U.S. Visa Bulletin for January 2025 Shows Notable Progress for Indian Applicants

The U.S. Department of State has issued its January 2025 Visa Bulletin, offering vital updates for those seeking permanent residency, or green cards, in the United States. This bulletin, the first of the year, highlights significant developments across various employment-based (EB) visa categories, particularly benefiting Indian applicants.

Context for Fiscal Year 2024

For the fiscal year 2024, the family-sponsored preference immigrant visa cap remains at 226,000. These visas are subject to per-country limitations, with each country receiving no more than 7% of the total annual allocation for family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas.

Key Updates in Family-Sponsored Visa Categories

Several family-sponsored visa categories have seen changes in their final action dates:

• First Preference (F1): This category, designated for unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, has advanced its final action date to November 22, 2015, from October 22, 2015.
• Third Preference (F3): Covering married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, the final action date has moved to July 1, 2010, from April 15, 2010. The filing date has also progressed to July 22, 2012.
• Fourth Preference (F4): Reserved for siblings of U.S. citizens, the final action date has advanced to August 15, 2006, from March 8, 2006.
• Second Preference (F2A and F2B): The F2A category, for spouses and children of permanent residents, remains unchanged with a final action date of January 1, 2022. The F2B category, covering unmarried sons and daughters (aged 21 or older) of permanent residents, also shows no movement.

Shifts in Employment-Based Visa Categories

Employment-based visa categories have experienced notable adjustments in priority and filing dates:

• Second Preference (EB-2): This category, which includes professionals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional ability, has seen its final action date advance to October 1, 2012. However, filing dates remain static at January 1, 2013.
• Third Preference (EB-3) and Other Workers: Both categories now share a final action date of December 1, 2012, with filing dates unchanged.

Detailed Analysis of Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Categories

• EB-1 (Priority Workers): Priority dates for Indian applicants have retrogressed significantly to February 1, 2022, indicating prolonged delays.
• EB-2 (Advanced Degrees/Exceptional Ability): The final action date remainsat October 1, 2012, reflecting continued challenges.
• EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals): This category’s final action date is now December 1, 2012, showing steady, albeit slow, progress.
• Other Workers: Like EB-3, the final action date is also set at December 1, 2012.
• EB-5 (Unreserved): With a priority date of January 1, 2022, this category offers a positive outlook for investors.

Dates for Filing Employment-Based Applications

• EB-1: Applications can be filed for priority dates before April 15, 2022.
• EB-2: Filing is allowed for priority dates before January 1, 2013.
• EB-3: Applicants can file if their priority dates are before June 8, 2013.

The backlog for Indian applicants remains a critical issue across most employment-based categories, with notably retrogressed priority dates in EB-1 and EB-2.

Understanding the Visa Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin plays a crucial role for individuals navigating the U.S. immigration system. It provides clear timelines for when green card applications may be submitted and approved, using two primary sections:

1. Final Action Dates: This section determines when applicants can expect their permanent residency applications to be processed. It establishes a queue based on visa category and nationality, offering insight into approximate wait times.
2. Dates for Filing: This section indicates the earliest date applicants can submit their adjustment of status or immigrant visa applications. It allows applicants to plan the submission of their paperwork based on category and country of origin.

For Indian applicants, the January 2025 Visa Bulletin offers a mixed picture. While there are some advancements, the overall backlog and retrogressed priority dates continue to pose challenges. These updates underscore the importance of staying informed about visa category movements to navigate the immigration process effectively.