The U.S. Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for August 2025, bringing slight but notable changes for employment-based green card applicants in the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories.
Quick Overview of Employment-Based Final Action Dates
EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability / Multinational Executives & Managers)
- India: February 15, 2022 (unchanged)
- China: November 15, 2022 (slight advancement)
- All Other Countries: Current
EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals / Exceptional Ability)
- India: January 1, 2013 (no change)
- China: December 15, 2020 (advances)
- All Other Countries: Current
EB-3 (Skilled Workers / Professionals / Other Workers)
- India: April 22, 2013 (advances modestly)
- China: December 1, 2020 (moves forward)
- Philippines: February 8, 2023 (unchanged)
- All Other Countries: April 1, 2023 (advances)
What This Means for Applicants
- Applicants from most countries (excluding India and China) continue to benefit from current priority dates in EB-1 and EB-2, allowing immediate filing.
- India and China face continued backlogs, particularly in EB-2 and EB-3 categories. EB-1 China shows slight advancement, but EB-1 India remains static.
- EB-3 sees modest forward movement for both India and China, offering gradual progress for long-waiting applicants.
Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing
For August 2025, USCIS will use the Final Action Dates chart. Applicants must have a priority date earlier than the listed cutoff to file Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status).
What You Should Do Next
- Check your I-140 priority date on your USCIS approval notice.
- If your date is current, you may be eligible to file your I-485 or proceed with consular processing.
- If you remain backlogged, explore alternatives such as O-1 visas or other work authorization options while awaiting your green card.
You can view the official bulletin here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa law0/visa-bulletin/2025/visa-bulletin-for-august-2025.html
