May 2025 Visa Bulletin: EB-5 India Continues to Retrogress

Most categories remain unchanged from April in the May Visa Bulletin.

Family-based petitions: the fourth preference category (excluding India and Mexico) advances by five months worldwide. 

Employment-based immigration categories have not seen any changes other than a slight advancement in India EB-2 & EB-3. The State Department predicts that, due to the rapid growth in demand for EB-5 visa numbers, a cut-off date may need to be established for countries that currently have available visa numbers.

In May, USCIS will accept family-based immigration adjustment of status (I-485) applications based on the Filing Dates table. Employment-based adjustment will be accepted based on the Final Action Dates table.

AD: Dates for Final Action (Green Card Approval)  

FD: Dates for Filing Applications Only

Family-based		Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	AD	03/15/2016	03/15/2016	03/15/2016	04/22/2005	07/15/2012
	FD	09/01/2017	09/01/2017	09/01/2017	04/01/2006	04/22/2015
F2A	AD	01/01/2022	01/01/2022	01/01/2022	05/15/2021	01/01/2022
	FD	02/01/2025	02/01/2025	02/01/2025	02/01/2025	02/01/2025
F2B	AD	07/22/2016	07/22/2016	07/22/2016	01/01/2006	02/08/2012
	FD	01/01/2017	01/01/2017	01/01/2017	04/01/2007	10/01/2013
F3	AD	04/01/2011	04/01/2011	04/01/2011	01/15/2001	09/22/2003
	FD	07/22/2012	07/22/2012	07/22/2012	06/15/2001	09/22/2004
F4	AD	01/01/2008	01/01/2008	06/15/2006	03/15/2001	06/01/2005
	FD	06/01/2008	06/01/2008	10/01/2006	04/30/2001	01/01/2008

1st: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,400 per year).
2A: The 2 “A” preference is for Spouses and Children (under 21 & unmarried) of LPR's.
2B: The 2 “B” Preference is for Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 or older) of LPR's.
3rd: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,400 per year)
4th: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens. (about 65,000 per year)

Employment-based		Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	AD	C	11/08/2022	02/15/2022	C	C
	FD	C	01/01/2023	04/15/2022	C	C
EB-2	AD	06/22/2023	10/01/2020	01/01/2013	06/22/2023	06/22/2023
	FD	08/01/2023	11/01/2020	02/01/2013	08/01/2023	08/01/2023
EB-3	AD	01/01/2023	11/01/2020	04/15/2013	01/01/2023	01/01/2023
	FD	03/01/2023	11/15/2020	06/08/2013	03/01/2023	03/01/2023
Other Workers	AD	05/22/2021	04/01/2017	04/15/2013	05/22/2021	05/22/2021
	FD	06/22/2021	01/01/2018	06/08/2013	06/22/2021	06/22/2021
EB-4*	AD	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable
	FD	02/01/2021	02/01/2021	02/01/2021	02/01/2021	02/01/2021
EB-5	AD	C	01/22/2014	05/01/2019	C	C
	FD	C	10/01/2016	04/01/2022	C	C

1st: Priority Workers (Extraordinary ability aliens, multinational companies' executives/managers, outstanding prof./researchers)
2nd: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability.
3rd: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers (Unskilled.)
4th: “Special Immigrants” (Religious & others)

*Visa numbers for EB-4 category become “Unavailable” due to the exhaustion of annual visa numbers. 

5th: Employment Creation (Investors)

*China and India EB-5 visa numbers for rural, high unemployment & infrastructure areas/projects are current.

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule a legal consultation.)