Visa Bulletin (April 2025): What It Means for Your Green Card Journey
If you are intending to become a U.S. permanent resident through a family-sponsored or employment-based visa, the monthly Visa Bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) is a crucial resource to monitor. The Visa Bulletin essentially dictates when you can take the final step in your immigration journey: filing your immigrant visa application or application to adjust status to become a lawful permanent resident in the United States.
The April 2025 Visa Bulletin is now available, and it’s important to understand how the dates contained in it affect you. Let’s break down what you need to know.
Understanding the Visa Bulletin:
The U.S. government sets limits each year on the number of green cards they can issue in certain categories to individuals wishing to become a permanent U.S. resident under either family-sponsored or employment-based immigrant visas. Because there are more people who want to apply for green cards than are immediately available, USCIS has established a system for “waiting in line.”
When you start the green card process, whether you’re already living in the United States or if you’re still outside the United States, you will receive a Priority date. This is generally the date your immigrant visa petition (like Form I-130 or Form I-140) was properly filed with USCIS. You can find your priority date on Form I-797 (Notice of Action). For some employment-based categories requiring a labor certification, the priority date is the date the labor certification was accepted for processing by the Department of Labor. Think of your priority date as your place in line.
Here’s where the Visa Bulletin comes into play: published by the Department of State each month, the Visa Bulletin indicates how far the “line” or backlog of applicants has moved for different categories and countries. The Visa Bulletin shows the priority dates for all the categories to permanent residency, informing us how long people who are now eligible to receive visas had to wait, and letting us know who is currently eligible to submit their application based on their priority date.
It includes two key charts for each visa preference category:
- Dates for Filing Applications: This chart indicates the earliest date you can file your Visa/Adjustment of Status application. USCIS determines each month whether applicants should use this chart or the Final Action Dates chart.
- Final Action Dates: This chart specifies when your priority date must be current for final action to be taken on your case, meaning when you can actually get your visa approved, assuming everything else is in order.
Because the “line” moves forward (and sometimes, backward!) each month, you should check the Visa Bulletin every month to see if the dates have moved and if your priority date is now “current” or getting closer.
Key Highlights from the April 2025 Visa Bulletin (Dates for Filing)
For the month of April, 2025 applicants for Family-Sponsored Visa Applications must use the Dates for Filing chart:
Family-Sponsored Categories (Dates for Filing):
Other Family-Sponsored Categories Show Backlogs: For categories like F1, F2B, and F4, there are significant backlogs, especially for applicants from countries like Mexico and the Philippines. For instance, for the F4 category for the Philippines, the date is “01JAN08”. This means that only those with a priority date on or before January 1, 2008 can file their Visa or Adjustment of Status application in April 2025.
For the month of April, 2025 applicants for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications must use the Final Action Dates chart:
Employment-Based Categories (Final Action Dates):
EB-1 and Certain EB-5 Categories are Current for Final Action: The EB-1 category (for priority workers) and certain categories under EB-5 (Immigrant Investors, Unreserved) are “Current” (marked in the table with “C”) for most countries, meaning there is no backlog. However, China and India still have backlogs in EB-1 and EB-5 respectively.
EB-2 and EB-3 Categories Show Varied Dates: EB-2 (Professionals with Advanced Degrees) and EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals) categories have cut-off dates. For example, for EB-2 “All Chargeablility Areas” (all countries except those listed separately in the chart), the date is “22JUN23”. This means applicants in EB-2 with a priority date on or before June 22, 2023 can receive final approval on their green card in April 2025. Applicants from India and China face longer waits in these categories.
EB-4 and Certain Religious Workers are Not Available: The designation “U” stands for “unauthorized,” meaning that numbers are not authorized for issuance. This typically indicates that visas are not currently available in these categories.
What Does the April 2025 Visa Bulletin Mean for You?
Check Your Priority Date and Category
First, determine your priority date and the immigrant visa category you are applying under. This information is crucial for understanding the Visa Bulletin.
Confirm Which Chart to Use on USCIS’ Website
Before taking any action, always visit the USCIS website’s “Visa Availability and Priority Dates” page to confirm whether to use the “Dates for Filing” or “Final Action Dates” chart.
Compare Your Priority Date to the Relevant Date on the Chart
Once you know which chart to use and have your priority date and category, compare your priority date to the date listed in the Visa Bulletin for your category and country of birth.
- If your priority date is earlier than the date listed (or the date is “C” for current), and USCIS is using the Dates for Filing chart for your category, you may be eligible to file your Visa or Adjustment of Status application in April 2025!
- If your priority date is earlier than the date listed (or the date is “C” for current), and USCIS is using the Final Action Dates chart for your category, final action can be taken on your case, and you may receive your visa if otherwise eligible.
- If your date is later than the date listed, you will need to wait for future Visa Bulletins to see if the dates advance enough to include your priority date.
Need Help Navigating the Visa Bulletin?
Immigration law, and the Visa Bulletin in particular, can be complex and confusing. Understanding these dates and how they impact your case is vital for your immigration journey.
If you have questions about the Visa Bulletin, your priority date, or your eligibility to file the next application in your process, Gray Whale Law is here to help. We can provide personalized guidance and ensure you understand every step of the process.