The US Visa Bulletin is a monthly immigration guide (strictly speaking, a visa availability status) published by the US Department of State that shows when people awaiting green cards can take the next step. For thousands of immigrants many coming from high-demand countries like India and China the visa bulletin is a more direct measurement of the future than numbers.
As the update for September 2025’s bulletin is significant because it is the final visa bulletin for the 2025 fiscal year, it means that all backlog, unused visa numbers, or processing lag will begin to reset next month, in October 2025. Receive more details about the US Visa Bulletin for September 2025.
In the Visa Bulletin for September 2025, the majority of family-based green card categories stayed the same, except for the F-2A category, where all countries moved forward by two months, and the F-3 category for the Philippines, which saw a progression of 5 months. This month, there were no changes in the categories for employment-based green cards.
US Visa Bulletin September 2025
The U.S. Department of State has released the September 2025 Visa Bulletin. This monthly update is crucial for those awaiting a green card, as it indicates the potential waiting period. Each month, USCIS informs whether individuals already residing in the United States should submit their “adjustment of status” applications according to the “Final Action Dates” or the “Dates for Filing.”
In this month’s bulletin, Family-based applicants are required to utilise the “Dates for Filing,” while Employment-based applicants must refer to the “Final Action Dates.” Dates for Filing are the dates specified in the Visa Bulletin. If your priority date precedes the cut-off date indicated for your category, you may proceed to the next step in the application process.
Final Action Dates are an estimate for when your application will be processed and adjudicated. The disparity between these two dates generally represents the anticipated USCIS processing duration. Please examine the following text to learn more about the US Visa Bulletin for September 2025, including the changes that have been made in the recent Visa Bulletin for that month.
September Visa Bulletin 2025 Overview
| Organization | U.S. Department of State (DOS) |
| Program Name | US Visa Bulletin September 2025 |
| Country | USA |
| Month | September |
| Dates for Filing | Specified dates in the US Visa Bulletin |
| Final Action Dates | Application processing timeline estimate |
| Types of Cards | Green light cards, yellow light cards & yellow light cards |
| Category | Government Aid |
| Official Website | https://travel.state.gov/ |
What are the new changes in the US Visa Bulletin
Green Cards based on Family
- Positive update for the spouses and children (under 21) of green card holders – this pertains to the F2A category.
- If your priority date is before June 1, 2025, you are eligible to apply NOW.
- However, approval can only occur when visas have a priority date before September 1, 2022.
- There is still a long wait in other family categories.
Green Cards based on Employment
- For job-based visas this month, USCIS is using “Final Action Dates.”
- In other words, your priority date needs to precede the date indicated for your category in order to receive approval.
- There has been no change since last month – there is a tremendous backlog, particularly for India.
- Some categories may completely run out of visas by the end of September, meaning there will not be approvals until October 1, 2025 (new fiscal year).
Diversity Visa (DV-2025)
If you won DV-2025, you must get your visa by September 30, 2025.
Cut-off Dates for India (September 2025)
| Category | You Get Approval If Your Date Is Before |
| EB-1 (Top-level professionals) | Feb 15, 2022 |
| EB-2 (Advanced degree) | Jan 1, 2013 |
| EB-3 (Skilled/Professional workers) | May 22, 2013 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | May 22, 2013 |
| EB-4 (Religious/Other) | No visas left |
| EB-5 Unreserved (Investors) | Nov 15, 2019 |
| EB-5 Reserved (Special set-asides) | Current (no wait) |
The September 2025 Visa Bulletin brings to an end the slow year for many immigrants – especially for those in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories from India. Although family-based applicants in F2A still can file, the warning about unavailability on employment-based visas reminds us that timing is crucial in the US immigration process.
FAQs
What is the major change in the September 2025 Visa Bulletin?
No movement in employment-based categories for India, and F2A continues to be current for filing.
Can I still file for F2A in September 2025?
Yes, if you are a spouse or minor child of a green card holder, you can file, but the final decision is based on the Final Action Date.
Should I wait to file my employment-based application until October?
If you have a current date today, do not wait to file waiting may jeopardise your opportunity if the category becomes unavailable.
Why is EB-4 not available this month?
EB-4 has reached its annual cap, so it will become available in October 2025.