January 2025 Visa Bulletin Shows Some Movement for EB-2 and EB-3 Final Action Dates

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
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The January 2025 Visa Bulletin shows no change from the December 2024 Visa Bulletin in the dates for filing in any listed category. Final action dates show slight advancement for EB-2 and EB-3 for some countries/categories. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will accept applications for adjustment of status based on the dates for filing chart in January 2025.

Quick Hits

  • The January 2025 Visa Bulletin shows no change from last month’s bulletin for employment-based categories for dates for filing. Final action dates show slight advancement for EB-2 and EB-3 for some countries/categories.
  • USCIS will honor dates for filing for I-485 adjustment of status applications filed in January 2025.

USCIS has announced that it will accept Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, from foreign nationals with a priority date that is earlier than the dates for filing listed. The dates for filing chart from the U.S. Department of State’s January 2025 Visa Bulletin is provided below.

Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications

Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES
1st C 01JAN23 15APR22 C C
2nd 01AUG23 01OCT20 01JAN13 01AUG23 01AUG23
3rd 01MAR23 15NOV20 08JUN13 01MAR23 01MAR23
Other Workers 22MAY21 01JAN18 08JUN13 22MAY21 22MAY21
4th 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21
Certain Religious Workers 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21
5th Unreserved
(including C5, T5, I5, R5)
C 01OCT16 01APR22 C C
5th Set Aside:
(Rural: NR, RR – 20%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
(High Unemployment: NH, RH – 10%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
(Infrastructure: RI – 2%)
C C C C C

Source: U.S. Department of State, January 2025 Visa Bulletin

Final action dates show slight advancement for EB-2 and EB-3 for some countries/categories, reflecting a change for cutoff dates for the issuance of an immigrant visa or approval of an adjustment of status application, specifically:

  • EB-2: India advances two months to October 1, 2012. China advances by one month to April 22, 2020. All other countries will advance by two weeks to April 1, 2023.
  • EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers: India advances by three weeks to December 1, 2012. China advances by two months to June 1, 2020. All other countries advance to December 1, 2022 (two weeks).
  • EB-3 Other Workers: India advances by three weeks to December 1, 2012. All other countries advance by one week to December 8, 2020.

DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations. Attorney Advertising.

© Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

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