April 2025 US Visa Bulletin: The US Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for April 2025, bringing significant changes to employment-based (EB) immigrant visa categories. Indian applicants in the EB-5 Unreserved category will experience a sharp retrogression of over two years, moving the Final Action Date back to November 1, 2019. Similarly, China’s EB-5 Unreserved category will retrogress by approximately two and a half years to January 22, 2014. Meanwhile, all other countries remain current in this category.
EB-5 Unreserved Retrogression: Country-Wise Comparison
The retrogression in EB-5 visas for India and China is a result of high demand and increased visa usage, which has forced the State Department to push back priority dates. If demand continues to rise, there is a possibility that even worldwide EB-5 applicants could see a Final Action Date imposed in the future.
Other Employment-Based Visa Categories
Progress in EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 for India
While EB-5 Unreserved sees a major setback, other employment-based categories show moderate advancements:
- EB-1 (Priority Workers): Advances by 15 days to February 15, 2022.
- EB-2 (Advanced Degrees/Exceptional Ability): Advances by one month to January 1, 2013.
- EB-3 (Skilled Workers & Professionals): Moves forward by two months to April 1, 2013.
- EB-4 (Certain Special Immigrants): Remains unavailable as all visa numbers have been used up for FY 2025.
Employment-Based Final Action Dates for India
Family-Sponsored Green Card Updates
The Visa Bulletin also provides updates on family-sponsored visa categories, setting new Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing. Some categories see moderate advancements, while others remain unchanged.
Family-Sponsored Final Action Dates for India
Impact of EB-5 Retrogression on Indian Applicants
The two-year retrogression in EB-5 Unreserved for India will have significant consequences:
Longer Wait Times: Applicants with priority dates after November 1, 2019, must wait until new visa numbers become available.
Investment Uncertainty: Many investors who expected faster processing times under EB-5 might now need to reconsider their investment plans.
Shifting Preferences: Some applicants may explore alternative visa categories, such as the EB-2 or EB-1 categories, depending on eligibility.
Future Restrictions Possible: If demand continues rising, more countries may see a Final Action Date set for EB-5 Unreserved, affecting global investors.
What was the reason behind retrogression?
The State Department has explained that the sharp retrogression in EB-5 Unreserved for India and China is due to:
- Increased demand from applicants worldwide.
- High usage of available visa numbers in the past few months.
- Per-country limits on visa issuance (7% of total employment-based visas per country).
- Potential demand spikes requiring future restrictions on worldwide applicants.
Adjustment of Status & Filing Guidance
USCIS has confirmed that for April 2025, applicants must use the Final Action Dates for employment-based Green Card applications. This means that applicants can file for Adjustment of Status if their priority date is earlier than the listed Final Action Date. Additionally, new applicants must check their priority dates before filing.
For detailed information read the April 2025 US Visa Bulletin here.
