May 2025 Visa Bulletin

By: Jioselin Juarez-Contreras and Brian Meza

On a monthly basis, the United States Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs issues out a bulletin on the availability of immigrant numbers for “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications” to indicate when applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center (NVC). If you are waiting for an immigrant visa, this bulletin helps determine when you can proceed with your application based on your priority date (the date your petition was filed).

For May 2025, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed the following:

• Family-Sponsored Filings Applicants: All applicants must use the "Dates for Filing" chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for May 2025.
• Employment-Based Preference Filings: All applicants must use the "Final Action Dates" chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for May 2025.

Visa Bulletin Dates:

Family-Sponsored Visa Dates according to Dates for Filing Chart for May 2025:

• F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens):
• China (mainland born): September 1, 2017
• India: September 1, 2017
• Mexico: April 1, 2006
• Philippines: April 22, 2015
• For all Countries not listed above: September 1, 2017

• F2A (Spouses and Unmarried Children under 21 of Permanent Residents):
• All Countries: February 1, 2025

• F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters 21 or older of Permanent Residents):
• Mexico: April 1, 2007
• Philippines: October 1, 2013
• For all Countries not listed: January 1, 2017

• F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens):
• Mexico: June 15, 2001
• Philippines:  September 22, 2004
• For all Countries not listed above: July 22, 2012

• F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens):
• India: October 1, 2006
• Mexico: April 30, 2001
• Philippines: January 1, 2008
• For all Countries not listed above: June 1, 2008

Employment-Based Preference Filings Visa Dates according to the “Final Action Dates” Chart for May 2025:

• First Preferences (EB-1):
• China (Mainland Born): November 8, 2022
• India: February 15, 2022
• For all Countries not listed above:  Current (numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants)

• Second Preference (EB-2):
• China (Mainland Born): October 1, 2020
• India: January 1, 2013
• For all Countries not listed above: June 22, 2023

• Third Preference (EB-3):
• China (Mainland Born): November 1, 2020
• India: April 15, 2013
• For all Countries not listed above: January 1, 2023

• Other Workers:
• China: April 1, 2017
• India: April 15, 2013
• For all Countries not listed above: May 22, 2021

• Fourth Preference (EB-4) and Certain Religious Workers: Unauthorized (numbers are not authorized for issuance)

• Fifth Preference (EB-5 – Unreserved):
• China (Mainland Born): January 22, 2014
• India: May 1, 2019
• For all Countries not listed: Current

• EB-5 Set-Asides: Current

According to the State Department’s May Visa Bulletin, the following updates have been made:

• The EB-3 Final Action Date for India will advance two weeks to April 15, 2013.
• The EB-5 unreserved category Final Action Date for India will retrogress by six months to May 01, 2019.
• In June 2025, USCIS will accept employment-based Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications from foreign nationals with a priority date earlier than the listed Final Action Dates from the May Visa Bulletin. 

If your priority date matches the dates listed in the table for your category, reach out to us for assistance. To stay updated and for full details, refer to the official May 2025 Visa Bulletin USCIS guidelines at www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo to determine which chart applies for filing your Adjustment of Status (AOS) application.