The latest US Visa Bulletin for May 2025 has been released, offering updates that will influence immigrant visa processing for applicants across various preference categories. While many of the final action dates remain unaltered, a few filing deadlines and employment‐based cutoffs have been adjusted—most notably in the India chargeability area.
Family‑Sponsored Preferences
Final Action Dates
Visa numbers remain available to applicants whose priority dates fall before the cutoffs in several family-sponsored categories. For the India column, the key dates stand as follows (with no changes from April):
| Category | April 2025 Final Action Date | May 2025 Final Action Date | Change |
| F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | 15Mar16 | 15Mar16 | No change |
| F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents) | 01Jan22 | 01Jan22 | No change |
| F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters 21+ of Permanent Residents) | 22Jul16 | 22Jul16 | No change |
| F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | 01Apr11 | 01Apr11 | No change |
| F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens) | 15Jun06 | 15Jun06 | No change |
Filing Dates
The ability to submit applications now shows significant movement for certain categories, notably within the India column:
| Category | April 2025 Filing Date | May 2025 Filing Date | Change |
| F1 | 1Apr06 | 1Apr06 | No change |
| F2A | 15Oct24 | 01Feb25 | Shift forward – The filing cutoff for F2A moved from October 15, 2024 to February 1, 2025. |
| F2B | 1Apr07 | 1Apr07 | No change |
| F3 | 22Jul12 | 22Jul12 | No change |
| F4 | 01OCT06 | 01OCT06 | No change |
Employment‑Based Preferences
Final Action Dates
For employment-based visas, while several key categories hold their established dates, a couple of notable adjustments have been recorded in the India column:
| Category | April 2025 | May 2025 | Change |
| 1st preference (Priority Workers) | 15Feb22 | 15Feb22 | No change |
| 2nd preference (Advanced degree/Exceptional Ability) | 01Jan13 | 01Jan13 | No change |
| 3rd preference (Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers) | 01Apr13 | 15Apr13 | Shift forward |
| Other Workers | 01Apr13 | 15Apr13 | Shift forward |
| 4th preference (Certain Special Immigrants) | U | U | No change |
| Certain Religious Workers | U | U | No change |
| 5th Unreserved | 01Nov19 | 01May19 | Earlier cutoff in May (narrower window) |
Filing Dates
The filing dates for employment-based categories continue without alteration, maintaining stability amid the adjustments in final action dates.
What These Changes Mean
The May 2025 US Visa Bulletin underscores the dynamic nature of visa allocation. For family-sponsored preferences, the advanced filing window in F2A (from October to February) could ease the submission process for applicants with later priority dates. Conversely, the setback in the 5th unreserved category—specifically the earlier final action cutoff—may tighten eligibility for certain employment-based applicants, especially those charged to the India category.
About the visa bulletin
The Visa Bulletin is essential for individuals seeking green cards, as it provides vital information about the timelines for adjusting immigration status and eligibility based on the submission of applications. The bulletin consists of two main sections:
Final Action Dates: This section estimates the wait time for application approval for those seeking permanent residency. It creates a queue based on visa category and nationality, indicating when applicants can expect their applications to be processed.
Dates for Filing: This section specifies the earliest date that applicants can submit their adjustment of status or immigrant visa applications. It helps applicants determine when they can proceed with their filing based on their visa category and country of origin.