Visa Bulletin July 2025
Are you waiting for a green card? We’ve got updates for you — The U.S. Department of State has published its Visa Bulletin for July 2025. This bulletin shows which green card applications can move forward based on priority dates.
By:
Chelsea Spinos
Reviewer:
Nicole Gunara
9 min read • June 16, 2025
Biggest updates
The July 2025 USCIS Visa Bulletin brings key changes to green card wait times that could affect your eligibility to move forward. Below, we break down the latest updates across all family- and employment-based categories, including which countries saw movement and which did not.
Employment-Based Green Card Movement – July 2025
EB-1: For final action dates, India stayed at February 15, 2022. China moved up a week from November 8, 2022 to November 15, 2022.
EB-2: For final action dates, India also remained unchanged at January 1, 2013 while China advanced two weeks to December 15, 2020 from December 1, 2020.
EB-3: For final action dates, the Philippines remained unchanged at February 8, 2023. All Other Areas and Mexico moved forward by 52 days from February 8, 2023 to April 1, 2023. China advanced 9 days from November 22, 2020 to December 1, 2020. India moved forward a week from April 15, 2023 to April 22, 2023.
EB-4: For final action dates, all countries remain unauthorized at the moment, meaning no published cut-off dates or movement.
EB-5: For final action dates, no change for any country. All Other Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines remain Current. China stays at January 22, 2014, and India at May 1, 2019.
Family-Based Green Card Movement – July 2025
For family-sponsored visas, progress remains slow but steady across most categories.
F-1: No change for All Other Areas, China, and India, which remained at September 1, 2017 and the Philippines which stayed at April 22, 2015. Mexico moved forward two months from April 1, 2006 to June 1, 2006.
F-2A: All regions, including All Other Areas, China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines, moved forward one month from February 1, 2025 to March 1, 2025.
F-2B: All Other Areas, China, and India stayed the same at January 1, 2017 as did the Philippines at October 1, 2013. Mexico moved up a year from April 1, 2007 to April 1, 2008.
F3: No movement occurred for All Other Areas, China, and India, which remain at July 22, 2012 and Mexico at June 15, 2001. The Philippines moved up 70 days from September 22, 2004 to December 1, 2004.
F4: India stayed the same at December 1, 2006 as did the Philippines at January 1, 2008 and Mexico at April 30, 2001. All Other Areas and China moved up 99 days from June 1, 2008 to September 8, 2008.
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.
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 estimate when your application will be processed and finalized. The time between the Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates reflects the expected USCIS processing time.
In order to read the visa bulletin chart, you need to know two things:
Your priority date
Your preference category
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.
Employment-Based Green Card Backlogs (Final Action Dates)
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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.
