1, 2012.
  • All Other Countries: Progresses by two weeks to April 1, 2023.
EB-3: Third Priority Workers
  • India: Advances by three weeks to December 1, 2012.
  • China: Moves forward by two months to June 1, 2020.
  • All Other Countries: Progresses by two weeks to December 1, 2022.

Recommended for you: Big Changes to US H-1B Visa Rules for 2025 – What You Must Know

EB-5: Investors

The EB-5 visa category remains unchanged:

  • India: Priority date stands at January 1, 2022.
  • China: Priority date remains at July 15, 2016.
  • Other Countries and Set-Asides (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure): Stay current.

Focus on EB-5 Visa Processing

The Department of State and USCIS report an increase in approvals for I-526E petitions under the EB-5 program. More applicants are completing applications for set-aside categories, such as rural or high-unemployment projects.

To prevent exceeding annual visa limits, USCIS anticipates potential priority date adjustments during the fiscal year. Updates will be announced as needed to manage demand effectively.

Filing Requirements and Priority Date Allocation

Eligibility for Filing

Applicants must refer to the Final Action Dates chart to determine adjustment-of-status eligibility. If surplus visas are available, the Dates for Filing Applications chart may also become applicable.

Priority Date Allocation

Priority dates are issued chronologically, based on demand as of December 3, 2024. Categories or countries with oversubscription may experience retrogression, causing Final Action Dates to move backward. Once annual limits are reached, categories may be marked as “unavailable,” halting further visa issuance.

Family-Sponsored and Diversity Visa Caps

Family-Sponsored Visas

  • Annual Cap: 226,000 visas.

Employment-Based Visas

  • Annual Cap: 140,000 visas.

Per-Country Limits

  • Each Country: 7% of the total (25,620 visas).
  • Dependent Areas: 2% of the total (7,320 visas).

Diversity Visa (DV) Program

  • Annual Limit: 52,000 visas.
  • No country may receive more than 7% of the total.
  • The DV-2025 program concludes on September 30, 2025, and all visas must be issued before this deadline.

Oversubscribed Chargeability Areas

Countries such as China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines remain oversubscribed. Visa prorating provisions are applied to ensure fair distribution and adherence to per-country limits.

Conclusion

The January 2025 Visa Bulletin provides essential insights for employment-based and family-sponsored immigrants, as well as diversity visa applicants and EB-5 investors. It’s critical to monitor your category’s priority dates and submit the required documentation promptly to avoid delays.

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