The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2025 Visa Bulletin kicking off the new government fiscal year. The Visa Bulletin provides an update on the availability of immigrant visas for both consular processing and adjustment of status applications for the month of October 2025. The bulletin includes both the Final Action Dates and the Dates for Filing for employment-based and Family-Based immigrant visa categories. In addition, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announces each month which chart applicants should use to file their Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications.

This month’s bulletin is especially significant because it sets the tone for visa availability in the year ahead. Both Employment-Based and Family-Based categories show signs of forward movement, giving applicants renewed momentum after a year of uneven progress. Below is a summary of the key developments in the October 2025 Visa Bulletin:

Family-Based Categories

For October 2025, USCIS has announced that applicants in the Family-Based immigrant visa categories should refer to the Dates for Filing chart when submitting adjustment of status applications. This month’s bulletin reflects forward movement across all categories.

In the F-1 category, which includes unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or older) of U.S. citizens, the Dates for Filing for Mexico will advance by four months to October 8, 2016. The Dates for Filing for all other countries will see no change from the previous month. In the F-1 category, the Final Action Date for Mexico will advance by seven months to November 22, 2005. The Final Action Date for the Philippines will advance by seven months to January 22, 2013. The Final Action Dates for China, India, and all other countries will advance by four months to November 8, 2016.

In the F-2A category, which encompasses spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) of U.S. green card holders, there was significant advancement in the Final Action Chart, the dates advanced by seventeen months to February 1, 2024. The Final Action Date for Mexico will advance by one year to February 1, 2023. The Dates for Filing for all countries advanced by four months to September 22, 2025.

In the F-2B category, which covers unmarried children (age 21 or older) of a U.S. green card holder, the Dates for Filing for Mexico will advance by eight months to December 15, 2008. The Dates for Filing for all other countries will not change from the previous month. In the F-2B category, the Final Action Date for Mexico will advance by eight months to December 15, 2007. The Final Action Date for the Philippines will advance by five months to October 1, 2012. The Final Action Dates for all other countries will advance by six weeks to November 22, 2016.

In the F-3 category, which includes the married children of U.S. citizens, the Dates for Filing for the Philippines will advance by three months to August 1, 2005. The Dates for Filing for all other countries will not change from the previous month. In the F-3 category, the Final Action Date for Mexico will advance by two and a half months to April 15, 2001. The Final Action Date for the Philippines will advance by four and a half months to September 22, 2004. The Final Action Dates for all other countries will advance by five weeks to September 8, 2011.

In the F-4 category, pertaining to brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, the Dates for Filing for India will advance by two weeks to December 15, 2006. The Dates for Filing for Mexico and the Philippines will not change from the previous month. The Dates for Filing for China and all other countries will advance by three months to March 1, 2009. In the F-4 category, the Final Action Date for Mexico will advance three weeks to April 8, 2001. The Final Action Date for the Philippines will advance three months and three weeks to March 22, 2006. For India, the Final Action Dates will not change from the previous month, staying at November 1, 2006. All other countries’ Final Action Dates will advance by one week to January 8, 2008.

Employment-Based Categories

The new fiscal year always brings a reset of visa numbers, and October 2025 shows meaningful progress across the employment-based categories. As part of its regular monthly announcement, USCIS confirmed that applicants filing under the Employment-Eased categories may use the Date of Filing chart for October. The October Visa Bulletin from the State Department sets the Final Action cutoff dates for immigrant visa issuance and adjustment of status approval as follows:

In the EB-1 category, the Final Action Date for China will advance by five weeks to December 22, 2022. The Final Action Date for India will remain at February 15, 2002. The Final Action Dates for all other categories will remain current. Under the Date of Filing Chart, the cutoff date for Applicants from China to file their AOS application will advance to May 15, 2023. For India, the cutoff date will advance by one year, to April 15, 2023.

In the EB-2 category, China will advance by three and a half months to April 1, 2025. The Final Action Date for India will advance by three months to April 1, 2013. The Final Action Dates for all other countries will advance by three months to December 1, 2023. Under the Date of Filing Chart, applicants may file their AOS applications as per the below. For India, the cutoff date will advance by approximately nine months to December 1, 2013, while for China, the cutoff date will advance by eleven months to December 1, 2021. For the rest of the world, the cutoff date will advance by eight months to July 15, 2024.

In the EB-3 Professional and Skill Workers category, the Final Action Date for China will advance by three months to March 1, 2021. The Final Action Date for India will also advance by three months to August 22, 2013. For the Philippines, the Final Action Date will advance by seven weeks to April 1, 2023. The Final Action Dates for all other countries will stay at April 1, 2023. Under the Date of Filing Chart for EB-3, the cutoff date for India will advance by more than 14 months to August 15, 2014. For China, the cutoff date will retrogress by approximately 12 months to January 1, 2022. For the rest of the world, the cutoff date will advance by two month to July 1, 2023.

The EB-4 category is once again listed with a Final Action Date of July 1, 2020 for all countries. However, it is critical to note that the non-minister religious worker (SR) program has expired as of September 30, 2025. Under H.R. 1968, the SR category was temporarily extended but only through the end of FY2025. As of October 2025, no new SR visas may be issued, and the category is marked “Unavailable” until Congress acts.

In the EB-5 category, the Final Action Date for China will remain on December 8, 2025. The Final Action Date for India will advance by almost 15 months to February 1, 2021. All other countries will remain current. The EB-5 set-aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current. In the Date of Filing Chart, the EB-5 China Date for Filing will retrogress by three months to July 1, 2016.

The October 2025 Visa Bulletin brings cautious optimism at the start of the fiscal year. Modest forward movements across Employment- and Family-Based categories reflect a system that is inching forward despite structural backlogs. For many applicants, this month marks an opportunity to finally advance their case.

Immigration USA continues to closely monitor the monthly Visa Bulletin and provide timely updates on key developments and future trends. If you have questions about your priority date or how the current visa bulletin may impact your case, we encourage you to contact our office. Our experienced team is committed to offering strategic guidance and personalized support. In today’s rapidly changing immigration environment, having access to accurate, informed advice is more important than ever. In an ever evolving immigration landscape, we’re with you every step of the way.