Visa Bulletin for November 2025

What the State Department said

Expiration of the employment fourth religious workers (SR) category

H.R. 1968, signed on March 15, 2025, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until September 30, 2025. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight September 29, 2025.

The final action date for this category has been listed as “Unavailable” for November. 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.

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.