US Visa Bulletin, Green Card, EB5 green card
Synopsis:
The US State Department released the latest updated Visa Bulletin
for April 2025. It has, some changes for employment-based (EB) &
family-sponsored green card applicants. For India and China in the EB-5
Unreserved category, there were some modifications while other categories
show a little changes
Key Highlights
- Employment-Based
Green Card Updates
- EB-5
Unreserved Delays
- India:
Moved back by over two years to November 1, 2019.
- China:
Pushed back by two and a half years to January 22, 2014.
- For
all other countries, EB-5 remains unchanged.
The U.S. State Department has released the Visa Bulletin for April
2025. The Bulletin shows significant major for employment-based (EB) green card
applicants.
One of the major changes for India is that the EB-5 Unreserved
category has been pushed back by more than two years to November 1, 2019.
China also has seen a major setback. China, with its date moved
back by nearly two and a half years to January 22, 2014. However, for all other
countries, EB-5 Unreserved remains unchanged.
For categories such as EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3, India will see some
progress, employment-based category-4 remains "not available"
for all countries till the end of the financial year 2025, as the visa limit
has already been reached.
The U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services confirmed that in
April 2025, it will accept green card applications based on the Final Action
Dates chart from the Visa Bulletin.
It implies that applicants can submit their forms if their
priority date is earlier than the listed cutoff date for their category and
country.
Port of Entry Drama: H1B Holders on Edge
Every time an H1B visa holder leaves the U.S. for stamping, there
is a nagging worry, what if they cannot return? With the current
administration’s unpredictable policies, many are left wondering if the risk is
worth it.
Visa interviews have become more challenging. Even simple cases
are under greater scrutiny, with officers asking more questions than in the
past.
Getting appointments is difficult. Some consulates have wait times
that stretch for months, while, others suddenly open slots that fill up in
minutes. Those who manage to secure an appointment often encounter additional
processing delays.
Then there is the dreaded 221(g), a temporary refusal that can
extend for weeks or even months. Many H1B holders who thought their travel
would be routine have found themselves stuck outside, waiting with no clear
timeline.
Some have even run into issues at Port Of Entry, with officers
probing everything from job roles to the legitimacy of their employers. Even
individuals who have lived in the U.S. for years are not exempt from unexpected
denials.
Because of all this, many are opting to stay put. They are
skipping weddings, avoiding vacations, and even postponing important family
visits, just to steer clear of the uncertainty surrounding re-entry into the
country.
Why are EB-5 Visas delayed for India and China?
The U.S. State Department said that the EB-5 delays for India and
China took place because of a high demand for these visas. If demand continues
to rise, a Final Action Date may be set by the govt for applicants from all
other countries under the EB-5 Unreserved category also.
For EB-4 visas, all available visas for the 2025 fiscal year, have
already been issued by February 28, 2025. This means, no more EB-4 visas will
be given till the next financial year begins on October 1, 2025.
What Does Visa Bulletin Mean a Lot for Green Card Applicants?
The Visa Bulletin helps aspirants know when they can apply for a
green card. It is based on their visa category and the origin of the country.
It includes two key sections:
Dates for Filing: These applicants are the earliest date they can
submit their green card application.
Final Action Dates is determined when a green card application
will be processed and approved.
For employment-based green card applicants, it is mandatory to
check if their priority date falls before the listed date in the bulletin. If
so, the applicant can move forward with their application.
Family-Sponsored Green Card Updates for India
Those applying for family-sponsored green cards, check the latest
updates on the Final date of
Action and Filing Dates for India:
Final Action Dates
- F1
(Unmarried Sons/Daughters of U.S. Citizens): March 15, 2016. it was
previously set as November 22, 2015.
- F2A
(Spouses & Children of Permanent Residents): No change as
applicable - Earlier it was January 1, 2022
- F2B
(Unmarried Adult Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents): July 22,
2016. Earlier it was set as May 22, 2016.
- F3
(Married Sons & Daughters of U.S. Citizens): April 1, 2011, Earllier
it was July 1, 2010.
- F4
(Siblings of U.S. Citizens): June 15, 2006. Earlier it was April 8,
2006)
Dates for Filing:
- F1
No change: September 1, 2017
- F2A:
October 15, 2024. Earlier it was by July 15, 2024
- F2B
No change: January 1, 2017
- F3
No change: July 22, 2012
- F4:
October 1, 2006. Previously it was by August 15, 2006.
These dates help understand families when they can move forward
with their green card process. Applicants should keep checking for updates.
Employment-Based Green Card Categories
Employment-based green cards are given based on different
categories. It ensures a fair distribution of visas among skilled
professionals, workers, and investors.
EB-1 (Priority Workers): 28.6% of total employment-based visas go
to:
- People
with outstanding ability in their field
- Exceptional
professors and researchers
- Executives/Managers
of multinational companies
- EB-2
(Advanced Degree Holders): 28.6% of visas, plus any unused EB-1 visas, go
to:
- People
with advanced degrees and those with exceptional skills in their
industry
- EB-3
(Professionals/Skilled Workers/Other Workers): 28.6% of visas, plus any
unused
EB-1 and EB-2 visas, go to:
- Skilled
workers and professionals
- “Other
workers” doing unskilled labor are limited to 10,000 visas per year.
EB-4 (Special Immigrants) – 7.1% of visas go to:
- Religious
workers
- U.S.
foreign service employees
- U.S.
military personnel
- EB-5
(Investor Green Cards): 7.1% of visas go to investors who:
- Invest
in rural areas (20%)
- Invest
in high-unemployment areas (10%)
- Invest
in infrastructure projects (2%)
- The
remaining 68% is open to other investors
The April 2025 Visa Bulletin shows more delays for green card
applicants, particularly in the EB-5 category for India & China.
The more demand grows, the more processing times get longer. If
you are applying for a green card, check the Visa Bulletin regularly and get
updated on your application status.
Latest Update on Employment-Based Green Cards for India
If you are applying for a U.S. employment-based green card, here
are the latest updates on priority dates for India.
- Some
categories have moved forward, while others remain the same.
- Final
Action Dates -When green cards can be issued.
- EB-1
(Priority Workers): February 15, 2022 - Previously February 1, 2022.
- EB-2
(Advanced Degree Professionals): January 1, 2013 -Previously December 1,
2012.
- EB-3
(Skilled Workers & Professionals): April 1, 2013. Previously it was
February 1, 2013.
- Other
Workers: April 1, 2013 - Previously it was February 1, 2013.
- EB-4
- Special Immigrants: Unavailable
- Certain
Religious Workers: Unavailable
- EB-5
Unreserved (C5, T5, I5, R5): November 1, 2019. Previously it was
January 1, 2022.
- EB-5
Set Aside - Rural - 20%: Current
- EB-5
Set Aside - High Unemployment 10%: Current
- EB-5
Set Aside Infrastructure - 2%: Current
- Dates
for Filing; When applicants can submit documents
- EB-1:
April 15, 2022: No change
- EB-2:
February 1, 2013: Previously January 1, 2013.
- EB-3:
June 8, 2013: No change
- Other
Workers: June 8, 2013 - No change
- EB-4:
February 1, 2021 - No change.
- Certain
Religious Workers: February 1, 2021, No change
- EB-5
Unreserved (C5, T5, I5, R5): April 1, 2022 No change
- EB-5
Set Aside (Rural - 20%): Current
- EB-5
Set Aside (High Unemployment - 10%): Current
- EB-5
Set Aside (Infrastructure - 2%): Current
These dates show when applicants can move forward in the green
card process. Keep checking for more updates.
More Updates: US Dept of Labor to Purge H-1B & Other Visa
Records Older Than 5 Years
The U.S. Department of Labor is getting rid of H-1B and other work
visa records that are more than five years old. If you applied for an H-1B visa
a while back, those old files won’t be around anymore. They are clearing out
the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system, and anything past the
five-year mark is gone.
This could make life tricky for people who need those details
later on - like for renewals or legal stuff. An immigration firm called XIPHIAS
Immigration said this might mess things up for folks who didn’t keep their copies
of things like Labor Condition Applications or approval papers.
If you need to prove where you worked before, you could be out of
luck without those records. The folks at the Office of Foreign Labor
Certification, which is under the Department of Labor, told everyone they are
starting this cleanup at midnight on March 20. In the past, they’d just tuck
these records away, but now they are trashing them completely after five years.
That’s a big shift, and it could hit anyone who needs old info for visa
extensions or changes.
The FLAG system is what companies use to hire foreign workers
while keeping things fair for everyone. It handles applications for H-1B, H-2A,
H-2B, and a few other visa types, plus permanent labor certifications. But
don’t worry- not everything is getting deleted. Only records in FLAG that are
over five years past their final decision date are going away, as per the
latest report.
Employers have been told to grab any employee records older than
five years before March 19, because the official deletion kicks off on March
20, 2025. So, if your case was finalized on, say, March 23, 2020, it will
disappear on March 23, 2025. The advice now is to hang onto your copies of key
immigration papers-like those LCAs, I-797 notices, or PERM docs. XIPHIAS
Immigration stressed that employers and lawyers should keep their records
organized and safe since they cannot count on the government to hold onto them
anymore. With U.S. immigration rules always shifting, it is smart to stay
prepared.
