The U.S. State Department released the August 2025 Visa Bulletin. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced filings for employment-based visa preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart in this bulletin.

Final Action Dates for EB-2 visa country categories retrogressed 1½ months to Sept. 1, 2023, except for India and China, which remained the same as last month. Final Action Dates for India EB-3 visas showed the only progression, advancing one month to May 22, 2013.

Final Action Dates:

EB-1 visa

  • China EB-1 visa Final Action Dates will remain the same (Nov. 15, 2022).
  • India EB-1 visa Final Action Dates will remain the same (Feb. 15, 2022).
  • For all other countries under the EB-1 visa category, including Mexico and the Philippines, Final Action Dates will remain current.

EB-2 visa*

  • China EB-2 visa Final Action Dates will remain the same (Dec. 15, 2020).
  • India EB-2 visa Final Action Dates will remain the same (Jan. 1, 2013).
  • For all other countries under the EB-2 visa category, including Mexico and the Philippines, Final Action Dates will retrogress 1½ months to Sept. 1, 2023.

EB-3 visa**

  • China EB-3 visa Final Action Dates will remain the same (Dec. 1, 2020).
  • India EB-3 visa Final Action Dates will advance one month to May 22, 2013.
  • For all other countries under the EB-3 visa category, including Mexico, Final Action Dates will remain the same (April 1, 2023). Final Action Dates for the Philippines will also remain the same (Feb. 8, 2023).

Final Action Dates Chart for Employment-Based Visa Applications

Preference Category All chargeability areas except those listed China India Mexico Philippines
EB-1 visa Current Nov. 15, 2022 Feb. 15, 2022 Current Current
EB-2 visa Sept. 1, 2023 Dec. 15, 2020 Jan. 1, 2013 Sept. 1, 2023 Sept. 1, 2023
EB-3 visa April 1, 2023 Dec. 1, 2020 May 22, 2013 April 1, 2023 Feb. 8, 2023

Additional Information: *Due to increased number use, it has become necessary to retrogress the EB-2 Final Action Date for Rest of World countries. The issuance total in this category is rapidly approaching the annual limit for fiscal year (FY) 2025, necessitating this slowdown of issuance rates. It is likely the annual limit will be reached sometime in August, if not sooner. If at any time the EB-2 annual limit is reached, the preference category would immediately become “unavailable” and no further requests for numbers would be honored. The State Department will continually monitor this situation and make any necessary adjustments accordingly.

**Visa demand and number use remain high in the EB-3 and EW visa categories, and issuance totals are approaching the annual limits for FY 2025 in those categories. It will likely be necessary to either retrogress the Final Action Dates or make the categories “unavailable” in September, if not sooner. The State Department will continually monitor this situation and make any necessary adjustments accordingly.

Review BAL’s employer’s guide to reading the Visa Bulletin to better understand this monthly report.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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