Introduction

The published US visa bulletin for March 2025 by the US Department of State depicts the immigrant visa numbers being released to the public next month. It is an important bulletin to every applicant intending to go through a continuation of status or an immigrant visa.

The bulletin contains the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications, which gives the applicants an idea of when they should file Applications. The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication of the US Department of State that shows immigrant visa applicants when they must prepare and submit their required documents to the National Visa Center.

Its main highlights consist of Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications.

A quick overview

In March, the final action dates for India EB-2 and EB-3 would move six weeks forward. And it will be for the China EB-2 two weeks later and for the Worldwide EB-2, six weeks time.

In terms of EB-3 China Professional/Skilled Workers Final Action Date, that will be moved a month further forward. There will be no advancement in EB-1 and EB-5 Final Action dates in March.

Starting next month, USCIS will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications for foreign nationals whose priority dates are earlier than the Final Action Dates specified in the State Department's March 2025 Visa Bulletin.

About the final action dates

The dates mentioned in the Final Action Dates are taken to be the effective dates on which the visas can be given. If your priority date is prior to the aforementioned date, you can get either a visa or adjust your status.

About the dates of filing applications

The Dates for Filing Applications are the dates when you may file your papers at the NVC. That is, your priority date is almost current. Most important of all, applicants must read the date of filing applications chart as they determine whether or not the applicants are eligible to file.

Updates on the family-sponsored cases

Family-sponsored cases can be classified into several kinds:

■ F-1: Unmarried children below 21 years of age of US citizens;
■ F-2A: Unmarried child and spouse of legal permanent resident;
■ F-2B: Unmarried child of legal permanent resident (over 21 years of age);
■ F-3: Child of a US citizen;
■ F-4: Brothers and sisters of US adult citizens.

According to the visa bulletin, March 2025 family-sponsored classes have moved a little slowly, although they did move. The F-3 Philippines category advances two and a half months from its original date to January 22, 2003; the F4 Philippines category advances five and a half months to October 15, 2004. All of the other categories remain unchanged since last month.

Updates on the employment-based categories

Similarly, the employment-based categories are stated as follows:

■ EB-1: Priority workers;
■ EB-2: Advanced degree holders or persons of exceptional ability;
■ EB-3: Professionals, skilled workers, and other workers;
■ EB-4: Various special immigrants;
■ EB-5: Investors.

Among the most relevant developments for employment-based categories under the March 2025 visa bulletin are the following:

● EB-2.

India: Moves forward by six weeks to December 1, 2012;
China: Moves forward by two weeks to May 8, 2020;
All other countries: Advances six weeks to May 15, 2023.

● EB-3.

India: Advances by six weeks to February 1, 2013.
China: Moves forward by one month to August 1, 2020.
All other countries current: December 1, 2022.

● EB-4.

All countries: Moves backward to August 1, 2019.

The drop in the EB-4 category occurs simply due to the overconsumption and demand in the very first month of a new fiscal year, as per the Department of State. This is because they would have to move at lightning speed, hence, making it “unavailable” for several months, starting even as soon as April 2025.

That means Indian and Chinese petitioners who are moving under both the EB-2 and EB-3 categories will do well because it will reduce waiting times for visas. Further retrogression under the EB-4 category would mean longer waiting times for petitioners under this category.

Final words!

The March visa bulletin reports widespread movements and retrogressions in the employment-based final action cut-off dates indicated in the February visa bulletin. The dates for filing cut-off dates did not move.

○ EB-2 India will advance over six weeks to December 1, 2012. EB-2 China will advance two weeks to May 8, 2020. EB-2 rest of the world will advance six weeks to May 15, 2023.

○ EB-3 India will advance close to seven weeks to February 1, 2013. EB-3 China professional and skilled workers will advance one month to August 1, 2020. EB-3 Philippines other workers will advance five weeks to January 15, 2021. EB-3, all other workers except Philippines will advance close to two months to February 1, 2021.

○ EB-4 will retrograde for seventeen months to August 1, 2019. The State Department indicates it can make this category “unavailable” in the months ahead.

○ The certain religious workers' category has been current since March 14, 2025. The category will be “unavailable” starting from March 14, 2025, unless Congress on or after this date acts.

For family preference categories, dates for filing cut-off dates are the same as the February visa bulletin. No forward movement of any consequence in final action dates for F-3 Philippines married sons and daughters of US citizens, which moved two and a half months to January 22, 2003.

F-4 Philippines brothers and sisters of adult US citizens will move five and a half months to October 15, 2004
We will continue to conduct our monthly review of the US visa bulletin as usual with the next adjustment and update on this page.

To stay updated and informed, keep an eye out on our visa bulletin section or visit – https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html