October 2025 Visa Bulletin: Analysis & Predictions Including F2A Filing Dates

One of the most significant parts of getting a green card in the U.S. is waiting for your priority date to be current. For those who have invested the time, effort, and money into an immigrant visa, questions arise such as “How long will it take for my priority date to be current?” and “Can I speed this process up?”

We provide regular monthly updates on the most recent visa bulletin, analyze the date movements, and predict upcoming months to help answer these questions. This month, we’ll go over the October 2025 visa bulletin.If you want more information on the background of the visa bulletin and how to read the bulletin, scroll to the bottom of the post or view the Table of Contents.

October 2025 Visa Bulletin: Overview and Predictions

The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2025 Visa Bulletin, the first of the new fiscal year, which brings developments in the employment-based (EB) and family-based categories. It brings a mix of good news and tempered expectations for immigrants and employers. While many categories saw modest forward movement, the most significant change was a massive leap for one specific group and an updat.

Major Gains and Notable Shifts

• Employment-based categories: applicants can now use the Filing Dates chart
• The biggest winner this month is EB-5 India, which saw a remarkable jump of nearly 15 months to a Final Action Date of February 1, 2021. This rapid advancement offers a significant opportunity for eligible applicants.
• Another major development is the reopening of the EB-4 (non-special religious worker) category, which had been previously unavailable. It now has a Final Action Date of July 1, 2020.
• Conversely, the Special Religious Worker (SR) program remains unavailable, awaiting a potential extension from Congress.

Employment-Based Key Updates

Across other employment-based categories, the theme is measured progress rather than dramatic shifts.

• EB-2 Worldwide moved forward by three months to December 1, 2023.
• EB-2 and EB-3 for both India and China each advanced by about three months.
• EB-3 Philippines advanced by approximately seven weeks.
• EB-1 China nudged forward by about five weeks.
• However, some categories remained flat, including EB-1 India and EB-3 Worldwide.

Visa Bulletin Predictions

The overall EB visa supply for FY 2026 is set at 140,000, which is lower than the 150,037 visas available in the last fiscal year. This reduced supply means that movement in the coming months is likely to be incremental rather than rapid.

The Dates for Filing chart shows significant forward movement, notably for EB-1 India to April 15, 2023, and EB-1 China to May 15, 2023. As we head into the end of 2025, expect a holding pattern for EB-4 (non-SR) and continued slow, irregular advancement for EB-5 India after its initial leap.

The steady but modest gains seen in other categories are likely to continue, barring any changes in demand or policy. Applicants and employers should remain vigilant and continue to monitor for updates.

Next Steps:

If you’re considering your next steps – like whether to interfile, downgrade, or transfer categories, timing and strategy are everything.

If your priority date is current or getting close, it’s time to prepare your application. If you’re still waiting, now may be a good time to review other options or long-term strategies.

Adjustment of Status (AOS) Filing Guidance

For Adjustment of Status (AOS) filings, USCIS has confirmed:

• Employment-based categories: applicants can now use the “Filing Dates” chart. This opens filing to a larger group of applicants earlier, though they’ll still need to wait until their Final Action Date is current before USCIS can approve the green card.
• Family-sponsored categories: applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart.

Final Action vs. Filing Dates:

It’s important to differentiate between the final action dates (when a visa can be issued) and the filing dates (when an application can be submitted). This will help applicants understand their current status and next steps.

The Final Action Dates chart determines when an I-485 or IV can be approved, while the Dates for Filing Chart determines when an applicant can file an I-485.

Suppose you have an Adjustment of Status (AOS) application currently pending. Your priority date must be current under the Final Action Chart to adjudicate your green card. If you are contemplating interfiling—a process that allows AOS applicants to change their preference category—don’t hesitate to contact VisaNation Law Group. 

As the fiscal year progresses, demand fluctuations and potential retrogressions remain possible. Visa Nation will continue to monitor trends in Final Action Dates and update projections as new information becomes available. Applicants are encouraged to stay informed and prepared for potential adjustments in the coming months.

Family-Based Green Cards

The category for family-based immigration comprises four preference levels based on who your sponsoring family member is in relation to you. There are five chargeability areas for this category: China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and all other countries. Due to the global pandemic and limited appointments at overseas consular offices, family-based immigrant visas continue to see low usage numbers. Therefore, any unused family-based visas get added to the EB categories. 

Family-Based Dates for Filing Charts

*The numbers in the brackets designate the amount of movement in the filing date for that particular category compared to the previous month. If there’s no bracket below certain dates, there is no movement for those dates/categories in the latest visa bulletin.

Family-Based Final Action Dates Chart

*The numbers in the brackets designate the amount of movement in the final action date for that particular category compared to the previous month. If there’s no bracket below certain dates, there is no movement for those dates/categories in the latest visa bulletin.

Tip: Remember, marriage-based green card applicants are known as immediate relatives and don’t have to wait to receive a green card.

Employment-Based Green Cards

With five different preference levels and seven chargeability areas, USCIS issues employment-based category visas through your job or occupation. The chargeability areas are China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador), Vietnam, and the general category.

Employment-Based Dates: Final Action Dates

USCIS has specified to use the Final Action Dates Chart for employment-based AOS Filings. 

Employment-Based Dates for Filing Chart

Importantly, for employment-based categories, adjustment of status applicants can now use the Filing Dates chart.

*The numbers in the brackets designate the amount of movement in the final action date for that particular category compared to the previous month. If there’s no bracket below certain dates, there is no movement for those dates/categories in the latest visa bulletin.

Important October 2025 Visa Bulletin Dates

For those new to the green card process, you should learn a few terms and remember to understand the rest of this visa bulletin report. If you have further questions about the process or anything else about your green card, you should consult with your immigration attorney.

Priority Dates

Each person who files a petition with the USCIS receives a priority date when the government obtains their petition. A priority date establishes a person’s place in line to get an immigrant visa. Keep this date handy, since you will need it to compare to the dates in this bulletin. Remember that your priority date does not move, and you cannot change it except under certain circumstances.

Note: Priority dates are not relevant for immediate relatives of U.S. Citizens (e.g., spouses or minor children) as that category is always current.

Final Action Dates

Final action dates are based on the green card category and the chargeability area—your country of origin. Therefore, the final action dates constantly change based on how many people from each chargeability area have petitioned for that green card.

If green cards are still available, the final action date will likely move closer to your priority date. If green cards are unavailable, you will not see any movement from that final action date. However, if the limit has passed, you may see the date retrogress or move backward from your priority date.

Once the final action date in your green card preference level and chargeability area reaches your priority date, your priority date will be considered current. Once current, you will adjust your status or go through consular processing.

Date for Filing Charts and I-485

You’ll notice there are two charts for each category.

1. The Date for Filing chart determines whether or not one can submit the final immigrant visa application.
2. The Final Action Date chart indicates whether an immigrant visa number will be available.

USCIS announces which chart applicants can use within a week of the visa bulletin’s release.

Can You Shorten Your Waiting Time?

The short answer is: probably not. However, there are two prominent cases in which you may be able to shorten your green card processing time, which we will explain here.

1. The first way is to file an I-140 for a green card and chargeability area with a current priority date. In this case, rather than wait the usual six months for your petition to be processed, you can pay an additional fee for premium processing, which will shorten the processing time to 15 business days. However, this is only available for certain green cards that use the I-140.
2. The second situation involves green card “porting,” or transferring your application from a lower preference level to a higher one to take advantage of the shorter waiting times. This is misleading because you don’t port your green card. In reality, you need to start with a new petition (and a new PERM if necessary). The “porting” aspect only comes in when you indicate that you want to retain your original priority date.

As attractive as “porting” might seem, it is a delicate process with particular requirements. Therefore, running decisions like these through your immigration attorney is always good.

Staying Up-to-Date

In the world of immigration law, it always pays to be informed. The more you know about your green card, the easier it will be to make informed decisions about your case. To stay in the know about things like the newest visa bulletin, follow the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin.