US Visa Bulletin March 2025: Key Green Card Updates for Indians
The US Visa Bulletin for March 2025 updates Final Action Dates for EB-2 and EB-3 categories. Learn about key changes impacting Indian green card applicants.
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The U.S. Department of State has published the Visa Bulletin for March 2025, outlining updates to Final Action Dates for employment-based green card categories. These changes impact Indian nationals seeking permanent residency, particularly in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories.
The latest visa bulletin shows movement in Final Action Dates for several employment-based visa categories. For Indian applicants, the EB-2 and EB-3 categories have advanced by six weeks. However, no changes have been made to the EB-1 and EB-5 categories.
In the EB-2 category, the Final Action Date has shifted from October 15, 2012, to December 1, 2012. Similarly, for EB-3 professionals and skilled workers, the date has advanced from December 15, 2012, to February 1, 2013. The EB-3 Other Worker category has also moved forward, now set at February 1, 2013.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that it will accept adjustment of status applications from individuals whose priority dates precede the Final Action Dates listed in the March 2025 bulletin. This allows eligible applicants to proceed with their green card applications.
The Final Action Date for the EB-4 category has been retrogressed by approximately 18 months to August 1, 2019. The State Department has cautioned that the EB-4 category may become unavailable in the near future due to high demand. Meanwhile, there are no changes in the EB-5 investor visa category.
The monthly Visa Bulletin is essential for individuals navigating the U.S. green card process. It provides two key sets of dates:
Filing Dates: Indicate when applicants can submit documentation for a status change.
Final Action Dates: Determine when green card applications can be processed and approved.
Applicants must monitor these dates to ensure timely submission and processing of their applications. Those transitioning from non-immigrant visas, such as the H-1B, must update their visa status upon obtaining permanent residency.
The advancement of EB-2 and EB-3 categories brings relief to Indian professionals in the U.S. awaiting permanent residency. However, continued backlogs and retrogression in other categories highlight the need for long-term immigration policy reforms.
