The US Department of State has published the Visa Bulletin September 2025, which provides the latest updates for family and job-based green card applicants. This monthly bulletin is very important as it helps you understand the priority dates and know when you can apply for green card or adjustment of status. Orange Law is sharing a clear overview to help applicants navigate these updates effectively.
Understanding the Visa Bulletin
Visa Bulletin September 2025 comes in two categories – Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates. Dates for Filing means the time to submit documents, and Final Action Dates tell when the applications will be processed.
- Dates for Filing: If an applicant’s priority date is earlier than the listed cut-off date, they may submit their adjustment of status while residing in the U.S. For September 2025, family-based applicants must follow these dates.
- Final Action Dates: Employment-based applicants use these dates to determine when their application can be fully approved.
Priority dates in the green card process are like queue positions. Each month the Department of State evaluates pending cases and changes the cut-off dates to reflect visa availability. This helps applicants properly decide their next step.
Family-Based Green Card Updates
In the Visa Bulletin September 2025, most family-based categories remain stable. A few notable movements include:
F-1 (Unmarried Children 21+ of U.S. Citizens)
- All Other Areas, China, India: 1-Sept-17 (No change)
- Mexico: 1-June-06 (No change)
- Philippines: 22-April-15 (No change)
F-2A: Spouses and Unmarried Children (Under Age 21) of U.S. Green Card Holders
- All countries advanced by two months, reflecting increased visa availability.
- New Cut-Off Date: 1-June-25
F-2B: Unmarried Children (Age 21 or Older) of U.S. Green Card Holders
- No changes this month.
- Dates remain stable for all countries.
F-3: Married Children of U.S. Citizens
- The Philippines category progressed by five months.
- Other countries remain unchanged.
F-4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens
- No changes across all countries this month.
The updates of September 2025 Visa Bulletin give a clear picture to applicants of every family-based category. By tracking them regularly, applicants are able to prepare their applications and manage their timelines properly.
Employment-Based Green Card Updates
Employment-based categories have been most changed in the Visa Bulletin September 2025. The points are:
EB-1: Extraordinary Individuals, Outstanding Professors, and Multinational Executives
- All Other Areas: Current
- China: 15-Nov-22
- India: 15-Feb-22
- No changes this month
EB-2: Exceptional Professionals and Advanced Degree Holders
- All Other Areas: 1-Sept-23
- China: 15-Dec-20
- India: 1-Jan-13
- No movement in September 2025
EB-3: Skilled Workers and Professionals
- Cut-off dates remain unchanged across all countries.
EB-4: Special Immigrants
- Category has reached its annual limit and will remain unavailable until the new fiscal year.
EB-5: Investors
- Dates remain stable, with some countries current and others maintaining previous cut-off dates.
Monitoring the Visa Bulletin September 2025 ensures that employment-based applicants understand when they can expect to file or receive approval.
How to Use the Visa Bulletin
Applicants can take two main actions when their priority date is current:
- Adjustment of Status: For applicants already residing in the U.S., this allows filing to change immigration status to permanent resident.
- Immigrant Visa Application: For applicants outside the U.S., this involves consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Understanding your priority date is critical. This date is typically the date when your green card petition was filed. Applicants from high-demand countries like India, China and Philippines have to wait longer due to backlog. Sometimes retrogression also happens, in which cut-off dates are pushed back and eligibility gets delayed.
Why Tracking Visa Bulletin Updates Matters
Regularly checking the Visa Bulletin September 2025 helps applicants plan for timely filing, avoid delays, and understand potential wait times. Although the bulletin does not provide exact timelines, observing trends over several months can give a better indication of expected processing periods.
Orange Law emphasizes that each applicant’s situation is unique. Accurate tracking of priority dates and cut-off movements is essential to maintaining compliance and preparing proper documentation.
Summary
The Visa Bulletin September 2025 sees minor changes in the family-based categories, while the employment-based categories remain mostly stable. The F-2A category moved forward by two months, while the F-3 category for the Philippines advanced by five months. The EB-4 category is still unavailable as it has reached its annual cap.
Staying informed on these updates helps applicants make strategic decisions in their green card process. If applicants follow Visa Bulletin September 2025 carefully, they can easily decide when to file for adjustment of status or immigrant visa.
For accurate guidance and assistance in navigating the green card process, Orange Law can provide support tailored to your category and priority date.
