U.S. visa applicants should take note of important updates in the February 2025 Visa Bulletin. This monthly release provides critical information regarding the availability of immigrant visa numbers for family-sponsored, employment-based, and Diversity Visa (DV) categories. Here’s an in-depth look at the key changes and what they mean for your application process.
Understanding Final Action VS Filing Dates for US Visa Application
The February bulletin is organized around two (02) essential sets of dates:
- Final Action Dates: These dates indicate when a visa number becomes available and when a visa can actually be issued.
- Dates for Filing Applications: These dates signal when applicants may begin submitting their documents to the National Visa Center or, for adjustment of status cases, to USCIS.
Family-Sponsored Visa Categories
Family-sponsored visas cater to relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. The February 2025 bulletin provides updates across several subcategories:
- F1 – Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens:
For most regions, the final action date is set at November 22, 2015. However, in oversubscribed countries like Mexico, there are minor adjustments, meaning applicants should double-check their specific category and chargeability area. - F2A – Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents:
Many regions now have this category listed as “current,” allowing eligible applicants to proceed with filing regardless of their priority date. In oversubscribed countries, a priority date is still required; for example, applicants may need a priority date before May 15, 2021, to be eligible for visa issuance. - F2B – Unmarried Sons and Daughters (age 21 and over) of Permanent Residents:
The final action date generally stands at May 22, 2016, across most areas. As always, slight variations exist for countries experiencing higher demand. - F3 and F4 – Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens, and Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens:
These categories have their own set of priority dates that differ by country. Applicants should carefully review the bulletin tables for their country’s designated dates to ensure timely filing.
For filing purposes, the bulletin provides separate filing dates. For instance, F1 applicants with a priority date before September 1, 2017, may begin submitting their documents. Similar filing cut-offs are in place for F2A, F2B, F3, and F4 categories, so it’s critical to know the specific date that applies to your case.
Employment-Based US Visa Updates (February 2025)
Employment-based visas are segmented into several preference categories based on qualifications, professional skills, and job offers:
- 1st Preference – Priority Workers:
The good news is that this category remains “current” for most chargeability areas, allowing applicants to file their petitions immediately without waiting for a priority date to become current. - 2nd Preference – Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons with Exceptional Ability:
Applicants from many regions have a final action date around early April 2023. However, for oversubscribed areas such as China and India, the dates are set earlier, reflecting higher demand. - 3rd Preference – Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers:
In this category, the final action dates generally begin in December 2022 for most regions, although certain countries with heavy demand might have slightly different cut-offs.
Other employment-based categories—such as “Other Workers,” the 4th Preference, and specialized groups like religious workers—are subject to similar guidelines. Filing dates in the employment-based section follow a pattern akin to the final action dates, so applicants should confirm which dates pertain to their specific category.
Diversity Visa (DV) 2026 Program Adjustments
The Diversity Visa program, designed to promote immigration from countries with low rates of U.S. immigration, sees some important adjustments in February 2025. Originally allocated 55,000 visas per year, the total for DV-2025 has been reduced to approximately 52,000 due to deductions under NACARA and the National Defense Authorization Act.
- Regional Allocations:
The bulletin provides specific DV cut-off numbers by region. For example, African countries have cut-offs in the low 22,000 range, while Asian countries are allocated around 5,500 visas—though certain nations, such as Iran and Nepal, face even lower thresholds. European cut-offs are generally set near 12,000, with nuanced adjustments for countries like Russia and Uzbekistan. Smaller regions, including North America (Bahamas), Oceania, and South America/Caribbean, receive proportionately fewer visas. - Upcoming March Cut-Offs:
Updated figures for March indicate slight increases in some regions, which could improve the prospects for applicants still waiting to be notified.
It is essential for DV lottery winners to note that once selected, they must complete the visa process by September 30, 2025. This deadline applies to principal applicants and their accompanying family members.
Special Categories and Policy Updates
- Employment Fourth Preference – Religious Workers (SR):
An extension has been granted for the SR category until March 14, 2025. All processing for these cases, including filings for derivatives, must be finalized by midnight on March 13, 2025. No SR visas will be issued after this deadline. - U.S. Government Employee Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs):
Recent changes introduced by the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act could affect current and former U.S. government employees abroad, as well as eligible family members. Applicants in this category should contact their consular office or the office handling their DS‑1884 submission for detailed guidance on how these changes might impact their cases.
Announcement: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2025/visa-bulletin-for-february-2025.html.
