January 2025 Visa Bulletin Released

The Department of State (DOS) has issued its January 2025 Visa Bulletin. After several months of minimal movement in priority dates, we finally will see forward movement in many employment-based and family-based immigrant visa categories in January. 

For employment-based categories, there is forward movement for all nationals in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories. The final action dates for the EB-1 category will remain the same.

For family-based categories, the F-1 category advances for all nationals, except for nationals of Mexico, for whom the priority date will remain the same. In the F-2A category, only nationals of Mexico will see forward movement. For the F-2B category, priority dates for all nationals will move forward, except for nationals of Mexico and the Philippines, for whom the priority date will remain the same. The F-3 category will move forward for all nationals, and nationals of the Philippines and India will see progress in the F-4 category.

USCIS will continue to honor the Dates for Filing Chart for both employment and family-based petitions in January (charts provided further below). This month, the filing dates for a few family-based categories have progressed, but remain the same for all employment-based categories. Dates for Filing are further ahead than the Final Action Dates, so beneficiaries of immigrant petitions can get their applications filed and obtain interim benefits for employment and travel until the government can actually approve their application.

Employment-Based Movement 

For employment-based categories, we will have forward movement in all categories, except EB-1, which will remain the same. 

The EB-2 category will advance by two weeks for nationals of all countries. In the same category, nationals of China will see forward movement by one month, and nationals of India will see forward movement by two months. 

The EB-3 category also will move forward by two weeks for nationals of all countries, and by three weeks for nationals of India. Final action dates for nationals of China in the EB-3 category will advance by two months. 

Here’s a chart for easy reference:

Please note that USCIS will honor the Dates for Filing (further below) in January, which are further ahead than Final Action Dates. 

Family-based Movement

The F-1 category will move forward by one month in January for all nationals except for nationals of the Philippines and Mexico. For nationals of the Philippines, the priority date for F-1 will advance by seven days. For nationals of Mexico, the priority date for F-1 will remain the same.

The F-2A category does not move forward in January, except for nationals of Mexico, for whom the priority date will advance by one month. 

For the F-2B category, priority dates for all countries will move forward by three weeks, except for nationals of Mexico and the Philippines, for whom the priority date will remain the same.

The F-3 category will move forward for nationals of Mexico by one month, nationals of the Philippines by two months, and nationals of all other countries by two months and two weeks.

Lastly, in the F-4 category, only nationals of India and the Philippines will see progression in final action dates, advancing by one and three months respectively. 

Here’s a chart for easy reference:

As mentioned previously, USCIS will honor the Dates for Filing chart (further below) for the family-based immigrant visa categories. 

By way of reminder, the categories are:

  • F-1 category:  unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens

  • F2-A category: spouses and children under 21 of lawful permanent residents

  • F2-B category: unmarried adult children (over 21) of lawful permanent residents

  • F-3 category:  married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens

  • F-4 category:  siblings of U.S. citizens

WHAT DATES IN THE VISA BULLETIN SHOULD YOU USE FOR FILING YOUR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS APPLICATION WITH USCIS?

If USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, then USCIS will state here that you may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin, which usually has dates later than the Final Action Dates noted above. Otherwise, USCIS will indicate on its website that you must use the Application Final Action Dates chart (above) to determine when you may file your adjustment of status application in the United States.

For January 2025, USCIS has confirmed the Dates for Filing (below) should be used for both family and employment-based categories. 

This alert is for informational purposes only.  Please contact us if you would like to discuss these developments further.

Nadia Yakoob