The Dept of State has posted the January 2025 Visa Bulletin. It lists final action dates and filing dates for January 2026. This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during January for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.
Despite January 2025 marking the start of a new quarter, the Dates for Filing chart in the January 2025 Visa Bulletin shows no advancement; however, several categories on the Final Action Dates chart show slight advancement.
Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1)
- The EB-1 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will remain current. Applicants from these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed can submit their applications to the USCIS.
- The EB-1 cutoff date for China will stay on January 1, 2023. Applicants from China with a priority date before January 1, 2023, who have not yet filed their I-485 applications can submit them to the USCIS.
- The EB-1 cutoff date for India will remain on April 15, 2022. Applicants from India with a priority date before April 15, 2022, who have not yet filed their I-485 applications can submit them to the USCIS.
Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2)
- The EB-2 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will remain August 1, 2023. Applicants chargeable to these areas with a priority date before August 1, 2023, who have not yet filed their I-485 applications can now submit them to USCIS.
- The EB-2 cutoff date for China will remain October 1, 2020. China EB-2 applicants with a priority date before October 1, 2020, who have not yet filed their I-485 applications, are eligible to file their I-485 applications with USCIS.
- The EB-2 cutoff date for India will remain January 1, 2013. India EB-2 applicants with a priority date before January 1, 2013, who have not yet filed their I-485 applications, can proceed to file their I-485 applications with USCIS.
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3)
- The EB-3 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines remains March 1, 2023. Applicants from these areas can file their I-485 applications if they have a priority date before this date.
- The cutoff date for China is November 15, 2020. Chinese EB-3 applicants with priority dates before then can file their I-485 applications.
- The cutoff date for India is June 8, 2013. Indian EB-3 applicants with priority dates can file their I-485 applications before this date.
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For more information on the January 2025 Visa Bulletin, see: Visa Bulletin for January 2025
