Visa Bulletin for January 2025

What the State Department said

Scheduled expiration of the employment fourth preference religious workers (SR) category

H.R. 9747, signed on September 26, 2024, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until December 20, 2024. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight December 19, 2024. Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until December 19, 2024, and all individuals seeking admission in the non-minister special immigrant category must be admitted (repeat admitted) into the United States no later than midnight December 19, 2024.

The SR category is listed as “Unavailable” for all countries for January. In the event there is legislative action extending the category, it is likely it will become available effective immediately. If extended, the category will be subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.

Visa availabiliy in the employment fifth preference (EB-5) set aside categories

The Department of State and USCIS note increased I-526E petition approvals, and both agencies see increasing numbers of individuals processing their applications to completion in the EB-5 set aside categories. It may become necessary to establish Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates during the fiscal year to ensure that issuances in these categories do not exceed annual limits. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.

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.