The U.S. Department of State has published the Visa Bulletin for October 2025. This month, USCIS will determine eligibility for change of status according to the Filing Dates chart, not Final Action Dates.
By:
Haley Davidson
Reviewer:
Nicole Gunara
12 min read • last updated on September 15, 2025
The State Department has released the October 2025 Visa Bulletin, marking the start of a new fiscal year. This is typically when backlogged categories see the biggest changes.
As of September 15, 2025, the biggest news from the October Visa Bulletin is that USCIS will be using Filing Dates to determine eligibility for adjustment of status for employment-based categories. If your priority date is current according to the Filing Dates in the October Visa Bulletin, NOW is the time to start preparing your Form I-485 for adjustment of status.
Other key updates include:
EB-1 moved forward by 1+ years for India and 6+ months for China
EB-2 moved forward 8+ months for every country, including 10 months for India
EB-3 and EB-4 progressed as well, with a notable forward movement of 400+ days for India in the EB-3 and Other Workers categories
Keep reading to explore the entire October Visa Bulletin.
The USCIS Visa Bulletin, released monthly by the U.S. Department of State, indicates which green card applications are eligible to advance.
Your position in line is determined by your priority date, assigned when you file an immigrant petition (Form I-140 or Form I-130). When your priority date becomes "current," you have reached the front of the line.
Visa Bulletin October 2025: Full Breakdown
The employment-based green card system is divided into five preference categories, each with its own eligibility criteria and cut-off dates. These categories determine when applicants from different countries can move forward in the green card process.
For the month of October 2025, according to the Department of State, USCIS will be using the Filing Dates Chart to determine eligibility for Adjustment of Status.
EB-1: Priority Workers
The EB-1 category includes individuals of extraordinary ability (EB-1A), outstanding professors and researchers (EB-1B), and multinational executives (EB-1C).
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EB-2: Exceptional people and advanced degree holders
The EB-2 category (including EB-2 NIW) includes exceptional people and advanced degree holders.
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EB-3: Skilled worker, professional, or other worker
The EB-3 visa category is for skilled workers, professionals, or other workers.
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Other Workers
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EB-4: “Special immigrants” category
The EB-4 category is for special immigrants, including religious workers, certain broadcasters, military members, Iraqi translators, and other specific groups designated by U.S. immigration law.
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EB-5: “Investors” category
The EB-5 category is for immigrant investors who make qualifying investments in U.S. businesses that create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers.
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USCIS will be using the Filing Dates Chart to determine eligibility for Adjustment of Status in October 2025. However, Final Action Dates are still important to keep in mind, because they determine when a green card can actually be issued once your application is pending.
EB-1: Priority Workers
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EB-2: Exceptional people and advanced degree holders
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EB-3: Skilled worker, professional, or other worker
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EB-4: “Special immigrants” category
After months of being unavailable, EB-4 is now open.
Note: The Certain Religious Workers category is unavailable (U) as of October 2025 due to program expiration.
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EB-5: “Investors” category
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F-2A: Spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) of U.S. green card holders
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F-2B: Unmarried children (age 21 or older) of U.S. green card holders
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F-3: Married children of U.S. Citizens
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F-4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens
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To understand when you can move forward with your green card application, you need to know how the Visa Bulletin organizes and tracks your place in line. It does this using key terms like:
Priority Dates: These dates serve as placeholders in the green card queue. The Department of State reviews the number of applications in each category monthly to estimate when applicants can proceed.
Dates for Filing: If your priority date is on or before the cut-off date for your category, you can move to the next step of your application.
Final Action Dates: These dates tell you when you are legally allowed to have a green card issued to you. Thus, even if USCIS accepts your adjustment of status application (or the consulate accepts your immigrant visa application) based on the Dates of Filing, they cannot approve the case and issue a green card until your priority date is on or before the Final Action Date for your category.
In order to read the visa bulletin chart, you need to know two things:
Your priority date
Your preference category
Your priority date is the date when USCIS receives your initial immigration petition, such as Form I-130.
Locating your priority date is easy. Simply refer to the receipt notice (Form I-797C) sent by USCIS after they process your petition. You’ll find your priority date at the top section of this document.
What is my preference category?
Family-Based Visa Categories:
F1: Unmarried children over the age of 21 of U.S. citizens.
F2A: Spouses and unmarried children (under 21 years old) of lawful permanent residents.
F2B: Unmarried children over the age of 21 of lawful permanent residents.
F3: Married children of U.S. citizens.
F4: Siblings of U.S. citizens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Visa Bulletin not moving?
Occasionally, the priority dates on the Visa Bulletin chart stay the same or even move backward compared to the previous month. This situation is known as visa retrogression.
Visa retrogression happens when the number of applicants in a certain category or from a specific country exceeds the available visas for that month. This is especially common towards the end of the fiscal year when the annual visa limits for certain categories or countries are nearly reached.
What is the next step if my green card priority date is current?
How long do I have to file once my priority date is current?
Once your priority date becomes current, you have one year to apply for your immigrant visa.
During this time, it's crucial to start the application process and respond promptly to any messages from the National Visa Center (NVC). If you don't begin the process within this one-year period, you might miss the chance to get your immigrant visa and keep your priority date. You'd then need to reapply for the visa.
Navigate the green card process with ease
When your priority date becomes current according to the USCIS visa bulletin, our team of immigration attorneys is here to help. We'll guide you through completing and submitting all the necessary forms, like the I-485, I-765, and I-131, accurately and on time.
We'll also prepare you for any interviews you may need to attend, ensuring you present your case confidently and effectively.
At Manifest Law, our immigration attorneys have over 10 years of experience and have successfully handled thousands of visa and green card applications. Plus, we offer flexible payment plans that span up to 6 months, along with a visa-approved or money-back guarantee (terms apply).
Book a visa consultation with Manifest today to get the support and guidance you need on your immigration journey.
