The U.S. Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for April 2025. This bulletin includes information about family and job-related visas. There are a few updates, such as earlier application dates for some job categories and changes to the Diversity Visa numbers. It’s a good idea for applicants to regularly check for the latest info.
The bulletin has two main charts for immigrant visa applicants: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications. The Final Action Dates chart shows when an applicant’s visa can be processed. If you’re looking to adjust your immigration status while in the U.S., you should follow the Final Action Dates chart unless USCIS says otherwise.
The Dates for Filing chart is for applicants who aren’t adjusting their status through USCIS but want to submit documents to the National Visa Centre. You can use this chart to submit your paperwork if additional visas are available. The most recent information on which chart to use is always available on the USCIS website, so keep an eye out for their announcements before moving forward.
Categories of Family-Sponsored Visas
Each year, 226,000 family-sponsored visas are granted. The information for April 2025 is as follows:
- F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): This category is full for nations with varying final action dates, such as China, India, and Mexico.
For Mexico, applicants with priority dates after January 5, 2005, can’t apply yet.
- F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents): Everyone except Mexico can apply if their priority date is before May 15, 2021. For Mexico, applicants must have priority dates before January 22, 2022.
- F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents): January 6, 2006, is Mexico’s priority date; other applicants may apply if their date falls on or before July 22, 2016.
- F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): Backdating issues in the Philippines and India restrict applications to those with priority dates before January 1, 2001.
- F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens): For Mexico, the priority date is before March 1, 2001, and for India, it’s June 6, 2006.
Employment-Based Visa Categories
The employment-based visa limit is 140,000 annually. Here’s what’s going on in each category:
- EB-1 (Priority Workers): This category is open to everyone except applicants from China and India. They have priority date limits of February 2022 and November 2022, respectively.
- EB-2 (Professionals with Advanced Degrees): Indian applicants with priority dates before January 13, 2013, can apply. Other countries are still current.
- EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Other Workers): Indian and Chinese applicants can proceed if their priority dates are before April 13, 2013, for China and January 23, 2023, for others.
- EB-4 (Certain Religious Workers): This category is full for FY 2025 and won’t have visas available until October 1, 2025.
- EB-5 (Immigrant Investors): The final action dates for China and India are backdated as of April 2025, which limits available visas.
Diversity Immigrant Visas (DV)
The Diversity Visa program offers 55,000 visas each year to those from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. For April 2025, are 30,000 visas available for Africa, 6,000 for Asia, 16,000 for Europe, and some for regions like Oceania and the Caribbean. Keep in mind that there are some country-specific limits.
What’s Next?
As we come closer to May 2025, applicants should stay informed about final action dates or visa availability changes. Since visa demands can change, there could be backdating in oversubscribed categories.
Keeping an eye on the bulletin and checking the USCIS website for any updates is crucial for moving forward with applications.
To stay updated and informed, keep an eye out on our visa bulletin section or visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2025/visa-bulletin-for-april-2025.html
