As we are in New Year, the US Department of State begins a new Visa Bulletin on January 1. As stated below, USCIS declared in January 2025 that it will continue to use the Dates for Filing table for employment-based and family-sponsored preference categories.
Those who have the current priority dates shown in the Dates for Filing chart can thus submit their AOS application between January 1, 2025, and January 31, 2025. They are also advised to do so as soon as possible, ideally before the end of the month. The US Visa Bulletin for January 2025 provides important information on the availability of immigrant numbers, the deadlines for filing applications, and the Final Action deadlines.
Additionally, it provides instructions to applicants on how to send the National Visa Center the necessary paperwork. There are significant changes to the Final Action Dates for particular employment-based visa categories, but the Dates for Filing chart stays the same as it was in December 2024.
January US Visa Bulletin 2025
The January 2025 Visa Bulletin has a remark that raises the possibility of a major change to the EB-5 set-aside categories. The categories that have been set aside, in particular, have recently had the quickest approval times and the ability to submit applications for each foreign person seeking an immigrant visa or a change of status at the same time without encountering any backlogs. Priority date adjustments can be required during the fiscal year in order to avoid going above yearly restrictions, according to USCIS.
The fiscal year 2025 ceiling is 226,000 for family-sponsored immigrants and 140,000 for employment-based preference immigrants. Each nation is permitted to get 7% of the total number of visas, with dependent territories being limited to 2% (7,320 visas). About 52,000 visas are granted annually under the DV-2025 (Diversity Visa) program and no more than 7 percent of these visas may be issued by any one nation. The program ends on September 30, 2025, and all visas must be given by then. Only until the program’s conclusion are the wives and children of the principal applicant eligible.
Know Important changes for EB-2, EB-3 and EB-5 categories
The following adjustments should be noted by investors, though, if the DOS and USCIS set Cut-off Dates (Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates) for EB-5 set-aside categories:
EB-2 – Advancements:
India advances two months to October 1, 2012, and China advances one month to April 22, 2020, according to EB-2. The date of April 1, 2023, will be two weeks earlier for all other nations.
EB-3 – Advancements:
India moves forward by 3 weeks, reaching December 1, 2012. China gets to June 1, 2020, 2 months earlier. Every other nation moves up to December 1, 2022, by 2 weeks.
EB-5 categories
This note underlines how EB-5 set-aside categories are becoming more and more popular. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by Invest In the USA (IIUSA), a nonprofit trade association for EB-5 stakeholders, revealed that there will be more than 2,130 visas available for petitions from High Unemployment Areas (HUAs) and at least 4,270 visas available for petitions from Rural Areas in FY2025.
- Investors with legitimate status in the United States (H-1B, L-1, F-1, etc.) have benefited greatly from the concurrent filing option. enabling them to apply for a green card while waiting for a five-year work authorization card (EAD) and an international travel permission (Advance Parole).
- Longer wait times for investors to obtain a green card may occur, contingent on when their priority dates become current.
The note in the Visa Bulletin for January 2025 emphasizes the increasing demand in the EB-5 set-aside categories. Investors who are interested in learning how these possible changes would affect their particular cases should consult with their immigration lawyers.
Even though this could make investors uneasy, avoiding any problems can be avoided by being well-informed and collaborating with knowledgeable immigration specialists.
January US Visa Bulletin 2025 Looking Ahead
Both prospects and ongoing difficulties for employment-based immigration are presented in the January 2025 Visa Bulletin. The Dates for Filing chart for Adjustment of Status files has been adopted by USCIS, giving many applicants a much-needed opportunity to secure work and travel authorization documents after submitting the Adjustment of Status Application.
Additionally, there are slight advancements and reversals in the EB-2 and EB-3 final action schedules for particular nations and categories in the January 2025 Visa Bulletin. While this is promising, the overall wait time remains long, and businesses continue to struggle to retain outstanding talent.
The Bulletin reports that I-526E petition approvals are increasing, and more applications are being submitted under EB-5 set-aside categories. DOS may establish Filing Dates and Final Action Dates to ensure that yearly restrictions are not exceeded. DOS will track the situation and make any adjustments.
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Samarth Choudhary is a Chief Editor at keralacobank.com. He has overall editorial experience of 10 years in online media. He has completed his graduation from University of California and masters in Finance from University of Dallas in year 2010. His major interest and expertise is in Finance, Taxes, Government Aid and Schemes. His Major focus is to help users to get relevant information which are published on keralacobank.com in easy and precise form.