US visa bulletin October 2025: Big relief for Indians waiting for green cards, good news for EB categories
The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2025 Visa Bulletin to kick-start the new government fiscal year. Here's a look at the highlights.
The US visa bulletin for October 2025, released by the U.S. Department of State, has revealed major movements of dates for India in the first visa bulletin for the fiscal year 2026 set to begin on October 1. The Final Action Date for EB-5 (unreserved) India applications is set to move forward by nearly 15 months. Some positive movement was also noticed in other EB categories.
The EB-5 visa, an immigrant investor visa program, gives a green card to investors. The Final Action Date for India moved to February 1, 2021, from November 15, 2018.
The Final Action Date in the family visa category, F2A visa, meant for spouses and children of permanent residents, saw a movement of 17 months from September 1, 2022 to February 1, 2024.
The Final Action Date refers to the cutoff date used by the US State Department to decide whether a green card/visa can be issued or approved. In case one’s priority date is earlier than the Final Action Date in their category, a visa is available now.
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The US visa bulletin October 2025 also revealed that the cap of family visa for 2026 is 226,000. "The fiscal year 2026 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants determined in accordance with Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is 226,000. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320," the bulletin said.
October 2025 Visa Bulletin highlights
{{/usCountry}}The US visa bulletin October 2025 also revealed that the cap of family visa for 2026 is 226,000. "The fiscal year 2026 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants determined in accordance with Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is 226,000. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320," the bulletin said.
October 2025 Visa Bulletin highlights
{{/usCountry}}The Visa Bulletin highlights preference categories for family-sponsored immigrants. It provides important information for navigating the Green Card process. The following are the categories:
- First Preference (F1): Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- Second Preference (F2): Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents
- F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- Third Preference (F3): Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- Fourth Preference (F4): Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
The Visa Bulletin highlights preference categories for family-sponsored immigrants. It provides important information for navigating the Green Card process. The following are the categories:
- First Preference (F1): Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- Second Preference (F2): Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents
- F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- Third Preference (F3): Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- Fourth Preference (F4): Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
The limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants for the fiscal year is set at 226,000. Specific allocations are made for each preference category. Further, per-country limits are set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits. Immigrant visas are issued in order of priority, depending on the petition’s filing date.
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Preference immigrants’ children and spouses are entitled to the same status and consideration as the principal applicant. If visa issuances surpass the per-country limit, visa prorating provisions come into effect for oversubscribed chargeability areas, which include China (mainland born), India, Mexico, and the Philippines. These provisions are meant to make sure there is fair allocation of visas among applicants from different countries.
Family-sponsored green cards: final action dates
| Family-sponsored | India |
|---|---|
| F1 | November 8, 1016, (was July 15, 2016) |
| F2A | February 1, 2024 (was September 1, 2022) |
| F2B | November 22, 2016, (was October 15, 2016) |
| F3 | September 8, 2011 (was August 1, 2011) |
| F3 | November 1, 2006 (unchanged) |
Family-sponsored green cards: dates for filing
| Family- sponsored | India |
|---|---|
| F1 | September 1, 2017 (unchanged) |
| F2A | September 22, 2025, (was June 1, 2025) |
| F2B | January 1, 2017 (unchanged) |
| F3 | July 22, 2012 (unchanged) |
| F4 | December 1, 2006 (unchanged) |
Employment-based preferences
The allocation of immigrant visas in the employment-based preference categories ensures a balanced distribution among different types of skilled and unskilled workers, professionals, and investors.
- Priority Workers: the category, which receives 28.6% of the global employment-based preference level, includes individuals with extraordinary abilities in their field, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives or managers. Surplus numbers that are not used for the fourth and fifth preferences can be allocated here.
- Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Individuals of Exceptional Ability: the category, also allotted 28.6% of the global employment-based preference level and also numbers that are not needed by the first preference, covers individuals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional abilities in their respective fields.
- Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: the category, which receives 28.6% of the worldwide level plus numbers not required by the first and second preferences, includes skilled workers and professionals, and "other workers" performing unskilled labor, with a cap of 10,000 visas.
- Certain Special Immigrants: the category, allocated 7.1% of the global level, includes religious workers, certain employees of U.S. foreign service posts, and individuals who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
- Employment Creation: the category receives 7.1% of the global level. It is also divided in order to make sure there is targeted investment and job creation:
- 20% for qualified immigrants investing in rural areas
- 10% for those investing in high unemployment areas
- 2% for those investing in infrastructure projects
- The remaining 68% is unrestricted and available to all other eligible investors
Employment-based green cards: final action dates
| Employment-based | India |
|---|---|
| 1st | February 15, 2022 (unchanged) |
| 2nd | January 1, 2013 (unchanged) |
| 3rd | August 22, 2013 (was May 22, 2013) |
| Other Workers | August 22, 2013 (was May 22, 2013) |
| 4th | July 1, 2020 |
| Certain Religious Workers | U |
| 5th Unreserved(including C5, T5, I5, R5) | February 1, 2021 (was November 15, 2019) |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | Current |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) | Current |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | Current |
Employment-based green cards: dates for filing
| Employment-based | India |
|---|---|
| 1st | April 15, 2023 (was April 15, 2022) |
| 2nd | December 1, 2013 (was February 1, 2013) |
| 3rd | August 15, 2014 (was June 8, 2013) |
| Other Workers | August 15, 2014 (was June 8, 2013) |
| 4th | February 15, 2021 (was February 1, 2021) |
| Certain Religious Workers | U |
| 5th Unreserved(including C5, T5, I5, R5) | 1 April 2022 (unchanged) |
| 5th Set Aside: (Rural - 20%) | Current |
| 5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment - 10%) | Current |
| 5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure - 2%) | Current |
