US Preference Immigrant Visa Policy Update April 2025 (Family or Employment Sponsored Program)
Are you planning to adjust your status and become a U.S. permanent resident under a family-sponsored or employment-based preference immigrant visa? If so, you need to stay up-to-date with the latest guidance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The April 2025 Visa Bulletin update helps applicants understand when they can submit Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
This guide will break down the essential updates, ensuring you can determine your eligibility with ease.
Understanding the April 2025 Adjustment of Status Update
If you already have an approved petition for a family-sponsored or employment-based immigrant visa, your next step is filing your adjustment of status application. However, due to annual visa limits, USCIS uses a priority date system to manage visa availability. Your priority date is the date when your employer or family member initially filed your immigrant visa petition.
To determine when you can file, USCIS provides two critical Visa Bulletin charts:
- Dates for Filing Applications – The earliest date when you may submit your adjustment of status application.
- Final Action Dates – The date when an immigrant visa is actually available for issuance.
How to Use the Visa Bulletin?
Follow these simple steps to check when you can file (Ref-April 2025 Bulletin):
- Identify your visa category – Determine if you fall under the Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based category.
- Find your country of birth – Visa availability varies by country.
- Check the date on the chart – If your priority date is earlier than the listed date, you can file your Form I-485.
- If your category is marked as “C” (Current) – You can file your application immediately.
- If your category is marked as “U” (Unauthorized) – Visas are not available at the moment.
For instance, under the Family-Sponsored category, an F1 visa for applicants from India shows a priority date of 01SEP17. This means individuals whose priority date is before September 1, 2017, can file their adjustment of status application.
New Takeaways from the April 2025 Visa Bulletin
Family-Sponsored Visas
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- F2A Category (Spouses and Unmarried Children of Permanent Residents) – The date is 15OCT24 for all countries, meaning applicants can file their adjustment of status applications if their priority date is before October 15, 2024.
- F3 Category (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) – The date for India is 22JUL12, while for Mexico, it is 15JUN01, indicating long waiting times for some countries.
Employment-Based Visas:
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- EB-1 Category (Priority Workers) – The category remains current (C) for most countries except China (08NOV22) and India (15FEB22).
- EB-2 Category (Advanced Degree Professionals) – The priority date for India is 01JAN13, meaning applicants must have filed before this date to be eligible.
- EB-3 Category (Skilled Workers & Professionals) – India has a cut-off date of 01APR13, while China has 01NOV20.
Why Does the April 2025 US Visa Bulletin Matter?
Each year, Congress limits the number of green cards available in each visa category. The Visa Bulletin helps the Department of State (DOS) and USCIS ensure that available visas are used efficiently while preventing long backlogs.
The system has been improved over the years to:
- Ensure that all visas authorized by Congress are issued to eligible individuals.
- Better predict visa availability to provide stability for applicants.
- Minimize month-to-month fluctuations in visa processing timelines.
FAQs: Your Visa Bulletin Questions Answered
Q: What happens if my priority date is after the date listed on the chart? A: You must wait until your priority date becomes current before filing your adjustment of status application.
Q: Can I file my adjustment of status if my category is “U” (Unauthorized)? A: No, “U” means that visas are not currently available for issuance.
Q: How often does the Visa Bulletin get updated? A: The Visa Bulletin is updated monthly, and USCIS determines which chart (Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates) applicants should use for that month.
Q: How do I check my priority date? A: Your priority date is on the approval notice of your I-130 (family-sponsored) or I-140 (employment-based) petition. For labor certification cases, it is the date your employer filed with the Department of Labor.
Q: What if I’m applying for a visa outside the U.S.? A: If you are abroad, you will use the Visa Bulletin to check when you can proceed with Consular Processing at a U.S. embassy.
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