May 2025 Visa Bulletin

2025-04-17

The May 2025 Visa Bulletin is out, and it matters a lot if you’re an EB-3 applicant or an employer sponsoring foreign workers. This monthly update tells you when you can file your green card application or expect visa availability. For EB-3 applicants, it sets the priority dates that determine who can move forward and who needs to wait.

Staying current with the Visa Bulletin is key because it affects your timeline and planning. Employers rely on it to understand when their sponsored employees may proceed with the next steps in the green card process.

Adjustment of Status Filing: Which Chart to Use?

Each month, USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) announces whether applicants already in the U.S. should refer to the “Dates for Filing” or “Final Action Dates” on the Visa Bulletin:

Family-based categories: Use Dates for Filing
Employment-based categories: Use Final Action Dates

These charts are available on the U.S. Department of State’s official website.

May 2025 Visa Bulletin For Family-Based Green Cards

Highlights:

F-2A (Spouses and Children Under 21 of Green Card Holders) saw the biggest advancement—over three months forward for all countries.
F-4 (Siblings of U.S. Citizens) moved ahead by two months for most regions, excluding India and Mexico.
All other family-based categories (F-1, F-2B, F-3) remained unchanged.

F-1: Unmarried Children (Age 21 & Older) of U.S. Citizens

Country	New Cut-off Date	Old Cut-off Date	Change
All Countries	1-Sep-17	1-Sep-17	No Change
China	1-Sep-17	1-Sep-17	No Change
India	1-Sep-17	1-Sep-17	No Change
Mexico	1-April-06	1-April-06	No Change
Philippines	22-April-15	22-April-15	No Change

F-2A: Spouses & Unmarried Children (Below 21 Years Old) of U.S. Green Card Holders

Country	New Cut-off Date	Old Cut-off Date	Change
All Countries	1-Feb-25	15-Oct-24	3 months, 2 weeks
China	1-Feb-25	15-Oct-24	3 months, 2 weeks
India	1-Feb-25	15-Oct-24	3 months, 2 weeks
Mexico	1-Feb-25	15-Oct-24	3 months, 2 weeks
Philippines	1-Feb-25	15-Oct-24	3 months, 2 weeks

F-2B: Unmarried Children (Age 21 Years or Old) of U.S. Green Card Holders

Country	New Cut-off Date	Old Cut-off Date	Change
All Countries	1-Jan-17	1-Jan-17	No Change
China	1-Jan-17	1-Jan-17	No Change
India	1-Jan-17	1-Jan-17	No Change
Mexico	1-April-07	1-April-07	No Change
Philippines	1-Oct-13	1-Oct-13	No Change

F-3: Married Children of U.S. Green Card Holders

Country	New Cut-off Date	Old Cut-off Date	Change
All Countries	22-July-12	22-July-12	No Change
China	22-July-12	22-July-12	No Change
India	22-July-12	22-July-12	No Change
Mexico	15-June-01	15-June-01	No Change
Philippines	22-Sept-04	22-Sept-04	No Change

F-4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens

Country	New Cut-off Date	Old Cut-off Date	Change
All Countries	1-June-08	1-April-08	2 Months
China	1-June-08	1-April-08	2 Months
India	1-Oct-06	1-Oct-06	No Change
Mexico	30-April-01	30-April-01	No Change
Philippines	1-Jan-08	1-Jan-08	No Change

May 2025 Visa Bulletin for Employement Based Green Card

Most employment categories stayed the same, with one notable exception:

EB-5 for India retrogressed by six months, reflecting rising demand in the investor category.
EB-4 (Special Immigrants) is now unavailable until the new fiscal year due to reaching its annual cap.

EB-1: Extraordinary/Executive

Country	New Cut-off Date	Old Cut-off Date	Change
All Countries	Current	Current	No Change
China	8-Nov-22	8-Nov-22	No Change
India	15-Feb-22	15-Feb-22	No Change
Mexico	Current	Current	No Change
Philippines	Current	Current	No Change

EB-2: Advanced Degree Holders

Country	New Cut-off Date	Old Cut-off Date	Change
All Countries	22-June-23	22-June-23	No Change
China	1-Oct-20	1-Oct-20	No Change
India	1-Jan-13	1-Jan-13	No Change
Mexico	22-June-23	22-June-23	No Change
Philippines	22-June-23	22-June-23	No Change

EB-3: Skilled/Professional Workers

Country	New Cut-off Date	Old Cut-off Date	Change
All Countries	1-Jan-23	1-Jan-23	No Change
China	1-Nov-20	1-Nov-20	No Change
India	15-April-13	1-April-13	2 Weeks
Mexico	1-Jan-23	1-Jan-23	No Change
Philippines	1-Jan-23	1-Jan-23	No Change

EB-3: Unskilled/Other Workers

Country	New Cut-off Date	Old Cut-off Date	Change
All Countries	22-May-21	22-May-21	No Change
China	1-April-17	1-April-17	No Change
India	15-April-13	1-April-13	2 Weeks
Mexico	22-May-21	22-May-21	No Change
Philippines	22-May-21	22-May-21	No Change

EB-4: Special Immigrants

Country	New Cut-off Date	Old Cut-off Date	Change
All Countries	Unavailable	Unavailable	N/A
China	Unavailable	Unavailable	N/A
India	Unavailable	Unavailable	N/A
Mexico	Unavailable	Unavailable	N/A
Philippines	Unavailable	Unavailable	N/A

EB-5: Investors

Country	New Cut-off Date	Old Cut-off Date	Change
All Countries	Current	Current	No Change
China	22-Jan-14	22-Jan-14	No Change
India	1-May-19	1-Nov-19	-6 Months
Mexico	Current	Current	No Change
Philippines	Current	Current	No Change

What EB-3 Applicants Should Expect Moving Forward?

The green card process for EB-3 applicants means patience. The May 2025 Visa Bulletin shows some progress, but the pace remains slow, especially for India and China. Expect these realities as you move forward:

Visa wait times will likely remain long due to heavy backlogs and limited annual visa numbers in EB-3 India.
Date movements may be small each month, sometimes just weeks or even no change.
Retrogressions (backward moves in dates) can happen if demand suddenly spikes or numbers need to be managed.
Staying on top of monthly Visa Bulletins is critical. Even small date advances can affect when you file or when your green card gets approved.
Employers and applicants should plan for a multi-year wait, keeping all paperwork ready and updated.

While these waits can be frustrating, understanding your priority date, filing options, and the slow pace of visa availability will help you focus on the steps you can take today.

The May 2025 Visa Bulletin doesn’t speed things up, but it gives a clear picture of where you stand in the line. Keep your spot, file early when allowed, and keep an eye on future bulletins for signs of movement.

For detailed information on EB-3 Visa process and Cut-Off dates, you can always reach out to Pine Visa for a clear guidance.

Save money and time with Pine Visa.

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