The November 2025 Visa Bulletin, published by the Department of State, reflects little forward movement in both family- and employment-based immigrant visa categories. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that all users are required to use the “Dates for Filing” chart, indicating that backlogs remain elevated and processing times are unlikely to decline this cycle.
Slow Progress in Green-Card Backlogs
The Department of State’s (DOS) November 2025 Visa Bulletin reports the persistence of green-card backlogs, despite ongoing applicant demand, in multiple preference categories. The bulletin, published this week, maintains largely static priority-date movements in both family- and employment-based classifications. For November, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that all applicants, whether family-sponsored or employment-based, must rely on the
Dates for Filing (DFF) chart when submitting adjustment-of-status applications. This approach enables individuals to prepare paperwork ahead of available visa numbers, but does not expedite the final approval process. The continued reliance on the DFF chart reflects the agency’s acknowledgment of an ongoing backlog that has expanded in recent fiscal years.
Family-Based Petitions: Slow and Uneven Movement
The November bulletin reveals a marginal improvement in a few family-sponsored categories, while others remain unchanged.
Key highlights include:
- F2A (Spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents): Cut-off date advanced modestly to February 1, 2024, for most countries.
- F1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens): No movement observed.
- F3 (Married adult children of U.S. citizens): Remains unchanged.
- F4 (Siblings of adult U.S. citizens): Remains frozen with no movement.
These small movements reflect a progressively deteriorating demand-supply imbalance, particularly for candidates from high-demand countries such as India, Mexico, and the Philippines. For most, the wait has now passed 10 years, demonstrating the ongoing strain on the family immigration program.
Employment-Based Categories: Only Small Movements
In the employment-based category, the November 2025 Visa Bulletin reflects the same standoff.
Category summary:
- EB-1 (Priority Workers): No movement for all chargeability countries.
- EB-2 (Professionals with Advanced Degrees): Priority dates are at a standstill, with the demand in tech and healthcare sectors still going strong.
- EB-3 (Professional and Skilled Workers): No progress.
- EB-5 (Immigrant Investors): Stands at the exact cut-off dates as previous times, with India and China facing backlogs.
While USCIS continues to permit filings under the Dates for Filing chart, Final Action Dates (FAD) remain stagnant, delaying visa issuance and permanent residence approvals. Specialists note that such inaction indicates administrative caution in the face of overwhelming application numbers and unused visa rollovers.
Implications for Applicants
Based on the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), both the Final Action Dates and the Dates for Filing serve distinct purposes. The Final Action Dates chart indicates when a visa number becomes available. In contrast, the Dates for Filing chart shows when an applicant can submit the next stage of documentation.
For November, USCIS’s practice of applying the DFF chart to all categories gives applicants time to prepare adjustment-of-status submissions, but also highlights the agency’s budget constraints and limited supply of visas available. Prospective applicants are encouraged to have their priority dates earlier than DFF cut-offs listed here and prepare documents in advance for potential future changes in future bulletins.
Looking Ahead
Lacking substantial gains in the November 2025 Visa Bulletin, immigration analysts are forecasting ongoing backlogs deep into the following fiscal quarter. When demand for visas is high, the Department of State will institute retrogression, temporarily moving cut-off dates back to maintain quota levels in conformity with the law. Applicants, sponsors, and employers are asked to stay informed about developments from the Department of State and USCIS for future updates.
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