The Department of State has published the August 2025 Visa Bulletin, providing updated Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates for employment-based immigrant visa categories and green card applicants. While Final Action Dates control when applicants can receive a green card, the Dates for Filing chart helps the National Visa Center (NVC) determine when immigrant visa applicants outside the United States should begin assembling and submitting documentation for consular processing.
If you are physically present in the United States and eligible to file Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), then the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that applicants must use the “Final Action Dates” chart for employment-based adjustment of status filings in August.
Below is a summary of the relevant Final Action Dates for the first, second, and third employment-based preference categories:
Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1)
- All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, Philippines: Current (C)
- China (mainland born): November 15, 2022
- India: February 15, 2022
Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2)
- All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, Philippines: September 1, 2023
- China (mainland born): December 15, 2020
- India: January 1, 2013
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3)
- All Chargeability Areas, Mexico: April 1, 2023
- Philippines: February 8, 2023
- China (mainland born): December 1, 2020
- India: May 22, 2013
What This Means for Green Card Applicants
If your priority date is earlier than the Final Action Date listed for your category and country of chargeability, then you may be eligible to file Form I-485 in August 2025, if you meet all other adjustment of status requirements. Your priority date is generally the date you (if self-petitioned) or your employer filed Form I-140 or the date your labor certification was filed with the Department of Labor (if applicable).
For applicants pursuing consular processing abroad, the Dates for Filing chart signals when the National Visa Center (NVC) may contact you to begin preparing for your immigrant visa interview. You can expect to receive an Immigrant Visa Fee bill to begin the process.
Why Visa Retrogression Happens
Notably, the Final Action Date for the EB-2 Rest of World (ROW) countries (i.e., not China or India) has retrogressed due to high demand in this category. According to the Department of State, visa usage in this category has increased, and the issuance total is rapidly approaching the FY-2025 annual limit. If demand continues at the current rate, the category could be made “unavailable” in August, meaning no visas would be issued until the new fiscal year begins in October. The same retrogression may apply to the EB-3 category next month.
Each year, Congress sets limits on the number of immigrant visas that can be issued in each employment-based category and per country of chargeability. As a result, visa availability is not guaranteed throughout the year, even for applicants who already filed.
Typically, the Visa Bulletin cut-off dates move forward each month. However, when demand for green cards in a particular category or country exceeds the number of visas available, the government may “retrogress” the dates—moving them backward to slow down processing. Retrogression is especially common toward the end of the government’s fiscal year (which ends on September 30th), as visa issuance approaches the annual category or country limits. Sometimes, an applicant’s priority date is current one month but retrogresses the next.
When the new fiscal year begins on October 1st, a new supply of visa numbers becomes available, and cut-off dates often return to where they were before retrogression. However, this is not guaranteed, depending on global demand and how many pending cases remain.
For applicants with pending I-485 applications affected by retrogression, the USCIS will place these cases on hold and resume processing once the priority date becomes current again in the Final Action Date chart.
Stay Informed and Plan Ahead
Because the Visa Bulletin changes monthly and cutoff dates can fluctuate without warning, staying proactive is essential.
Our firm guides employers and professionals through every stage of the employment-based green card process—from PERM and I-140 to Form I-485 and consular processing. We track the dates for our clients and will contact you when you become eligible to submit your I-485 application.
If you need help understanding how the August 2025 Visa Bulletin affects your case or are exploring employment-based green card options, our firm is here to help. With visa backlogs in many categories, securing an early priority date is critical for most clients. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or free evaluation: contact@niwus.com.