Visa Bulletin for August 2025

What the State Department said

Retrogression in the employment-based second preference (EB-2) category for rest of world countries

Due to increased number use, it has become necessary to retrogress the EB-2 final action date for Rest of World countries. The issuance total in this category is rapidly approaching the annual limit for FY-2025, necessitating this slowdown of issuance rates. It is likely the annual limit will be reached sometime in August, if not sooner. Note that if at any time the EB-2 annual limit were reached, it would be necessary to immediately make the preference category “unavailable”, and no further requests for numbers would be honored. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

Visa availability in the employment-based third preference (EB-3) and other workers (ew) categories

Visa demand and number use remain high in the EB-3 and EW visa categories, and issuance totals are approaching the annual limits for FY-2025 in those categories. It will likely be necessary to either retrogress the final action dates or make the categories “Unavailable” in September, if not sooner. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

Visa availability in the employment-based fifth preference (EB-5) unreserved category for China

In the April 2025 Visa Bulletin, the EB-5 Unreserved final action date for China was retrogressed due to high Rest of World demand. In the months that followed, EB-5 number use has not materialized to the degree that was expected. Consequently, and in accordance with INA 202(a)(5), the EB-5 Unreserved final action dates for China has advanced to allow continued EB-5 Unreserved number use. Note that if at any time the EB-5 Unreserved annual limit were reached, it would be necessary to immediately make the preference category “unavailable”, and no further requests for numbers would be honored.

Visa availability in the employment-based fifth preference (EB-5) unreserved category for India

In the April 2025 Visa Bulletin, the EB-5 Unreserved final action date for India was retrogressed due to high demand. It is expected that India will have unused family sponsored preference numbers that, under INA 202(a)(2), can fall down for use in the employment-based categories, including EB-5 Unreserved. As a result, the final action date for EB-5 Unreserved has been advanced to use these available numbers. Note that if at any time the EB-5 Unreserved annual limit were reached, it would be necessary to immediately make the preference category “unavailable”, and no further requests for numbers would be honored.

U.s. government employee special immigrant visas (SIVS)

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, signed into law on December 22, 2023, may affect certain current and former employees of the U.S. Government abroad, as well as certain surviving spouses and children of deceased employees of the U.S. government abroad, applying for SIVs or adjustment of status, as described in section 101(a)(27)(D) of the INA. This does not affect certain Iraqis and Afghans applying for SQ and SI SIVs. Applicants should contact the consular section at which they filed their Form DS‑1884 for further information on the impact of that law on their case.