Breaking News: Visa Bulletin August 2025: Major Retrogression EB2 and More !!

Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the August 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the month of August.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will continue to use the Final Action Dates chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of August.

For family-sponsored preference categories, USCIS will also continue to use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of August.

Please click here for more information.

Highlights of the August 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of August?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

EB-2 Worldwide, Mexico, Philippines retrogressed by 1.4 months to September 1, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers and Other Workers

EB-3 India will advance by 1 month to May 22, 2013

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)

India will advance by 6.5 months to November 15, 2019
China will advance by 22.5 months to December 08, 2015

Dates for Filing Advancements

No advancements from July Visa Bulletin

Family-Sponsored Categories

Final Action Advancements

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

F4 India will advance by 3.8 months to November 1, 2006

Dates for Filing Advancements

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

F2A All countries will advance by 1 month to April 1, 2025

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

F4 Worldwide and China will advance by 3.8 months to January 1, 2009

Employment-Based Categories

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

According to the Department of State’s August 2025 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for employment-based categories in the month of August.

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

EB-1 India will remain at February 15, 2022
EB-1 China will remain at November 15, 2022
EB-1 All other countries will remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

EB-2 India will remain at January 1, 2013
EB-2 China will remain at December 15, 2020
EB-2 All other countries retrogressed by 1.4 months to September 1, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

EB-3 India will advance by 1 month to May 22, 2013
EB-3 China will remain at December 1, 2020
EB-3 Philippines will remain at February 08, 2023
EB-3 Worldwide and Mexico will remain at April 1, 2023

EB-3 Other Workers

EB-3 India will advance by 1 month to May 22, 2013
EB-3 China will remain at May 1, 2017
EB-3 All other countries will remain at July 8, 2021

EB-4 Religious Workers

Unavailable

As predicted by the State Department and announced on February 28, 2025, all available EB-4 immigrant visas for FY 2025 were issued as of February 28, requiring the State Department to make the category unavailable immediately.

EB-4 will be unavailable for the month of July and continuing through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025. No immigrant visa or adjustment of status applications may be approved in the EB-4 category through that date. The annual limit will reset at the start of the new fiscal year on October 1, 2025.

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)

India will advance by 6.5 months to November 15, 2019
China will advance by 22.5 months to December 08, 2015
All other countries will remain current

EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current

*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements

Employment- based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	15NOV22	15FEB22	C	C
2nd	01SEP23	15DEC20	01JAN13	01SEP23	01SEP23
3rd	01APR23	01DEC20	22MAY13	01APR23	08FEB23
Other Workers	08JUL21	01MAY17	22MAY13	08JUL21	08JUL21
4th	U	U	U	U	U
Certain Religious Workers	U	U	U	U	U
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU)	C	08DEC15	15NOV19	C	C
5th Set Aside: Rural (20%, including NR, RR)	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%, including NH, RH)	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%, including RI)	C	C	C	C	C

DATES FOR FILING FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

According to the Department of State’s August 2025 Visa Bulletin, the following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply in August:

*No change from July

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

EB-1 India will remain at April 15, 2022
EB-1 China will remain at January 1, 2023
EB-1 All other countries will remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

EB-2 India will remain at February 1, 2013
EB-2 China will remain at January 1, 2021
EB-2 All other countries will remain at November 15, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

EB-3 India will remain at June 8, 2013
EB-3 China will remain at December 22, 2020
EB-3 All other countries will remain at May 1, 2023

EB-3 Other Workers

EB-3 India will remain at June 8, 2013
EB-3 China will remain at January 1, 2018
EB-3 All other countries will remain at July 22, 2021

EB-4 Special Immigrants and Religious Workers

EB-4 will remain at February 1, 2021

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)

India will remain at April 1, 2022
China will remain at October 1, 2016
All other countries will remain current

EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current

Employment- based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	01JAN23	15APR22	C	C
2nd	15NOV23	01JAN21	01FEB13	15NOV23	15NOV23
3rd	01MAY23	22DEC20	08JUN13	01MAY23	01MAY23
Other Workers	22JUL21	01JAN18	08JUN13	22JUL21	22JUL21
4th	01FEB21	01FEB21	01FEB21	01FEB21	01FEB21
Certain Religious Workers	01FEB21	01FEB21	01FEB21	01FEB21	01FEB21
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)	C	01OCT16	01APR22	C	C
5th Set Aside: (Rural: NR, RR – 20%)	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment: NH, RH – 10%)	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure: RI – 2%)	C	C	C	C	C

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES

According to the Department of State’s August 2025 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories in the month of August.

F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F1 Mexico will remain at April 22, 2005
F1 Philippines will remain at July 15, 2012
F1 All other countries will remain at July 15, 2016

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

F2A Mexico will remain at February 1, 2022
F2A All other countries will remain at September 1, 2022

F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

F2B Mexico will remain at January 1, 2007
F2B Philippines will remain at April 15, 2012
F2B All other countries will remain at October 15, 2016

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F3 Mexico will remain at February 1, 2001
F3 Philippines will remain at December 1, 2003
F3 All other countries will remain at August 1, 2011

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

F4 Mexico will remain at March 15, 2001
F4 Philippines will remain at January 1, 2006
F4 India will advance by 3.8 months to November 1, 2006
F4 All other countries will remain at January 1, 2008

*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	15JUL16	15JUL16	15JUL16	22APR05	15JUL12
F2A	01SEP22	01SEP22	01SEP22	01FEB22	01SEP22
F2B	15OCT16	15OCT16	15OCT16	01JAN07	15APR12
F3	01AUG11	01AUG11	01AUG11	01FEB01	01DEC03
F4	01JAN08	01JAN08	01NOV06	15MAR01	01JAN06

DATES FOR FILING FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES

According to the Department of State’s August 2025 Visa Bulletin, the following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply in the month of August.

F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F1 Mexico will remain at June 1, 2006
F1 Philippines will remain at April 22, 2015
F1 All other countries will remain at September 1, 2017

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

F2A All countries will advance by 1 month to April 1, 2025

F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

F2B Mexico will remain at April 1, 2008
F2B Philippines will remain at October 1, 2013
F2B All other countries will remain at January 1, 2017

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F3 Mexico will remain at June 15, 2001
F3 Philippines will remain at December 1, 2004
F3 All other countries will remain at July 22, 2012

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

F4 Mexico will remain at April 30, 2001
F4 Philippines will remain at January 1, 2008
F4 India will remain at December 1, 2006
F4 Worldwide and China will advance by 3.8 months to January 1, 2009

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01SEP17	01SEP17	01SEP17	01JUN06	22APR15
F2A	01APR25	01APR25	01APR25	01APR25	01APR25
F2B	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN17	01APR08	01OCT13
F3	22JUL12	22JUL12	22JUL12	15JUN01	01DEC04
F4	01JAN09	01JAN09	01DEC06	30APR01	01JAN08

Important Notes on Number Use

The U.S. Department of State has announced several important updates regarding employment-based visa categories due to high demand and approaching annual limits for Fiscal Year 2025.

EB-2 Category (Rest of World): Due to increased demand, the EB-2 final action date for Rest of World is nearing its annual limit. As a result, this category may be made “unavailable” as early as August if limits are reached. When this occurs, no further visa numbers will be available for adjustment of status or immigrant visas. If you are eligible to apply for adjustment of status, you must file as soon as possible.

EB-3 and EW Categories: Visa usage remains high in the EB-3 and Other Workers (EW) categories. These are also close to hitting their annual limits. Retrogression of the final action date or making these categories “unavailable” is likely by September or sooner.

EB-5 Unreserved (China): Although the EB-5 Unreserved final action date for China was retrogressed in April due to high Rest of World demand, usage has been lower than expected. Therefore, the final action date has advanced to promote continued usage. However, if the annual limit is reached, the category will be made “unavailable.”

EB-5 Unreserved (India): Similar to China, India’s EB-5 Unreserved category was previously retrogressed due to high demand. Now, with anticipated unused family-sponsored visas shifting to employment-based categories, the final action date has advanced to maximize number use. If the annual limit is reached, the category will become “unavailable.”

Conclusion

For the employment-based final action dates, EB-2 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines retrogressed by 1.4 months to September 1, 2023. EB-3 India will advance 1 month to May 22, 2013. EB-5 Unreserved India will advance by 6.5 months to November 15, 2019, and EB-5 Unreserved China will advance by 22.5 months to December 08, 2015. EB-1 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines remains current.

In the dates or filing chart, there were no advancements from the July Visa Bulletin.

In the family-sponsored final action dates F-4 India will advance by 3.8 months to November 1, 2006. In the dates for filing for F2A all countries will advance by 1 month to April 1, 2025. F-4 Worldwide and China will advance by 3.8 months to January 1, 2009.

As we do every month, we will keep you updated on the upcoming movement and changes in the Visa Bulletin right here on our blog.

Contact Us. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-483-4549 or call 619-819-9204.

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