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October 2025 🔹 Visa Bulletin
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October 2025 Visa Bulletin Summary & Dates
The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2025 Visa Bulletin, the first bulletin of fiscal year 2026. All cutoff dates below are based on the Final Action Chart (Chart A) unless noted otherwise.
KEY TAKEAWAYS - OCTOBER 2025
- Family-Sponsored: Backlogs remain long, especially for Mexico and the Philippines.
- Employment-Based: India and China continue to face the heaviest retrogression.
- EB India: Backlogs remain severe. EB-2 and EB-3 professionals are separated by only a few months, both stuck in early 2013. This means that highly skilled professionals and advanced-degree applicants face nearly the same wait times.
- SIJS (EB-4): Now available again. Beneficiaries with approved petitions and priority dates on or before July 1, 2020 may move forward toward adjustment of status, if otherwise eligible. This is a major development because for most of 2025, the SIJS category was closed, which left thousands of applicants in limbo despite already having approved petitions. Eligible applicants finally have a path forward — but careful review of eligibility and timing remains critical.
- Diversity Visa: The DV-2026 Program is active but with reduced annual limits.
- Religious Workers: Unavailable after September 29 unless Congress acts to extend it.
- Next Steps: Foreign nationals and employers should carefully review their priority dates to confirm whether they can file or take final action in October 2025.
🔹Employment-Based VISA CATEGORIES
The worldwide annual limit for employment-based immigrants remains at least 140,000 visas. As of October 2025, priority workers (EB-1) remain current for most countries, while India and China face significant retrogression.
- EB1: China 22 Dec 2022 │ India 15 Feb 2022 │ All other countries Current (no backlog)
- EB2: India 01 Apr 2013 │ China 01 Apr 2021 │ All other countries 01 Dec 2023
- EB3: India 22 Aug 2013 │ China 01 Mar 2021 │ All other countries 01 Apr 2023
- EB3 Other Workers: India 22 Aug 2013 │ China 01 Dec 2017 │ All other countries 15 Jul 2021
- EB4: All countries 01 Jul 2020
(⚠️Religious worker program expires midnight on Sep 29, 2025, unless Congress extends it. Without legislative extension, no further visas may be issued or adjustments approved under this category.)
- EB5 Unreserved: India 01 Feb 2021 │ China 08 Dec 2015 │ All other countries Current
- EB5 Set-Asides (rural, high unemployment, infrastructure): Current worldwide
🔹Family-based CATEGORIES
The statutory family-sponsored annual limit for FY 2026 is 226,000 visas, with per-country limits applying to oversubscribed nations such as China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines.
- F1 (Unmarried sons & daughters of U.S. citizens):
All countries 01 Sep 2017 │ Mexico 08 Oct 2006 │ Philippines 22 Apr 2015
Limit of 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.
- F2A (Spouses & children of permanent residents):
All countries, China, India, Mexico, Philippines – 22 Sep 2025
- F2B (Unmarried sons & daughters, 21+ of permanent residents):
All countries 01 Jan 2017 │ Mexico 15 Dec 2008 │ Philippines 01 Oct 2013
[F2A and F2B Limits: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, plus any unused first preference numbers: F2A limit is 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit. F2B limit is 23$ of the overall second preference limitation]
- F3 (Married sons & daughters of U.S. citizens):
All countries 22 Jul 2012 │ Mexico 15 Jun 2001 │ Philippines 01 Aug 2005
Limit of 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.
- F4 (Brothers & sisters of U.S. citizens):
All countries 01 Mar 2009 │ India 15 Dec 2006 │ Mexico 30 Apr 2001 │ Philippines 01 Jan 2008
Limit of 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences
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Kennedy Law is happy to keep you informed and prepared as immigration rules continue to change. Staying updated is the first step in protecting your future.
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DISCLAIMER: This website provides general information about immigration rules and eligibility. It is not legal advice, tax advice, or a substitute for individualized consultation. Immigration outcomes depend on your specific circumstances. For advice tailored to your case, schedule a consultation with Kennedy Law.
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