US Visa Bulletin for April 2025: Green Card backlogs deepen; India faces over two-year EB-5 retrogression

The U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for April 2025 indicates several key updates affecting employment-based (EB) immigrant visa categories:

• EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Categories: These categories will experience moderate advancements for applicants from India.
• EB-4 Category: This category will remain unavailable for all countries until the end of fiscal year 2025, as the annual limit has been reached.
• EB-5 Category: Due to increased demand, there is a retrogression for applicants from China and India.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that it will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications based on the Visa Bulletin’s Final Action Dates chart in April 2025. This means applicants can file if their priority date is earlier than the listed cutoff date for their category and country. citeturn0search5

Applicants are advised to review these updates to determine their eligibility for adjustment of status filings in April. Monitoring the Visa Bulletin regularly and consulting with an immigration attorney can provide guidance tailored to individual circumstances.

FAMILY-SPONSORED GREEN CARDS: FINAL ACTION DATES

FAMILY-SPONSORED GREEN CARDS: DATES FOR FILING

Employment-based preferences

The allocation of immigrant visas in the employment-based preference categories is structured to ensure a balanced distribution among various types of skilled and unskilled workers, professionals, and investors. Understanding these categories and their allocation percentages is crucial for individuals seeking employment-based immigrant visas.
1. Priority Workers: This category receives 28.6% of the global employment-based preference level. It includes:

• Individuals with extraordinary abilities in their field
• Outstanding professors and researchers
• Multinational executives or managers

Additionally, any surplus numbers not used for the fourth and fifth preferences may also be allocated here.

2. Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Individuals of Exceptional Ability: This category is also allotted 28.6% of the global employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by the first preference. It covers:

• Individuals with advanced degrees
• Individuals with exceptional abilities in their respective fields

3. Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: This category receives 28.6% of the worldwide level, along with any numbers not required by the first and second preferences. It includes:

• Skilled workers and professionals
• “Other Workers” performing unskilled labor, with a cap of 10,000 visas

4. Certain Special Immigrants: This category is allocated 7.1% of the global level and includes:

• Religious workers
• Certain employees of U.S. foreign service posts
• Individuals who have served in the U.S. armed forces

5. Employment Creation: This category also receives 7.1% of the global level. It is further divided to ensure targeted investment and job creation:

• 20% for qualified immigrants investing in rural areas
• 10% for those investing in high unemployment areas
• 2% for those investing in infrastructure projects
• The remaining 68% is unrestricted and available to all other eligible investors

These employment-based preference categories are designed to attract a diverse pool of talented individuals to the United States, fostering economic growth and innovation. By understanding these allocation percentages and categories, applicants can better navigate the U.S. immigration system and plan their visa applications accordingly.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED GREEN CARDS: FINAL ACTION DATES

EMPLOYMENT-BASED GREEN CARDS: DATES FOR FILING