Immigration Lawyer Blog
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 September 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 September.
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 September.
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 September.
Please click here for more information.
Highlights of the September 2025 Visa Bulletin
At a Glance
What can we expect to see in the month of September?
Employment-Based Categories
There will be no changes to the employment-based Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for the month of September.
The Visa Bulletin contains an important note that says the Visa Office expects to reach the FY 2025 annual limit for most employment-based categories during August and September. When this occurs, affected categories will become “unavailable” and no visas will be issued.
Family-Sponsored Categories
Final Action Advancements
F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- F2B Mexico will advance by 3 months to April 1, 2007
- F2B Philippines will advance by 2.3 weeks to May 1, 2012
F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F3 Philippines will advance by 5 months to May 1, 2004
Dates for Filing Advancements
F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- F2A All countries will advance by 2 months to June 1, 2025
F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F3 Philippines will advance by 5 months to May 1, 2005
Employment-Based Categories
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
The following Final Action cutoff dates will continue to apply for employment-based categories in the month of September.
*No change from 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 remain at September 1, 2023
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- EB-3 India will remain at 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 remain at 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
EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)
- EB-5 India will remain at November 15, 2019
- EB-5 China will remain at December 08, 2015
- 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 | 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
The following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will continue to apply in September.
*No change from August
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)
- EB-5 India will remain at April 1, 2022
- EB-5 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 September 2025 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories in the month of September.
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 advance by 3 months to April 1, 2007
- F2B Philippines will advance by 2.3 weeks to May 1, 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 advance by 5 months to May 1, 2004
- 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 remain at 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 | 01APR07 | 01MAY12 |
| F3 | 01AUG11 | 01AUG11 | 01AUG11 | 01FEB01 | 01MAY04 |
| F4 | 01JAN08 | 01JAN08 | 01NOV06 | 15MAR01 | 01JAN06 |
DATES FOR FILING FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
According to the Department of State’s September 2025 Visa Bulletin, the following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply in the month of September.
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 2 months to June 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 advance by 5 months to May 1, 2005
- 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 remain at January 1, 2009
*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements
| Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01JUN06 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | 01JUN25 | 01JUN25 | 01JUN25 | 01JUN25 | 01JUN25 |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01APR08 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 15JUN01 | 01MAY05 |
| F4 | 01JAN09 | 01JAN09 | 01DEC06 | 30APR01 | 01JAN08 |
Conclusion
For the employment-based categories, there will be no changes to the employment-based Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for the month of September. The Visa Office expects to reach the FY 2025 annual limit for most employment-based categories during August and September. When this occurs, the affected categories will become “unavailable” and no visas will be issued.
For the family-sponsored Final Action dates, F2B Mexico will advance by 3 months to April 1, 2007, F2B Philippines will advance by 2.3 weeks to May 1, 2012, and F3 Philippines will advance by 5 months to May 1, 2004.
For the family-sponsored Dates for Filing, F2A will advance by 2 months to June 1, 2025, for all countries, and F3 Philippines will advance by 5 months to May 1, 2005.
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