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Everything you need to know about the March Visa Bulletin

Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the March 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the month of February.


USCIS Adjustment of Status


For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will continue to use the Final Action Dates chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of March.

For family-sponsored preference categories, USCIS will also continue to use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of March.

Please click here for more information.


Highlights of the March 2025 Visa Bulletin


At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of March?

Employment-Based Categories


Dates for Filing

  • No change from previous month 

Final Action Advancements & Retrogressions

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 India will advance by more than six weeks to December 1, 2012
  • EB-2 China will advance by two weeks to May 8, 2020
  • EB-2 All other countries will advance by six weeks to May 15, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by almost seven weeks to February 1, 2013
  • EB-3 China will advance by one month to August 1, 2020

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by almost seven weeks to February 1, 2013
  • EB-3 Philippines will advance by five weeks to January 15, 2021
  • EB-3 All other countries will advance by almost two months to February 1, 2021

EB-4 Religious Workers

  • EB-4 All countries retrogressed by seventeen months to August 1, 2019 

Family-Sponsored Categories


Dates for Filing Advancements

  • No change from previous month

Final Action Advancements

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens 

  • F3 Philippines will advance by two and a half months to January 22, 2003

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

  • F4 Philippines will advance by five and a half months to October 15, 2004

For more details, please see our analysis of the March 2025 Visa bulletin below.


Employment-Based Categories


FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES


According to the Department of State’s March 2025 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for employment-based categories in the month of March.

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • EB-1 India will remain at February 1, 2022
  • EB-1 China will remain at November 8, 2022
  • EB-1 All other countries will remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 India will advance by more than six weeks to December 1, 2012
  • EB-2 China will advance by two weeks to May 8, 2020
  • EB-2 All other countries will advance by six weeks to May 15, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by almost seven weeks to February 1, 2013
  • EB-3 China will advance by one month to August 1, 2020
  • EB-3 All other countries will remain at December 1, 2022

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by almost seven weeks to February 1, 2013
  • EB-3 China will remain at January 1, 2017
  • EB-3 Philippines will advance by five weeks to January 15, 2021
  • EB-3 All other countries will advance by almost two months to February 1, 2021

EB-4 Religious Workers

  • EB-4 All countries retrogressed by seventeen months to August 1, 2019 

In the March Visa Bulletin, the State Department notes that it has retrogressed the EB-4 Final Action Dates for the month of March to keep issuances within the annual limit, due to high demand and number use throughout the first half of the fiscal year. In March, the category will retrogress by 17 months, to August 1, 2019. The State Department further notes that it may be necessary to make the category “Unavailable” in the coming months, possibly as soon as April. 

In addition, the Certain Religious Workers (SR) Program is set to expire on March 14, 2025. If there is no legislative action extending the SR category beyond that date, the category will immediately become “Unavailable” as of March 14, 2025.

This would mean that after midnight on March 13, 2025, no religious worker visas would be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases by USCIS.

Immigrant visas issued prior to that date would be valid only until March 13, 2025, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant religious worker must be admitted into the United States no later than midnight on March 13, 2025.

If the program is extended beyond March 14, however, the published Final Action date of August 1, 2019 will continue to be in effect for the category for the remainder of March. 

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)

  • India will remain at January 1, 2022
  • China will remain at July 15, 2016
  • All other countries will remain current

EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current

*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements

Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES
1st C 08NOV22 01FEB22 C C
2nd 15MAY23 08MAY20 01DEC12 15MAY23 15MAY23
3rd 01DEC22 01AUG20 01FEB13 01DEC22 01DEC22
Other Workers 01FEB21 01JAN17 01FEB13 01FEB21 15JAN21
4th* 01AUG19 01AUG19 01AUG19 01AUG19 01AUG19
Certain Religious Workers 01AUG19 01AUG19 01AUG19 01AUG19 01AUG19
5th Unreserved
(including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU)
C 15JUL16 01JAN22 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

DATES FOR FILING FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES


According to the Department of State’s March 2025 Visa Bulletin, the following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply in March:

  • No change from previous month

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • EB-1 India will remain at April 15, 2022
  • EB-1 China will remain at January 1, 2023
  • EB-1 All other countries will remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 India will remain at January 1, 2013
  • EB-2 China will remain at October 1, 2020
  • EB-2 All other countries will remain at August 1, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • EB-3 India will remain at June 8, 2013
  • EB-3 China will remain at November 15, 2020
  • EB-3 All other countries will remain at March 1, 2023

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 India will remain at June 8, 2013
  • EB-3 China will remain at January 1, 2018
  • EB-3 All other countries will remain at May 22, 2021

EB-4 Special Immigrants and Religious Workers

  • EB-4 will remain at February 1, 2021

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5) 

  • India will remain at April 1, 2022
  • China will remain at October 1, 2016
  • All other countries will remain current

EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current

Employment-
based
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO  PHILIPPINES 
1st C 01JAN23 15APR22 C C
2nd 01AUG23 01OCT20 01JAN13 01AUG23 01AUG23
3rd 01MAR23 15NOV20 08JUN13 01MAR23 01MAR23
Other Workers 22MAY21 01JAN18 08JUN13 22MAY21 22MAY21
4th 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21
Certain Religious Workers 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21 01FEB21
5th Unreserved
(including C5, T5, I5, R5)
C 01OCT16 01APR22 C C
5th Set Aside:
(Rural: NR, RR – 20%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
(High Unemployment: NH, RH – 10%)
C C C C C
5th Set Aside:
(Infrastructure: RI – 2%)
C C C C C

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES


According to the Department of State’s March 2025 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories in the month of March.

F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

  • F1 Mexico will remain at November 22, 2004
  • F1 Philippines will remain at March 8, 2012
  • F1 All other countries will remain at November 22, 2015

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

  • F2A Mexico will remain at May 15, 2021
  • F2A All other countries will remain at January 1, 2022

F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

  • F2B Mexico will remain at July 1, 2005
  • F2B Philippines will remain at October 22, 2011
  • F2B All other countries will remain at May 22, 2016

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens 

  • F3 Mexico will remain at November 22, 2000
  • F3 Philippines will advance by two and a half months to January 22, 2003
  • F3 All other countries will remain at July 1, 2010

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

  • F4 Mexico will remain at March 1, 2001
  • F4 Philippines will advance by five and a half months to October 15, 2004
  • F4 India will remain at April 8, 2006
  • F4 All other countries will remain at August 1, 2007

*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements

Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 22NOV15 22NOV15 22NOV15 22NOV04 08MAR12
F2A 01JAN22 01JAN22 01JAN22 15MAY21 01JAN22
F2B 22MAY16 22MAY16 22MAY16 01JUL05 22OCT11
F3 01JUL10 01JUL10 01JUL10 22NOV00 22JAN03
F4 01AUG07 01AUG07 08APR06 01MAR01 15OCT04

DATES FOR FILING FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES


According to the Department of State’s March 2025 Visa Bulletin, the following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply in the month of March.

  • No change from previous month

F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

  • F1 Mexico will remain at October 1, 2005
  • F1 Philippines will remain at April 22, 2015
  • F1 All other countries will remain at September 1, 2017

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

  • F2A All countries will remain at July 15, 2024

F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents 

  • F2B Mexico will remain at October 1, 2006
  • F2B Philippines will remain at October 1, 2013
  • F2B All other countries will remain at January 1, 2017

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

  • F3 Mexico will remain at June 15, 2001
  • F3 Philippines will remain at May 8, 2004
  • F3 All other countries will remain at July 22, 2012

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

  • F4 Mexico will remain at April 30, 2001
  • F4 Philippines will remain at January 1, 2008
  • F4 India will remain at August 15, 2006
  • F4 All other countries will remain at March 1, 2008
Family-
Sponsored 
All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland
born
INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES 
F1 01SEP17 01SEP17 01SEP17 01OCT05 22APR15
F2A 15JUL24 15JUL24 15JUL24 15JUL24 15JUL24
F2B 01JAN17 01JAN17 01JAN17 01OCT06 01OCT13
F3 22JUL12 22JUL12 22JUL12 15JUN01 08MAY04
F4 01MAR08 01MAR08 15AUG06 30APR01 01JAN08

Conclusion


For the employment-based preference categories there were no changes in the Dates for Filing chart. However, there were major advancements in the Final Action dates when compared to the February Visa Bulletin.

  • EB-2 India will advance by more than six weeks to December 1, 2012. EB-2 China will advance by two weeks to May 8, 2020. EB-2 all other countries will advance by six weeks to May 15, 2023.
  • EB-3 India will advance by almost seven weeks to February 1, 2013. EB-3 China professional and skilled workers will advance by one month to August 1, 2020.
  • EB-3 Philippines other workers will advance by five weeks to January 15, 2021. EB-3 other workers all other countries will advance by almost two months to February 1, 2021.
  • EB-4 will retrogress for all countries by seventeen months to August 1, 2019.  The State Department notes it may make this category “Unavailable” in the coming months, possibly as soon as April.

The Certain Religious Workers (SR) Program is set to expire on March 14, 2025. If there is no legislative action taken extending the SR category beyond that date, the category will immediately become “Unavailable” as of March 14, 2025.

For the family-sponsored categories, there were no changes in the Dates for Filing chart. There were only two advancements in the Final Action dates for F3 Philippines Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens which will advance by two and a half months to January 22, 2003.

F4 Philippines Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens will also advance by five and a half months to October 15, 2004

As we do every month, we will keep you updated on the upcoming movement and changes in the Visa Bulletin right here on our blog.


Contact Us. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-483-4549 or call 619-819-9204.


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