US Visa Bulletin May 2025: Bad News for Indians

The U.S. Department of State's Visa Bulletin for May 2025 introduces significant changes affecting Indian nationals across various employment-based visa categories.​

EB-5 Unreserve d Category: Retrogression for India

Indian applicants in the EB-5 Unreserved category face a substantial setback, with the final action date moving backward by over six months to May 1, 2019. This adjustment is attributed to high demand from Indian nationals and increased usage globally, necessitating a rollback to stay within the fiscal year 2025 limits. ​

EB-1 and EB-2 Categories: No Movement

The EB-1 and EB-2 categories for India remain unchanged, with cutoff dates at February 2, 2022, and January 1, 2013, respectively. This stagnation reflects the high demand and limited visa numbers in these categories. ​

EB-3 Category: Modest Advancement

In contrast, the EB-3 category for India sees a slight advancement. The final action date progresses by two weeks to April 15, 2013, offering a modest improvement for applicants in this category. ​

EB-4 Category: Unavailable

The EB-4 category continues to be unavailable for all countries, including India, as the annual limit has been reached. Availability is expected to resume with the new fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2025.

EB-5 Set-Aside Categories: Remain Current

Despite the retrogression in the EB-5 Unreserved category, the EB-5 Set-Aside categories—Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure—remain current for all countries, including India. ​

Applicants are advised to consult the official Visa Bulletin and seek professional guidance to understand how these changes may impact their individual cases.