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

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

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 remain the same (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 remain the same (May 22, 2013).
  • For all other countries under the EB-3 visa category, including Mexico, Final Action Dates will remain the same (Apr.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 Apr. 1, 2023 Dec. 1, 2020 May 22, 2013 April 1, 2023 Feb. 8, 2023

Additional Information: There has been a steady increase in both USCIS and Department of State demand patterns for employment-based visas during the fiscal year. As a result, the Visa Office (VO) expects to reach FY-2025 category limits in most employment-based preference categories during August and September. If at any time an annual limit were reached, it would be necessary to immediately make the preference category “unavailable,” and no further requests for numbers would be honored.

The State Department is required to make the determination of the worldwide numerical limitations, as outlined in Section 201(c) and (d) of the INA, on an annual basis. These calculations are based in part on data provided by USCIS regarding the number of immediate relative adjustments in the preceding year and the number of aliens paroled into the United States under Section 212(d)(5) in the second preceding year. Without this information, it is impossible to make an official determination of the annual limits. To avoid delays in processing while waiting for the USCIS data, the VO bases allocations on reasonable estimates of the anticipated amount of visa numbers to be available under the annual limits, in accordance with Section 203(g) of the INA. On July 30, USCIS provided the required data to the VO and the Department of State determined the worldwide employment-based preference limit as 150,037 for FY-2025 in accordance with the terms of Section 201 of the INA.

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

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