Every month, the U.S. Department of State releases a Visa Bulletin that determines which immigrant visa applications are eligible for final action or filing, serving as a roadmap for thousands of families, workers, and Diversity Visa applicants around the world. The bulletins for April 2025 and May 2025 are no exception; they provide crucial insights into shifting priority dates, possible advances or retrogressions in various categories, and overall visa availability across Family-Sponsored, Employment-Based, and Diversity Visa (DV) classifications.
By comparing these two publications side by side, we gain a clear picture of how certain categories—especially those prone to backlogs, like F2A, EB-3, and EB-5—have evolved from month to month. This in-depth analysis not only highlights areas where applicants might see improved opportunities but also underscores the complexities of the U.S. immigration system as it constantly adjusts to meet global demand.
The “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing” across multiple U.S. immigrant visa categories:
- Family-Sponsored (F) preferences (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4)
- Employment-Based (EB) preferences (EB-1 through EB-5)
- Diversity Visas (DV)
- Occasional notes on special provisions, such as religious workers (EB-4), NACARA reductions, and SIV updates.
The “Final Action Dates” chart indicates when visas can actually be approved and issued. The “Dates for Filing” chart indicates when applicants can submit the required documents (or file adjustment of status, if eligible) to the National Visa Center or USCIS.
The sections below first summarize Family-Sponsored changes, then Employment-Based changes, and finally Diversity Visa changes from April 2025 to May 2025.
2. Family-Sponsored Preferences
A. Final Action Dates (F)
Key Differences from April 2025 to May 2025
Below is a simplified comparison table for the principal Family-Sponsored preference categories (F1–F4). Dates shown are the cut-off dates beyond which visas are not authorized for issuance. (“C” indicates “Current,” meaning no backlog; “U” indicates “Unavailable.”)
| Category & Chargeability | April 2025 | May 2025 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (All Chargeability Areas Except Listed) | 15MAR16 | 15MAR16 | No change |
| F1 (Mexico) | 01JAN05 | 22APR05 | Advanced ~3.5 months |
| F1 (Philippines) | 15JUL12 | 15JUL12 | No change |
| F2A (All Chargeability, subject to limit) | 01JAN22 | 01JAN22 | No change |
| F2A (Mexico) | 15MAY21 | 15MAY21 | No change |
| F2B (All Chargeability Except Listed) | 22JUL16 | 22JUL16 | No change |
| F2B (Mexico) | 01JAN06 | 01JAN06 | No change |
| F2B (Philippines) | 22JAN12 | 08FEB12 | Advanced ~17 days |
| F3 (All Chargeability Except Listed) | 01APR11 | 01APR11 | No change |
| F3 (Mexico) | 15JAN01 | 15JAN01 | No change |
| F3 (Philippines) | 22MAR03 | 22SEP03 | Advanced ~6 months |
| F4 (All Chargeability Except Listed) | 01AUG07 | 01JAN08 | Advanced ~5 months |
| F4 (China mainland) | 01AUG07 | 01JAN08 | Advanced ~5 months |
| F4 (India) | 15JUN06 | 15JUN06 | No change |
| F4 (Mexico) | 15MAR01 | 15MAR01 | No change |
| F4 (Philippines) | 01JAN05 | 01JUN05 | Advanced ~5 months |
Observations for Final Action (Family-Sponsored)
- F1 Mexico advances over three months (from 01JAN05 to 22APR05), a notable forward movement.
- F2B Philippines sees a small forward movement (22JAN12 to 08FEB12).
- F3 Philippines moves forward half a year (22MAR03 to 22SEP03).
- F4 All Chargeability and China each advance by about five months (01AUG07 to 01JAN08). The Philippines sees a five-month forward jump in F4 as well.
- Some categories (e.g., F1 for “All Chargeability,” F1 for “Philippines,” and others) remain unchanged.
B. Dates for Filing (F)
Key Differences from April 2025 to May 2025
Below is the comparison table for the “Dates for Filing” (i.e., when applicants can begin submitting all required documentation).
| Category & Chargeability | April 2025 | May 2025 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (All Chargeability Except Listed) | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | No change |
| F1 (Mexico) | 01APR06 | 01APR06 | No change |
| F1 (Philippines) | 22APR15 | 22APR15 | No change |
| F2A (All Chargeability)** | 15OCT24 | 01FEB25 | Advanced ~3.5 months |
| F2A (Mexico) | 15OCT24 | 01FEB25 | Advanced ~3.5 months |
| F2B (All Chargeability Except Listed) | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | No change |
| F2B (Mexico) | 01APR07 | 01APR07 | No change |
| F2B (Philippines) | 01OCT13 | 01OCT13 | No change |
| F3 (All Chargeability Except Listed) | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | No change |
| F3 (Mexico) | 15JUN01 | 15JUN01 | No change |
| F3 (Philippines) | 22SEP04 | 22SEP04 | No change |
| F4 (All Chargeability Except Listed) | 01APR08 | 01JUN08 | Advanced 2 months |
| F4 (Mexico) | 30APR01 | 30APR01 | No change |
| F4 (Philippines) | 01JAN08 | 01JAN08 | No change |
Observations for Dates for Filing (Family-Sponsored)
- F2A is the biggest mover: from 15OCT24 to 01FEB25 for all chargeability areas (including Mexico). This is a roughly 3.5-month advancement, giving spouses and children of permanent residents a head start on filing.
- F4 (All Chargeability Except Listed) slightly improves from 01APR08 to 01JUN08 (2-month advancement).
3. Employment-Based Preferences
A. Final Action Dates (EB)
Key Differences from April 2025 to May 2025
| EB Category | Chargeability | April 2025 | May 2025 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (All, except China/India) | N/A | Current (C) | Current (C) | No change |
| EB-1 (China) | China-mainland | 08NOV22 | 08NOV22 | No change |
| EB-1 (India) | India | 15FEB22 | 15FEB22 | No change |
| EB-2 (All, except China/India) | N/A | 22JUN23 | 22JUN23 | No change |
| EB-2 (China) | China-mainland | 01OCT20 | 01OCT20 | No change |
| EB-2 (India) | India | 01JAN13 | 01JAN13 | No change |
| EB-3 (All, except China/India) | N/A | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | No change |
| EB-3 (China) | China-mainland | 01NOV20 | 01NOV20 | No change |
| EB-3 (India) | India | 01APR13 | 15APR13 | Advanced ~2 weeks |
| EB-3 Other Workers (All exc. India/China) | N/A | 22MAY21 | 22MAY21 | No change |
| EB-3 Other Workers (India) | India | 01APR13 | 15APR13 | Advanced ~2 weeks |
| EB-4 | All | Unavailable (U) | Unavailable (U) | No change (Annual limit reached) |
| EB-5 Unreserved (All except China/India) | N/A | Current (C) | Current (C) | No change |
| EB-5 Unreserved (China) | China-mainland | 22JAN14 | 22JAN14 | No change |
| EB-5 Unreserved (India) | India | 01NOV19 | 01MAY19 | Retrogressed 6 months backwards |
Observations for EB Final Action
- EB-3 India moves forward by about 2 weeks (from 01APR13 to 15APR13). This is good news for Indian applicants in the Skilled Workers/Professionals category.
- EB-3 Other Workers (India) also mirrors that 2-week forward movement.
- EB-5 India experiences a 6-month retrogression from 01NOV19 back to 01MAY19 under the “unreserved” category. This is the most significant negative change, caused by the high demand and usage of EB-5 numbers by Indian nationals and by applicants from other parts of the world.
- EB-4 remains Unavailable (U) in both bulletins because the annual limit for FY 2025 was reached in February 2025. This unavailability persists through the end of the fiscal year (September 30, 2025).
B. Dates for Filing (EB)
Key Differences from April 2025 to May 2025
| EB Category | Chargeability | April 2025 | May 2025 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (All except China/India) | N/A | Current (C) | Current (C) | No change |
| EB-1 (China) | China-mainland | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | No change |
| EB-1 (India) | India | 15APR22 | 15APR22 | No change |
| EB-2 (All except China/India) | N/A | 01AUG23 | 01AUG23 | No change |
| EB-2 (China) | China-mainland | 01NOV20 | 01NOV20 | No change |
| EB-2 (India) | India | 01FEB13 | 01FEB13 | No change |
| EB-3 (All except China/India) | N/A | 01MAR23 | 01MAR23 | No change |
| EB-3 (China) | China-mainland | 15NOV20 | 15NOV20 | No change |
| EB-3 (India) | India | 08JUN13 | 08JUN13 | No change |
| EB-3 Other Workers | All except India/China | 22JUN21 | 22JUN21 | No change |
| EB-3 Other Workers (India) | India | 08JUN13 | 08JUN13 | No change |
| EB-4 (All) | All | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | No change |
| EB-5 Unreserved (All except China/India) | N/A | Current (C) | Current (C) | No change |
| EB-5 Unreserved (China) | China-mainland | 01OCT16 | 01OCT16 | No change |
| EB-5 Unreserved (India) | India | 01APR22 | 01APR22 | No change |
Observations for EB Dates for Filing
- There were no changes from April 2025 to May 2025 in the EB “Dates for Filing” chart.
- All relevant categories either stayed “C” (Current) or held the same cut-off dates as in April 2025.
4. Diversity Visa (DV) Categories
The Diversity Visa section shows rank cut-off numbers for each region. Applicants with lottery rank numbers below those cut-offs can be scheduled for a visa interview (subject to the DV rules and regional limits).
DV Availability for the Month
April 2025
- Africa: 30,000 (except Algeria 29,950; Egypt 27,950; Morocco 27,950)
- Asia: 6,000 (except Iran 5,950; Nepal 5,950)
- Europe: 16,000 (except Russia 15,950; Uzbekistan 7,750)
- North America (Bahamas): 20
- Oceania: 1,500
- South America and the Caribbean: 2,200
May 2025
- 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 and the Caribbean: 2,250
Observations for DV
- Africa advanced from 30,000 to 35,000, including specific sub-advancements for Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco.
- Asia advanced from 6,000 to 6,500, with corresponding changes for Iran and Nepal.
- Europe remains at a 16,000 cut-off for “All DV Chargeability,” but Uzbekistan advanced from 7,750 to 9,000. Russia remains at 15,950.
- Oceania advanced slightly from 1,500 to 1,550.
- South America and the Caribbean advanced from 2,200 to 2,250.
Overall, the DV cut-off ranks show steady forward progress from April to May, reflecting continued availability of DV numbers to a broader range of lottery winners.
5. Important Observations and Takeaways
- Family-Sponsored Movements
- Noticeable Forward Movement: Several categories, particularly F1 (Mexico), F2B (Philippines), and F3/F4 (Philippines), advanced by varying degrees.
- F2A Filing Dates: The biggest positive shift is the forward leap from 15OCT24 to 01FEB25 for all chargeability areas, giving F2A applicants the opportunity to file earlier.
- Employment-Based Categories
- EB-3 India Gains Ground: EB-3 (Skilled/Professional) and EB-3 Other Workers (India) advanced by two weeks in the Final Action chart, which is modest but welcome for Indian nationals who have been waiting.
- EB-5 India Retrogression: The most notable setback. EB-5 (unreserved) final action date for India moved backward six months, from 01NOV19 to 01MAY19, due to large demand.
- EB-4 Unavailable: As with the April 2025 bulletin, EB-4 (including certain religious workers) remains unavailable for the rest of FY 2025.
- Diversity Visa
- Advancement in Most Regions: The rank cut-offs for DV-2025 advanced across Africa, Asia, Europe (particularly Uzbekistan), Oceania, and South America/Caribbean.
- Encouraging for Lottery Selectees: The continuous upward movement means more DV selectees are eligible to be scheduled for interview and final processing.
- No Changes in Some Areas
- EB-1: Continues to be “Current” for most, with no final action date changes for China or India.
- EB-2: No changes from April to May across all chargeability areas in the final action chart.
- Dates for Filing (EB): Fully unchanged from April to May 2025.
- Underlying Reasons for Movement
- Per-Country Demand: Heavy usage in categories like EB-5 by Indian applicants prompted retrogression.
- Overall Worldwide Demand: Where demand from “Rest of World” grows, it can tighten availability for historically backlogged countries, causing potential retrogressions.
- Annual Limit Resets: Categories such as EB-4, which have exhausted their annual allotment, remain “unavailable” until the new fiscal year (beginning October 1).
Conclusion
Between April 2025 and May 2025, the Visa Bulletin shows a blend of moderate advancements, continued unavailability, and one notable retrogression in EB-5 (India). Key highlights include:
- Family-Sponsored: Many categories saw forward movement, especially for Mexico and the Philippines (F1, F2B, F3, F4). F2A’s Dates for Filing advanced substantially, creating earlier filing opportunities for spouses and children of Lawful Permanent Residents.
- Employment-Based: EB-3 India advanced slightly, while EB-5 India retrogressed six months. EB-4 remains unavailable. Most other categories held steady from April’s levels.
- Diversity Visa: The DV rank cut-offs advanced significantly in Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe and the Americas, benefiting many lottery selectees.
Applicants are always advised to check USCIS.gov and Travel.State.Gov for the latest instructions on whether to use the “Final Action Dates” or the “Dates for Filing” for adjustment of status. The monthly Visa Bulletin may shift suddenly based on demand, so staying informed and reacting promptly to changes remains crucial.
