U.S. Preference Immigrant Visa Policy for Family and Employment Sponsorship

Are you looking to adjust your status and become a U.S. permanent resident through family-sponsored or employment-based preference immigrant visas? Staying informed about the latest updates from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is essential.

The April 2025 Visa Bulletin provides crucial information about when to submit your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. This guide breaks down the important updates, making it easier for you to determine your eligibility.

Understanding the April 2025 Adjustment of Status Update

If you have an approved petition for a family-sponsored or employment-based immigrant visa, your next step is to file your adjustment of status application. However, because of annual visa limits, USCIS employs a priority date system to oversee visa availability. Your priority date is the day your employer or family member initially filed your immigrant visa petition.

To find out when you can file, USCIS offers two important Visa Bulletin charts:

• Dates for Filing Applications – This indicates the earliest date when you can submit your adjustment application.
• Final Action Dates – This shows when an immigrant visa becomes available for issuance.

How to Use the Visa Bulletin

Follow these steps to determine when you can file:

• Identify Your Visa Category – Determine if you belong to the Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based category.
• Find Your Country of Birth – Visa availability can vary based on your country.
• Check the Date on the Chart – If your priority date is earlier than the listed date, you can file Form I-485.

If your category is marked as “C” (Current), you can file your application immediately. Conversely, if your category is marked as “U” (Unauthorized), visas are currently unavailable. For example, under the Family-Sponsored category, an F1 visa for applicants from India shows a priority date of September 1, 2017.

This means individuals with a priority date before this can file their adjustment application.

New Takeaways from the April 2025 Visa Bulletin

Family-Sponsored Visas

• F2A Category (Spouses and Unmarried Children of Permanent Residents) – The date is October 15, 2024, for all countries. Applicants can file if their priority date is before this date.
• F3 Category (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) – For India, the date is July 22, 2012. For Mexico, it is June 15, 2001, indicating longer waiting times for some applicants.

Employment-Based Visas

• EB-1 Category (Priority Workers) – This category remains current (C) for most countries, except China (November 8, 2022) and India (February 15, 2022).
• EB-2 Category (Advanced Degree Professionals) – The priority date for India is January 1, 2013. Applicants must have filed before this date.
• EB-3 Category (Skilled Workers & Professionals) – India has a cut-off date of April 1, 2013, while China’s date is November 1, 2020.

Why Does the April 2025 U.S. Visa Bulletin Matter?

Each year, Congress limits the number of green cards available in each visa category. The Visa Bulletin helps the Department of State (DOS) and USCIS ensure that available visas are used efficiently while preventing long backlogs. This system has been refined to:

• Ensure that all visas authorized by Congress reach eligible individuals.
• Better predict visa availability, providing stability for applicants.
• Minimize fluctuations in visa processing timelines month-to-month.

Staying updated on these policies is crucial for anyone seeking a permanent residence in the U.S.