The U.S. Department of State releases a Visa Bulletin each month through its Bureau of Consular Affairs. This bulletin provides important information about the availability of immigrant visa numbers and sets key cut-off dates for applicants in both family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories. This article breaks down the May 2025 Visa Bulletin in clear, simple language, helping you understand which categories are oversubscribed (meaning they have more applicants than available visas) and how that affects your priority dates.
1. Overall Background and Statutory Limits
- Preference Immigrant Visas:
- Immigrant visas are divided into categories known as preferences.
- The Visa Bulletin indicates Final Action Dates (when visas may actually be issued or “approved” for issuance) and Dates for Filing (when applicants may submit certain required documents).
- Annual Numerical Limits:
- Family-sponsored limit for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025: 226,000.
- Employment-based limit for FY 2025: 140,000 (at least).
- Per-country limit: Generally 7% of the total annual family- and employment-based limits (about 25,620 visas per country in each preference category), with certain dependent areas limited to 2% (about 7,320 visas).
- Priority Date Order:
- Within each preference category, visas are given out in the order that the relevant immigration petition was filed (the petition’s priority date).
- If the demand (number of applicants) for a particular category or country is higher than the supply of visas, a cut-off date is established. Only applicants with a priority date earlier than that cut-off date can proceed with final processing.
A. Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases
B. Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications
A. Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases
B. Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications
B. Diversity Immigrant (DV) Category for the Month of May 2025
C. Diversity (DV) Immigrant Category Rank Cut-Offs for June 2025
2. Family-Sponsored Preferences
Under Section 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), there are four family-sponsored preference categories:
- F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (over 21 years old).
- F2A: Spouses and children (unmarried, under 21 years old) of permanent residents.
- F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters (21 and older) of permanent residents.
- F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
- F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.
2.A. Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Cases (Chart A)
| Family-Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (Unmarried Sons/Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | 15MAR16 | 15MAR16 | 15MAR16 | 22APR05 | 15JUL12 |
| F2A (Spouses/Children of Permanent Residents) | 01JAN22 | 01JAN22 | 01JAN22 | 15MAY21 | 01JAN22 |
| F2B (Unmarried Sons/Daughters 21+ of Permanent Residents) | 22JUL16 | 22JUL16 | 22JUL16 | 01JAN06 | 08FEB12 |
| F3 (Married Sons/Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | 01APR11 | 01APR11 | 01APR11 | 15JAN01 | 22SEP03 |
| F4 (Brothers/Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens) | 01JAN08 | 01JAN08 | 15JUN06 | 15MAR01 | 01JUN05 |
- If a category says “C” (current), there is no backlog, and visas are available to all qualified applicants.
- If a category has a date, only applicants with a priority date earlier than the given date may receive a visa.
- If a category says “U”, it means unauthorized (no numbers are available).
Key Observations:
- F1 shows a 15MAR16 cut-off for most chargeability areas, China, and India, but a much earlier date (22APR05) for Mexico and a mid-2012 date (15JUL12) for the Philippines.
- F2A is mostly 01JAN22 for all except Mexico, which has 15MAY21 as an earlier cut-off date within certain limits.
- Mexico’s backlog is notably long for F1, F2B, F3, and F4, indicating continued oversubscription for that country.
2.B. Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications (Chart B)
| Family-Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01APR06 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | 01FEB25 | 01FEB25 | 01FEB25 | 01FEB25 | 01FEB25 |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01APR07 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 15JUN01 | 22SEP04 |
| F4 | 01JUN08 | 01JUN08 | 01OCT06 | 30APR01 | 01JAN08 |
- These dates guide when an applicant may file documentation.
- Always check USCIS’s official site to confirm whether the Dates for Filing can be used instead of the Final Action Dates (sometimes USCIS decides to allow applications to be filed earlier, depending on visa demand).
3. Employment-Based Preferences
Under Section 203(b) of the INA, employment-based immigrant visas are divided into five categories:
- EB-1 (First Preference): Priority workers (e.g., persons with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, certain multinational managers).
- EB-2 (Second Preference): Members of the professions holding advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability.
- EB-3 (Third Preference): Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers.
- EB-4 (Fourth Preference): Certain special immigrants (including religious workers).
- EB-5 (Fifth Preference): Employment creation (investors).
3.A. Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases
| Employment-Based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 08NOV22 | 15FEB22 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 22JUN23 | 01OCT20 | 01JAN13 | 22JUN23 | 22JUN23 |
| EB-3 | 01JAN23 | 01NOV20 | 15APR13 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| Other Workers (EB-3 “Other”) | 22MAY21 | 01APR17 | 15APR13 | 22MAY21 | 22MAY21 |
| EB-4 | U | U | U | U | U |
| Certain Religious Workers (EB-4) | U | U | U | U | U |
| EB-5 (Unreserved) | C | 22JAN14 | 01MAY19 | C | C |
| EB-5 (Rural 20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 (High Unemployment 10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 (Infrastructure 2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Key Highlights:
- EB-1 (First Preference) is current for most except China (08NOV22) and India (15FEB22).
- EB-2 for India has a notable backlog date at 01JAN13, while for China it is 01OCT20, and it is 22JUN23 for all other areas.
- EB-4 (and Religious Workers) is U (unavailable) across all chargeability areas, which means visas are not currently authorized.
- EB-5 (Unreserved) is current for most countries except China (22JAN14) and India (01MAY19).
Note on NACARA and Employment Third Preference Other Workers:
NACARA requires a reduction in the number of visas in this category once the cut-off date for Other Workers moves beyond November 19, 1997. For FY 2025, the reduction is approximately 150 visas.
3.B. Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications (Chart B)
| Employment-Based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 01JAN23 | 15APR22 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 01AUG23 | 01NOV20 | 01FEB13 | 01AUG23 | 01AUG23 |
| EB-3 | 01MAR23 | 15NOV20 | 08JUN13 | 01MAR23 | 01MAR23 |
| Other Workers (EB-3 “Other”) | 22JUN21 | 01JAN18 | 08JUN13 | 22JUN21 | 22JUN21 |
| EB-4 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| Certain Religious Workers (EB-4) | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| EB-5 (Unreserved) | C | 01OCT16 | 01APR22 | C | C |
| EB-5 (Rural 20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 (High Unemployment 10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 (Infrastructure 2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
- These filing dates can potentially allow applicants to submit adjustment-of-status applications earlier than the Final Action Dates, depending on USCIS’s monthly determination.
4. Diversity Immigrant (DV) Category
Each fiscal year, up to 55,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) are made available for nationals of countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. However, due to the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) and other legislative actions, the actual number for DV-2025 is reduced to approximately 52,000.
4.A. DV Availability for May 2025
The following rank cut-off numbers apply. Only applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW these cut-offs can receive a visa in May:
- AFRICA: 35,000 (Except Algeria: 34,500; Egypt: 32,500; Morocco: 30,000)
- ASIA: 6,500 (Except Iran: 6,450; Nepal: 6,450)
- EUROPE: 16,000 (Except Russia: 15,950; Uzbekistan: 9,000)
- NORTH AMERICA (Bahamas): 20
- OCEANIA: 1,550
- SOUTH AMERICA & the CARIBBEAN: 2,250
4.B. DV Availability for June 2025
The cut-off numbers for DV-2025 in June are:
- AFRICA: 42,500 (Except Algeria: 42,250; Egypt: 36,250; Morocco: 30,000)
- ASIA: 8,250 (Except Iran: 8,000; Nepal: 8,000)
- EUROPE: 17,500 (Except Russia: 17,450; Uzbekistan: 10,250)
- NORTH AMERICA (Bahamas): 20
- OCEANIA: 1,550
- SOUTH AMERICA & the CARIBBEAN: 2,300
Important Note: DV visas are valid only for the fiscal year in which the applicant is selected (here, FY 2025). The latest possible issuance date for DV-2025 is September 30, 2025, and numbers can run out before then.
5. Retrogression of EB-5 (Unreserved) Final Action Dates for India
The May 2025 bulletin notes a further retrogression for India in the EB-5 unreserved categories. Demand from Indian applicants, combined with increased worldwide demand in EB-5, caused the need to move the final action date backward to ensure that visa issuance stays within annual limits. The Department of State warns that if global demand continues to grow, a final action date might also be imposed for the Rest of the World in EB-5 unreserved.
6. Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Certain U.S. Government Employees
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 may impact current or former U.S. Government employees abroad (and certain surviving spouses/children). Applicants should contact the consular section where they filed their Form DS-1884 if they have questions. This does not affect SQ or SI SIVs for certain Iraqi and Afghan workers.
7. Conclusion and Key Reminders
- Check USCIS Guidelines Monthly:
- Always verify whether USCIS has authorized the use of the Dates for Filing chart instead of the Final Action Dates.
- This can help some applicants file their adjustment of status applications earlier.
- Stay Updated:
- The Visa Bulletin can change from month to month because of shifting demand, legislative changes, and overall visa usage.
- Retrogression can happen at any time if demand exceeds supply.
- Diversity Visa Deadlines:
- If you were selected for the DV-2025 program, ensure you complete all steps before September 30, 2025. Visas cannot be issued after the fiscal year ends.
- Per-Country Limits:
- Applicants from oversubscribed countries such as China-mainland born, India, Mexico, and the Philippines often face longer wait times.
For the most recent information or any updates that might occur after this bulletin, always visit the Department of State’s official website at travel.state.gov or the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo.
Disclaimer: This article is a simplified guide based on the official U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin for May 2025. The information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge but is subject to change. Always consult the official bulletin or legal experts for the most up-to-date and detailed information.
