Visa Bulletin for October 2025

What the State Department said

Scheduled 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. Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until September 29, 2025, 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 September 29, 2025.

The SR category is listed as “Unavailable” for all countries for October. 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 dates for filing and 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.