The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the July 2025 Visa Bulletin, providing the visa number availability to file for and obtain legal permanent residency (immigrant or “green card” status).
For individuals seeking green card status, it is essential to check the Visa Bulletin each month to determine if a visa number is available to proceed with the green card process. If a foreign national is eligible to file during the month indicated on the Visa Bulletin, they should do so as soon as possible, since visa numbers may retrogress (move backward) in future months, causing delays or temporary ineligibility.
Applicants with a priority date earlier than the date listed in the “Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases” chart may submit their Form I-485 in July 2025. Filing the I-485 while eligible allows individuals to obtain lawful status in the U.S. while their green card application is pending.
For family-based green card applicants, USCIS has confirmed that individuals in all family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart for July 2025.
Applicants applying for immigrant visas at U.S. consulates abroad may continue to use the Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications chart for consular processing.
In the Visa Bulletin charts, a “C” indicates that the category is “current,” and applicants may file regardless of their priority date. For family-based petitions, the priority date is the date the Form I-130 was filed. For employment-based petitions, it is typically the date the PERM labor certification was filed (if required), or if not, the date the Form I-140 was filed.
DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS
| Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01JUN06 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | 01MAR25 | 01MAR25 | 01MAR25 | 01MAR25 | 01MAR25 |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01APR08 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 15JUN01 | 01DEC04 |
| F4 | 08SEP08 | 08SEP08 | 01DEC06 | 30APR01 | 01JAN08 |
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 15NOV22 | 15FEB22 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15OCT23 | 15DEC20 | 01JAN13 | 15OCT23 | 15OCT23 |
| 3rd | 01APR23 | 01DEC20 | 22APR13 | 01APR23 | 08FEB23 |
| Other Workers | 08JUL21 | 01MAY17 | 22APR13 | 08JUL21 | 08JUL21 |
| 4th | U | U | U | U | U |
| Certain Religious Workers | U | U | U | U | U |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU) |
C | 22JAN14 | 01MAY19 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%, including NR, RR) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%, including NH, RH) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%, including RI) |
C | C | C | C | C |