December 2025 Visa Bulletin Alert
By: Diya A. Mathews
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the December 2025 Visa Bulletin, which outlines the availability of immigrant visas for family-sponsored and employment-based categories according to applicants’ priority date.
The Visa Bulletin has two different charts per visa preference category
Final Action Dates (Chart A)
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- This determines when a visa number is available for issuance based on an applicant’s priority date. If a category shows a specific date (e.g., "01JAN25"), only applicants with a priority date before that date are eligible; if it shows "C" (Current): Visas are available to all applicants regardless of priority date; and if it shows "U" (Unavailable): Visas are unavailable for issuance.
Dates for Filing (Chart B)
- For consular processing (outside the U.S.): The Dates for Filing chart lists the earliest priority dates when the National Visa Center (NVC) will notify applicants to assemble and submit civil documents and fees.
For Adjustment of Status (filing Form I-485 in the U.S.): Each month, USCIS decides which chart an applicant may use to file the I-485, Adjustment of Status (AOS) application. If USCIS determines that there are enough immigrant visas available to accommodate additional filings, it then lists the Dates for Filing chart to be used for AOS filings that month. Otherwise, the applicant must wait until her priority date becomes current under Final Action Dates to file the I-485, AOS application.
For December 2025, USCIS has designated “Dates for Filing” (Chart B) for both family- and employment-based AOS filings.
Changes in December 2025 Visa Bulletin
According to the December 2025 Visa Bulletin, employment-based “Dates for Filing” chart will remain mostly unchanged from the November 2025 Visa Bulletin, except for EB-5 China (Unreserved) which will advance by 3 weeks to July 22, 2016.
The employment-based “Final Action” chart will advance in the following categories:
China will advance one month to January 22, 2023
- India will advance by one month to March 15, 2022
- China will advance by two months to June 1, 2021
- India will advance by six weeks to May 15, 2013
- All other countries will advance by two months to February 1, 2024.
- EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers:
- China will advance by one month to April 1, 2021
- India will advance by one month to September 22, 2013
- All other countries will advance by two weeks to April 15, 2023
- China will advance by more than seven months to July 15, 2016
- India will advance by five months to July 1, 2021
Final Action Date Chart (Chart A) Update Highlights:
- EB-1:
- China: January 22, 2023
- India: March 15, 2022
- All other countries not listed above: Current.
- EB-2:
- China: June 1, 2021
- India: May 15, 2013
- All other countries not listed above: February 1, 2024
- EB-3 (Professionals/Skilled):
- China: April 1, 2021
- India: September 22, 2013
- All other countries not listed above: April 15, 2023
- EB-3 Other Workers:
- China: December 1, 2017
- India: August 22, 2013
- All other countries not listed above: July 15, 2021
- EB-4:
- All countries: July 1, 2020
- Certain Religious Workers: Unavailable
- EB-5 (Unreserved):
- China: July 15, 2016
- India: July 1, 2021
- All other countries not listed above: Current.
- Set-Aside (Rural/High Unemployment/Infrastructure): Current
Date of Filing (Chart B) Update Highlights:
- EB-1:
- China: May 15, 2023
- India: April 15, 2023
- All countries not listed above: Current
- EB-2:
- China: December 1, 2021
- India: December 1, 2013
- All countries not listed above: July 15, 2024
- EB-3:
- China: January 1, 2022
- India: August 15, 2014
- All countries not listed above: July 1, 2023
- Other Workers:
- China: October 1, 2018
- India: August 15, 2014
- All countries not listed above: December 1, 2021
- EB-4:
- All countries: February 15, 2021
- EB-5 Unreserved:
- China July 22, 2016
- India April 1, 2022
- Set-Asides Current
If your priority date is earlier than the date listed in Chart A or Chart B, for your EB category, please contact your trusted Chugh, LLP immigration professional.
