Visa Bulletin January 2025
The January 2025 Visa Bulletin presents a mix of advancements across employment-based and family-sponsored categories. Below is a detailed breakdown and analysis of the changes:
Employment-Based Categories
- Dates for Filing:
No change in Dates for Filing from the previous month. This means there are no immediate shifts in the application process timing for those eligible to file under employment-based categories. - Final Action Dates:
Significant advancements were made in several EB-2 and EB-3 categories for certain countries.
EB-2 – Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability:
- EB-2 India: Advances by 2 months to October 1, 2012.
- This is a notable movement for India, providing more opportunities for applicants waiting for years.
- EB-2 China: Advances by 1 month to April 22, 2020.
- Moderate advancement for China, still keeping applicants in a relatively competitive wait for green cards.
- EB-2 All other countries: Advances by 2 weeks to April 1, 2023.
- There is a slight but consistent progression across the board for countries outside India and China.
EB-3 – Professionals and Skilled Workers:
- EB-3 India: Advances by 3 weeks to December 1, 2012.
- This is another small but steady improvement for Indian applicants despite the long wait.
- EB-3 China: Advances by 2 months to June 1, 2020.
- This is an enormous leap for China compared to India, potentially allowing more applicants to move forward.
- EB-3 All other countries: Advances by 2 weeks to December 1, 2022.
- These movements are modest but show gradual progression.
EB-3 Other Workers:
- EB-3 India: Advances by 3 weeks to December 1, 2012.
- EB-3 All other countries (except China): Advances by 1 week to December 8, 2020.
- Movement is slower for workers in the “Other Workers” category but still positive.
Family-Sponsored Categories
1- Final Action Dates:
F-1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens):
- Philippines: Advances by 1 week to March 8, 2012.
- India, China, and Worldwide: Advances by 1 month to November 22, 2015.
- The most significant movement is in the India and China categories, where applicants will see quicker processing, though global demand will still limit them.
F-2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents):
- Mexico: Advances by 1 month to May 15, 2021.
- This is a positive sign for Mexican families as the category gradually advances.
F-2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents, 21 or older):
- India, China, and Worldwide: Advances by 3 weeks to May 22, 2016.
- A steady advancement for countries experiencing high demand.
F-3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens):
- Mexico: Advances by 1 month to November 22, 2000.
- Philippines: Advances by 2 months to November 8, 2002.
- All other countries: Advances by 2 months and 16 days to July 1, 2010.
- The Philippines sees substantial movement, with other regions experiencing steady progression.
F-4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens):
- Philippines: Advances by 3 months to May 1, 2004.
- This is a significant leap for the Philippines, helping applicants wait the longest.
- India: Advances by 1 month to April 8, 2006.
- This is a modest but positive step forward for Indian applicants.
2- Dates for Filing Advancements:
F-2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters, 21 or older, of Permanent Residents):
- Mexico: Advances by 3 months to October 1, 2006.
- This is a substantial improvement, allowing more Mexican applicants to file.
F-3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens):
- India, China, and Worldwide: Advances by 3 months to July 22, 2012.
- This is a significant movement for applicants from India and China, creating opportunities for those waiting for several years.
F-4 (Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens):
- Philippines: Advances by 5 months to January 1, 2008.
- The most significant shift is for the Philippines in the F-4 category, providing substantial relief for Filipino families.
- India: Advances by 2 weeks to August 15, 2006.
- A small but steady advance for Indian applicants.
Conclusion and Outlook
Visa Bulletin January 2025 reflects continued incremental progress for many countries, especially in the family-sponsored categories. Applicants from India and China will experience moderate but positive movements, while countries like the Philippines see significant advances in specific categories, such as F-4 and F-3.
For employment-based categories, the EB-2 and EB-3 categories for India and China show a more gradual pace of advancement. However, the modest movement in family and employment categories suggests that the backlog and demand for visas remain high, particularly for certain countries. Applicants must watch these ongoing changes closely as their priority dates move closer to current processing times.
The visa bulletin is expected to continue its small but steady progress trend in the coming months, focusing on balancing the wait times for high-demand countries like India, China, and Mexico.
