Visa Bulletin Update
The Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin which identifies all immigrant visa “preference” categories and indicates whether a backlog exists for each one. The categories are separated into two charts: a “Final Action” chart and a “Dates for Filing” chart for both family and employment-based immigration.
USCIS has determined that the Dates for Filing chart must be used in March 2025. EB-2 and EB-3 preference categories remain backlogged for all countries, which means that individuals in these categories may not file Form I-485 applications until their priority dates become “current.” A priority date is current when it is earlier than the date listed in the Visa Bulletin.
In the March 2025 Visa Bulletin, the State Department advanced Final Action dates for employment-based cases by 2-8 weeks for most noncitizens in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and Other Workers categories. There were no changes in the EB-1 category.
The employment-based Final Action date advancements are as follows:
EB-1: no change
EB-2:
o Mexico, Philippines, and All Other: advanced 6 weeks
o China: advanced 16 days
o India: advanced 6 weeks
EB-3:
o Mexico, Philippines, and All Other: no change
o China: advanced 1 month
o India: advanced 6 weeks
Other Workers:
o Mexico, Philippines, and All Other: advanced about 7 weeks
o China: no change
o India: advanced almost 8 weeks
Link: Visa Bulletin For March 2025
If you have questions about planning, please schedule a consultation with one of the attorneys at Iandoli, Desai & Cronin (info@iandoli.com).