What does the August 2025 US Visa Bulletin mean for Indian candidates?

The U.S. Department of State has launched the Visa Bulletin for August 2025, outlining key modifications in employment-based and family-sponsored inexperienced card classes. The replace exhibits notable ahead motion in the EB-5 unreserved investor class for India and China, whereas EB-2 candidates in all nations besides India and China face retrogression. Most family-based visa classes stay unchanged.

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EB-5 India and China see vital ahead motion

In the employment-based fifth choice (EB-5) unreserved class, the Final Action Date for India has moved ahead by over six months to November 15, 2019, from the earlier cutoff of May 1, 2019. This shift represents a considerable acquire for Indian candidates ready in the EB-5 investor queue. China additionally noticed a notable development on this class, with its Final Action Date progressing to December 15, 2015.

Applicants from all different nations in the unreserved EB-5 class stay present, that means there are not any closing dates and functions will be processed instantly.

EB-2 retrogresses globally besides for India and China

The employment-based second choice (EB-2) class has skilled retrogression for all nations besides India and China. The Final Action Date for these nations has been revised to September 1, 2023, from July 1, 2024, as acknowledged in the earlier bulletin. The bulletin attributes the change to excessive demand and the approaching fiscal yr’s annual visa limits.

For India, the EB-2 class stays at a Final Action Date of March 1, 2012, unchanged from the July 2025 bulletin. China’s EB-2 cutoff additionally stays static on February 1, 2020.

EB-3 India sees modest development

In the employment-based third choice (EB-3) class, India’s Final Action Date has superior by one month, shifting from April 22, 2013, to May 22, 2013. This modest ahead motion might present restricted aid to Indian professionals in the EB-3 queue. Other nations on this class, together with China, the Philippines, and Mexico, present no modifications and stay present.

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Family-sponsored classes stay largely unchanged

All family-sponsored visa classes replicate no vital modifications in the August bulletin. The Final Action Dates for most classes stay the similar as in July 2025. Notably, the F2A class (for spouses and youngsters of everlasting residents) continues to point out a Final Action Date of April 1, 2021, for all nations, unchanged from the earlier month.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced that it’ll proceed utilizing the “Dates for Filing” chart for all family-sponsored adjustment of standing functions in August 2025.

Visa availability and utility steerage

• The August 2025 Visa Bulletin signifies that EB-2 and EB-3 classes might turn out to be unavailable in the coming months if demand continues to exceed the annual visa limits.

• Applicants are suggested to observe the month-to-month visa bulletin intently to trace modifications and plan their filings accordingly.

• For employment-based classes, the USCIS will use the Final Action Dates chart to find out eligibility for submitting Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status).

• For family-sponsored classes, the Dates for Filing chart will proceed for use to find out eligibility for submitting adjustment functions.

Summary of key modifications for India