Visa Bulletin Archive for March 2025

Find the archived Visa Bulletin for March 2025 below, or check out the most recent Visa Bulletin.

The U.S. Department of State released its Visa Bulletin for March 2025. This monthly update is important if you’re waiting for a green card because it shows how long you might have to wait.

Every month, USCIS announces whether applicants already living in the United States should file their “adjustment of status” applications based on the “Final Action Dates” or the “Dates for Filing.” For March, family-based applicants must use the “Dates for Filing” (available on the State Department’s website), while employment-based applicants must use the “Final Action Dates” (also available on the State Department’s website).

In March, there were changes in all employment-based categories, except in the EB-1 category. The biggest changes were in the EB-4 category, with a 1-year and 1-month retrogression for all countries. There were no changes in wait times for family-based categories.

What is the Visa Bulletin?

• The Visa Bulletin lists priority dates, which are like placeholders in the green card application line.
• Each month, the U.S. Department of State calculates how many applications are waiting in each category. This helps them estimate when different applicants might be able to move forward.
• Dates for Filing: These are the dates listed in the Visa Bulletin. If your priority date is before the cut-off date listed for your category, you can take the next step in the application process. If your priority date is the same as the cut-off date, you are not yet eligible to move forward in the application process.
• Final Action Dates: The Visa Bulletin also shows “Final Action Dates.” This is an estimate of when your application will actually be processed and decided upon. The difference between these two dates roughly reflects the expected USCIS processing time.
• There are two ways to move forward when your priority date is current:
  • Filing for Adjustment of Status: If you’re already living in the U.S.
  • Applying for an Immigrant Visa: If you’re living outside the U.S.

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If you’re already familiar with those terms, scroll down to our summary of key developments or to the filing category that’s most relevant to you:

Family-based categories

• F-1: Unmarried Children (Age 21 and Older) of U.S. Citizens
• F-2A: Spouses and Unmarried Children (Under Age 21) of U.S. Green Card Holders
• F-2B: Unmarried Children (Age 21 or Older) of U.S. Green Card Holders
• F-3: Married Children of U.S. Citizens
• F-4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens

Employment-based categories

• EB-1: Extraordinary People, Outstanding Researchers and Professors, and Multinational Executives and Managers
• EB-2: Exceptional People and Advanced Degree Holders
• EB-3: Bachelor’s Degree Holders, Skilled Workers, and Unskilled Workers
• EB-4: Special Immigrants
• EB-5: Investors

Family-Based Green Card Backlogs

F-1: UNMARRIED CHILDREN (AGE 21 AND OLDER) OF U.S. CITIZENS

F-2A: SPOUSES AND UNMARRIED CHILDREN (UNDER AGE 21) OF U.S. GREEN CARD HOLDERS

F-2B: UNMARRIED CHILDREN (AGE 21 OR OLDER) OF U.S. GREEN CARD HOLDERS

F-3: MARRIED CHILDREN OF U.S. CITIZENS

F-4: SIBLINGS OF U.S. CITIZENS

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Employment-Based Green Card Backlogs

EB-1: EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE, OUTSTANDING RESEARCHERS AND PROFESSORS, AND MULTINATIONAL EXECUTIVES AND MANAGERS

EB-2: EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE AND ADVANCED DEGREE HOLDERS

EB-3: SKILLED WORKER OR PROFESSIONAL

EB-3: OTHER WORKER

EB-4: “SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS” CATEGORY

EB-5: “INVESTORS” CATEGORY

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