August 2025 Visa Bulletin: Analysis & Predictions Including EB2 Priority Date India

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 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 August 2025 visa bulletin.If you want more information on the background of the visa bulletin and how to read the bulletin, make sure to scroll to the bottom of the post or view the Table of Contents.

August 2025 Visa Bulletin: Overview and Predictions

The U.S. Department of State has released the August 2025 Visa Bulletin, which reflects significant developments in the employment-based (EB) categories as we near the end of the fiscal year.

The most notable change is the retrogression of the EB-2 “Final Action Date” for All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed, which moved back from October 15, 2023, to September 1, 2023, due to increased visa number usage. This indicates that demand has nearly reached the annual allocation limit in this category. Meanwhile, EB-1 for India and China remains unchanged at February 15, 2022, and November 15, 2022, respectively.

EB-2 held steady for India and China in the August Visa Bulletin. The EB-3 category for India moved forward by a month to 22 May 2013, but stayed the same for China.

The August bulletin also warns of possible further retrogressions or unavailability in September 2025 across EB-2, EB-3, and Other Workers categories, as annual limits are likely to be met or exceeded before the fiscal year ends on September 30. Stakeholders should be prepared for tighter visa availability and potential delays in adjudications.

Comparatively, the July 2025 Visa Bulletin had more favorable EB-2 dates for the Rest of World category, underscoring how quickly visa number usage has accelerated. As September represents the close of FY2025, no forward movement is expected, and further cutbacks remain likely across several preference categories.

Key Updates

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:

Employment-Based Visa Highlights

• Adjustment of Status: USCIS guidance maintains that employment-based adjustment of status applications should be filed using the “Final Action Dates” charts.
• Retrogression for EB-2: Due to a rapid increase in visa number usage, the final action date for the Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) category for “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” has been retrogressed. The Department of State warns that the annual limit for this category is expected to be reached in August, which could make the category “unavailable.”
• Potential Retrogression for EB-3 and Other Workers: High demand in the Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3) and Other Workers (EW) categories has brought them close to their annual limits.
• EB-1 Remains “Current”: For top-preference EB-1 applicants from most of the world (All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines), the category remains “Current.” This means you can continue to move forward with your green card applications without any visa backlog delays.

As always, keeping a close eye on your priority date and staying prepared for any movement is key. While future visa availability cannot be guaranteed, the team at VisaNation is here to support you at every stage of your immigration journey. If you have questions about your priority date or need help preparing your application, our experts are ready to assist.

Family-Based Visa Highlights

• Forward Movement in F4 India Category: The final action date for the Family-Sponsored Fourth Preference (F4) category for individuals from India advanced by four months.
• Advancement in Dates for Filing for F2A and F4: The “Dates for Filing” for the F2A category (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents) advanced by one month for all countries. The F4 “Dates for Filing” for most countries advanced by four months.

Adjustment of Status (AOS) Filing Guidance

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

• Employment-based categories: applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart
• Family-sponsored categories: applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart.

Looking forward

As September represents the close of FY2025, no forward movement is expected, and further cutbacks remain likely across several preference categories.

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

Next Steps:

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.

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.

The Dates for Filing chart determines when an applicant can file an I-485. 

F1: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

• All countries remain the same.

F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

• All countries progress one month

F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

• All countries remain the same.

F3: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

• All countries remain the same.

F-4 Category

• All Chargeability Areas except those listed, and China: advanced by almost four months from 08SEP08 to 01JAN09

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.

The Final Action Dates Chart shows forward progression in specific categories.

F1 Category

• All countries remain the same.

F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

• All countries remain the same.

F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21+) of Permanent Residents

• All countries remain the same.

F3: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

• All countries remain the same.

F4: Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

• India progresses four months, and all other countries remain the same

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

The Final Action Dates Chart shows forward progression in specific categories:

1st Preference (EB-1)

• All countries remain unchanged

2nd Preference (EB-2)

• All Chargeability Areas, India, Mexico, and the Philippines retrogressed 6 weeks
• China remains the same

3rd Preference (EB-3)

• All Chargeability Areas except those listed, China, Mexico, and the Philippines, remain the same
• India progressed one month

Other Workers

• All Chargeability Areas except those listed, China, Mexico, and the Philippines, remain the same
• India progressed one month

4th Preference & Certain Religious Workers (EB-4)

• All chargeability areas remained Unauthorized (U).

5th Preference (EB-5)9

• 5th Unreserved progressed for China (1 year, 10 months) and India (6 months and 14 days)

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 must use the Final Action Dates chart. Overall, the August 2025 visa bulletin shows no movement in the Dates for Filing 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 August 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.

The Date for Filing chart determines whether or not one can submit the final immigrant visa application.

The Final Action Date chart indicates whether an immigrant visa number will be available.

If you need to file an adjustment of status, Form I-485, you need to follow the Final Action Date chart to know when to file based on your priority date. However, sometimes USCIS will note that they’ll accept I-485s based on the Date for Filing chart. USCIS will use this chart when more immigrant visas are available than applicants.

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.