The Department of State has published the Visa Bulletin for December 2025. It confirms that there are still backlogs in important family-based and employment-based categories. Applicants from China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines remain significantly oversubscribed, with only limited forward movement. USCIS will announce which chart will apply to adjustment filings.
New Allocations and Ongoing Demand Pressures Define December Visa Bulletin
The Visa Bulletin for December 2025 reports immigrant visa availability in both family-sponsored and employment-based categories, continuing to reflect a significant gap between annual visa limits and the total number of pending applications. It offers updated priority dates and some filing information but reiterates that demand is high in most classifications.
USCIS will confirm on its website whether applicants should follow the Final Action Dates chart or the Dates for Filing chart when submitting adjustment of status applications. The choice of chart will determine whether certain applicants may proceed with document preparation while waiting for their priority dates to become current.
Family-Based Visa Categories Show Limited Advancement
Family-sponsored preference categories have many more applicants than available spots. Some countries still face long wait times. Applicants from China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines face some of the most prolonged waits.
Key updates include:
- F1: Priority dates have not moved much. Expect long queues in Mexico and the Philippines.
- F2A: Most categories have a Final Action Date of February 1, 2024, with earlier dates applied to exempt allocations.
- F2B, F3, F4: Minimal or no movement results in demand continually exceeding the annual limits.
Even when their Final Action Dates are still backlogged, the Dates for Filing chart remains useful for applicants eligible to start consular or adjustment preparations.
Employment-Based Categories Are Highly Limited
The employment-based categories show the same trends of ongoing demand, mainly from applicants in India and China.
Highlights include:
- EB 1: Current for most countries, with earlier priority dates assigned to China and India.
- EB2 and EB3: Oversubscription continues to restrict movement; for India, especially, priority dates remain the same.
- Other Workers: The NACARA allocation continues to impact the FY 2026 limits, with a reduced amount of visas available.
- EB 5: The unreserved categories for most regions remain current. However, China and India still have earlier cut-off dates. Reserved categories include rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure, which remain current worldwide.
Diversity Visa Program Updates for DV 2026
The Diversity Visa category continues with updated regional and country-specific rank cut-offs for December and January. Africa, Asia, and Europe show noticeable increases in January allocations. However, Nepal and Egypt maintain lower thresholds due to higher demand.
All DV 2026 applicants must complete processing by September 30, 2026. There are no extensions for visa issuance or admission beyond that statutory deadline.
Religious Worker Category Extended Through January 2026
The special immigrant religious worker category for non-ministers has been extended through January 30, 2026. Final Action Dates are aligned with other fourth preference categories. Admission for eligible applicants must occur on or before January 29, 2026.
Special Immigrant Visa Notices for Certain U.S. Government Personnel Abroad
Provisions of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act may impact processing for some Special Immigrant Visa applicants, including U.S. government employees overseas and their qualifying family members. Applicants should contact their processing consular posts for any updated requirements.
Looking Ahead
Demand is likely to remain high in both the family-sponsored and employment-based categories. It could decrease further in 2026 if the visa numbers remain limited. Applicants should consult USCIS announcements to determine which chart applies to adjustment filings each month.
For continued coverage of visa bulletin updates, filing trends, and U.S. immigration policy developments, visit ImmigrationQuestion.com.
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