US Visa Bulletin for January 2025: Key updates on green card availability for Indian applicants
As of now, over a million Indians are waiting for green cards, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services
US green card update: The US Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs has released the Visa Bulletin for January 2025, providing important updates for green card applicants, particularly benefiting those from India. The bulletin shows notable advancements in both family-sponsored and employment-based (EB) visa categories, easing the waiting times for many Indian applicants.
Each month, the Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, offering updates on the availability of immigrant visa numbers for individuals waiting to apply for green cards in the US. In this latest bulletin, the cap for employment-based preference immigrants is set at 1,40,000, while the limit for family-sponsored category immigrants stands at 2,26,000.
As of now, over a million Indians are waiting for green cards, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The backlog in employment-based visa categories is projected to reach 2.19 million by fiscal year 2030, with estimates suggesting it could take up to 195 years to clear the backlog, based on Congressional Research Service (CRS) projections.
Family-sponsored visa updates
Indians in the US, with a community of approximately five million, are among the most significant immigrant groups. For FY 2025, the limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants is set at 2,26,000, while the per-country limit is fixed at 7% of the total number of annual family-sponsored visas.
Key changes in the Visa Bulletin include
First Preference (F1): The final action date for Indian applicants has advanced from October 22, 2015, to November 22, 2015. This category is for unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens. The date for filing applications remains at September 1, 2017
Second Preference (F2A and F2B): The final action date for F2A (spouses and children of permanent residents) remains unchanged at January 1, 2022. However, the F2B category (unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents) sees an improvement, advancing from May 1, 2016, to May 22, 2016
Third Preference (F3): The final action date shifts from April 15, 2010, to July 1, 2010, with the filing date moving from April 22, 2012, to July 22, 2012
Fourth Preference (F4): The final action date advances from March 8, 2006, to April 8, 2006, and the filing date moves from August 1, 2006, to August 15, 2006
Employment-based visa updates
In employment-based categories, the final action dates for certain preferences are as follows:
EB-1 (Priority Workers): The final action date remains February 1, 2022
EB-2 (Professionals with Advanced Degrees/Exceptional Ability): The final action date advances from August 1, 2012, to October 1, 2012
EB-3 (Skilled Workers/Professionals): The final action date is now December 1, 2012, an improvement from November 8, 2012
EB-4 (Special Immigrants): The final action date remains unchanged at January 1, 2021
EB-5 (Investor Visas): The final action date remains January 1, 2022