October 2025 Visa Bulletin Released

 

The Department of State (DOS) has issued its October 2025 Visa Bulletin. October 1 marks the start of a new fiscal year, so all the immigrant visa categories typically benefit from new visa numbers, and most immigrant visa applicants see progress in their place in line for permanent residence.

For employment-based categories, all Final Action Dates move forward, with the exception of EB-1 India and EB-3 for all nationals other than India and China, which remain the same.

Family-based categories show even more significant progress. Notably, the F-2A category moves forward by one year and five months for all nationals except Mexico, who will still see a substantial one-year advancement. All other family-based categories progress as well, except for F-4 India, which remains unchanged.

In addition to the forward movement seen in Final Action dates, USCIS has announced that it will honor the Dates for Filing Chart for both employment and family-based petitions in October (charts provided further below). These dates are much further ahead than the Final Action Dates, so more beneficiaries of all immigrant visa petitions can get their applications filed and obtain interim employment and travel benefits until the government can actually approve their application.

Employment-Based Movement

The EB-1 category remains open worldwide, except for nationals of India and China. For Indian nationals, the priority date remains the same at February 15, 2022, while Chinese nationals see an advancement of one month and one week.

The EB-2 category advances for all nationals and nationals of India by three months, and three months and two weeks for nationals of China.

The EB-3 category remains the same for all nationals, except for China, India, and the Philippines. EB-3 China and India both advance by three months, while the Philippines moves forward by one month and three weeks, bringing it back in line with the worldwide date for this category.

For the EB-3 Other Workers category (for positions requiring less than two years of training), there is a one-week advancement for all nationals except for China and India. EB-3 China sees a significant seven-month advancement, and EB-3 India advances by three months.

Here’s a chart for easy reference:

 
 

Please note USCIS will honor the Dates for Filing chart (further below) in October where we will see significant forward movement in all employment-based visa categories.

Family-based Movement

In October, the F-1 category will advance by three months and three weeks for all nationals except for Mexico and the Philippines. F-1 Mexico will advance by seven months, and six months and one week for nationals of the Philippines.

The F-2A category will move forward by one year and five months for all nationals, except for nationals of Mexico, who will see a one year advancement.

The F-2B category will also advance by one month and one week for all nationals, eight months and two weeks for Mexico, and five months for the Philippines.

The F-3 category will progress by one month and one week for all nationals, two months and two weeks for nationals of Mexico, and four months and three weeks for nationals of the Philippines.

Lastly, the F-4 category will incrementally advance by one week for all nationals, three weeks for Mexico, and two months and three weeks for the Philippines. F-4 India will remain the same.

Here’s a chart for easy reference:

 
 

As mentioned previously, USCIS will honor the Dates for Filing chart (further below) for 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 October 2025, USCIS has confirmed the Dates for Filing (below) should be used for both family and employment-based categories.

 
 
 
 

If the priority date for your employment or family-based category is before the date listed above and you are in the United States, you may file your application to adjust your status along with the applications for employment authorization and travel permission (assuming you have no bars to admissibility) with USCIS in October.

The entire visa bulletin is available on the State Department’s website, which includes information on the diversity visa lottery and the EB-5 priority dates.

If you would like more information on how to understand the monthly visa bulletin, please check out our blog post on this topic and our podcast available here.

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

 
Nadia Yakoob