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The latest Visa Bulletin for August 2025, released by the U.S. Department of State, has brought a mixed bag for employment-based green card applicants. While some saw small progress, others are facing frustrating delays — particularly in the EB-2 category.
EB-2 Applicants Face Slowdown
The EB-2 category, which includes professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, has retrogressed (moved backward) for most countries outside of India and China. For Rest of the World, Mexico, and the Philippines, the final action date has been pushed back to September 1, 2023. That’s a setback of nearly six weeks from the previous cutoff of October 15, 2023.
Unfortunately, EB-2 India and China remain stuck where they were — January 1, 2013 for India and December 15, 2020 for China. No forward movement there, meaning those long queues remain just as long.
EB-3 India Sees Modest Progress
On the brighter side, there’s some positive news for Indian applicants in the EB-3 category (which includes skilled workers and professionals). The final action date here has moved forward by one month, from April 22 to May 22, 2013. It’s not a big leap, but it offers a sliver of hope for those stuck in the long wait.
However, for EB-3 applicants from other countries — including Mexico, China, and the Philippines — there’s no movement. The dates remain frozen, reflecting high demand and the nearing annual cap for employment-based visas.
What to Know Going Forward
- USCIS will follow the Final Action Dates chart for August. Only applicants whose priority date is earlier than the cutoff can file their green card applications this month.
- With the fiscal year ending on September 30, visa numbers are tight. Further retrogression — or temporary unavailability — is possible in September.
- A reset may happen in October 2025, when the new visa year begins, possibly bringing relief.
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