The October 2025 Visa Bulletin shows major advancements in U.S. employment-based and family-sponsored categories for Indian applicants
Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2025 Visa Bulletin, the first of the new fiscal year, bringing significant relief for Indian applicants across multiple categories. Compared with September 2025, the bulletin highlights major forward movement in EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based categories, while EB-4 has reopened after being unavailable for months. Family-sponsored F2A also saw progress.
For India, EB-2 (Advanced Degree/Exceptional Ability) and EB-3 (Skilled Workers/Professionals) advanced by three months in final action dates and over a year in dates for filing. EB-4, covering certain special immigrants, reopened with a cutoff date of 1 July 2020, while EB-5 investors recorded the sharpest gains, jumping by over 15 months. However, the Religious Worker program saw setbacks, moving back to Unavailable in filing.
Final Action Dates (India) now stand at:
- EB-1 (Priority Workers): 15 February 2022 (unchanged)
- EB-2: 1 April 2013 (+3 months)
- EB-3: 22 August 2013 (+3 months)
- EB-3 Other Workers: 22 August 2013 (+3 months)
- EB-4: 1 July 2020 (reopened)
- Religious Workers: Unavailable (U)
- EB-5 (Unreserved categories): 1 February 2021 (+15 months)
- EB-5 Set-Asides: Current (C)
Dates for Filing (India) also show strong progress:
- EB-1: 15 April 2023 (+12 months)
- EB-2: 1 December 2013 (+10 months)
- EB-3: 15 August 2014 (+14 months)
- EB-3 Other Workers: 15 August 2014 (+14 months)
- EB-4: 15 February 2021 (+2 weeks)
Officials noted that the forward movement provides Indian applicants greater clarity and opportunity to prepare documentation and file applications in the months ahead. The reopening of EB-4 and large advances in EB-5 are particularly expected to benefit long-waiting applicants.
