The US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has released its Visa Bulletin for January 2025, bringing encouraging news for Indian applicants aspiring for American visas. The bulletin highlights significant progress in both employment-based (EB) and family-sponsored visa categories, providing a potential boost for many Indian nationals navigating the green card process.
The Visa Bulletin, issued monthly by the Department of State, provides updates on the availability of immigrant visa numbers for those awaiting green cards in the United States. For January 2025, the annual limit for family-sponsored immigrants remains set at 226,000, while the employment-based preference category has a cap of 140,000 visas.
Indian nationals face a substantial backlog in green card applications, with over a million individuals waiting, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimates that by the fiscal year 2030, this backlog could swell to 2.19 million in employment-based categories alone, requiring an astounding 195 years to clear at the current rate. This delay impacts the vibrant Indian community in the US, now comprising around five million people and recognized as one of the most influential immigrant groups in the country.
Changes in Family-Sponsored Visa Categories
For family-sponsored immigrants, the annual cap remains at 226,000, with a 7% per-country limit on preference visas. The January 2025 Visa Bulletin outlines several key updates in this category:
- First Preference (F1): This category, which covers unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens, sees the final action date move forward by one month, from October 22, 2015, to November 22, 2015. However, the filing date remains static at September 1, 2017.
- Second Preference (F2A and F2B): The F2A category, encompassing spouses and children of permanent residents, remains unchanged with a final action date of January 1, 2022. For F2B, covering unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents, the final action date advances marginally from May 1, 2016, to May 22, 2016.
- Third Preference (F3): This category, addressing married sons and daughters of US citizens, sees a notable shift in the final action date, progressing from April 15, 2010, to July 1, 2010. Filing dates also move forward, from April 22, 2012, to July 22, 2012.
- Fourth Preference (F4): Covering siblings of adult US citizens, the final action date advances from March 8, 2006, to April 8, 2006, while the filing date moves slightly from August 1, 2006, to August 15, 2006.
Updates in Employment-Based Visa Categories
The worldwide cap for employment-based visas is at least 140,000 annually. In this category, filing dates remain unchanged, while some adjustments have been made to final action dates.
- First Preference (EB-1): The EB-1 category, which includes priority workers, shows no change, with the final action date fixed at February 1, 2022. Currently, an estimated 143,497 Indians are in this backlog.
- Second Preference (EB-2): This category includes individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability. The final action date advances from August 1, 2012, to October 1, 2012. Approximately 838,784 Indians are awaiting green cards in this backlog.
- Third Preference (EB-3): Covering skilled workers, professionals, and other workers, the final action date moves forward by one month, from November 8, 2012, to December 1, 2012. According to USCIS, there are 138,581 Indian applicants in the EB-3 category. The National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) estimates an equal number of dependents, making the total backlog 277,162.
- Fourth Preference (EB-4): This category, including certain special immigrants, sees no change, with the final action date set at January 1, 2021.
- Fifth Preference (EB-5): Focused on employment creation, this category also remains unchanged, with the final action date fixed at January 1, 2022.
The Visa Bulletin uses terms like “final action date” and “date for filing” to streamline visa allocation based on category and country-specific quotas. The “final action date” indicates when applicants can be scheduled for interviews at US embassies or consulates, while the “date for filing” represents the earliest point at which applicants can submit adjustment of status or immigrant visa applications.
As the US Visa Bulletin for January 2025 reveals, modest progress in final action dates offers hope for many Indian applicants. Although the backlog continues to present significant challenges, the incremental advancements mark a step forward in addressing long-standing delays.