Visa Bulletin July 2025 Snapshot
Before diving into the category-by-category tables, here is the short version: the Visa Bulletin July 2025 keeps most employment-based categories flat, advances F2A meaningfully, and leaves EB-4 closed. The Visa Bulletin July 2025 is the most important document this month for anyone tracking a family-sponsored or employment-based green card case. Published by the U.S. Department of State on June 3, 2025, it lays out exactly where your priority date stands, whether your category moved forward, and which chart U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) wants you to use if you are filing Form I-485 from inside the United States. For more context on how U.S. immigration policy affects everyday visa holders, see our other immigration and visa news coverage on this site.
This guide walks through the Visa Bulletin July 2025 in plain language, covering both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts, so you can quickly find your category and country of chargeability.
What the Visa Bulletin Actually Does
Every month, the State Department publishes two charts for family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visas. The first, Final Action Dates, marks the point at which a green card can actually be approved and a visa number issued. The second, Dates for Filing, marks the earlier point at which an applicant can submit paperwork and begin the process, even though final approval is still pending.
Congress caps the number of green cards issued each year, both worldwide and per country, which is why applicants from high-demand countries such as India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines often face much longer waits than applicants from everywhere else. Your priority date, the date your petition (Form I-130 or I-140) was originally filed, determines your place in that line.
Which Chart Applies in Visa Bulletin July 2025
This is where a lot of confusion happens, because USCIS does not always allow applicants to use the same chart for every category. For July 2025, USCIS has confirmed the following: family-sponsored applicants filing adjustment of status inside the United States should use the Dates for Filing chart, while employment-based applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart this month. Using the wrong chart is one of the most common, and costly, mistakes applicants make, so double-check before you file.
Family-Sponsored Categories: Dates for Filing (July 2025)
| Category | All Other Countries | China (mainland) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 – Unmarried adult sons/daughters of U.S. citizens | Sep 1, 2017 | Sep 1, 2017 | Sep 1, 2017 | Jun 1, 2006 | Apr 22, 2015 |
| F2A – Spouses/minor children of green card holders | Mar 1, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 |
| F2B – Unmarried adult sons/daughters of green card holders | Jan 1, 2017 | Jan 1, 2017 | Jan 1, 2017 | Apr 1, 2008 | Oct 1, 2013 |
| F3 – Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens | Jul 22, 2012 | Jul 22, 2012 | Jul 22, 2012 | Jun 15, 2001 | Dec 1, 2004 |
| F4 – Siblings of adult U.S. citizens | Sep 8, 2008 | Sep 8, 2008 | Dec 1, 2006 | Apr 30, 2001 | Jan 1, 2008 |
F2A stands out this month, moving to a single, nearly current date of March 1, 2025 across every country of chargeability. That is good news for spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents.
Final Action Dates for Family Categories (Reference)
For those doing consular processing abroad, here are the Final Action Dates, the point at which a visa can actually be issued:
| Category | All Other Countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Jul 15, 2016 | Jul 15, 2016 | Jul 15, 2016 | Apr 22, 2005 | Jul 15, 2012 |
| F2A | Sep 1, 2022 | Sep 1, 2022 | Sep 1, 2022 | Feb 1, 2022 | Sep 1, 2022 |
| F2B | Oct 15, 2016 | Oct 15, 2016 | Oct 15, 2016 | Jan 1, 2007 | Apr 15, 2012 |
| F3 | Aug 1, 2011 | Aug 1, 2011 | Aug 1, 2011 | Feb 1, 2001 | Dec 1, 2003 |
| F4 | Jan 1, 2008 | Jan 1, 2008 | Jul 8, 2006 | Mar 15, 2001 | Jan 1, 2006 |
Employment-Based Categories: Final Action Dates (July 2025)
This is the chart employment-based adjustment of status applicants must use this month.
| Category | All Other Countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 – Priority workers | Current | Nov 15, 2022 | Feb 15, 2022 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 – Advanced degree / exceptional ability | Oct 15, 2023 | Dec 15, 2020 | Jan 1, 2013 | Oct 15, 2023 | Oct 15, 2023 |
| EB-3 – Skilled workers/professionals | Apr 1, 2023 | Dec 1, 2020 | Apr 22, 2013 | Apr 1, 2023 | Feb 8, 2023 |
| EB-3 – Other workers | Jul 8, 2021 | May 1, 2017 | Apr 22, 2013 | Jul 8, 2021 | Jul 8, 2021 |
| EB-4 – Special immigrants | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| EB-4 – Religious workers | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| EB-5 – Unreserved | Current | Jan 22, 2014 | May 1, 2019 | Current | Current |
| EB-5 – Rural/High-Unemployment/Infrastructure | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
The EB-4 categories being marked “Unavailable” reflects the ongoing statutory cap issues affecting certain special immigrant and religious worker classifications, a trend that has persisted across recent bulletins.
For those who want to compare, the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based categories this month reads: EB-1 Current (most countries), Jan 1, 2023 (China), Apr 15, 2022 (India); EB-2 Nov 15, 2023 (most countries), Jan 1, 2021 (China), Feb 1, 2013 (India); EB-3 May 1, 2023 (most countries), Dec 22, 2020 (China), Jun 8, 2013 (India); EB-4 and EB-4 Religious Workers both at Feb 1, 2021 across the board; and all EB-5 set-aside categories remain Current.
Understanding Your Priority Date
Your priority date is locked in the moment your immigrant petition is properly filed, the I-130 for family cases, or the I-140 (or in some cases the labor certification) for employment cases. You compare that date against the relevant chart above using your country of chargeability, which is generally your country of birth rather than your citizenship or residence. If your priority date is earlier than the listed cut-off, you are considered current and can move forward with your application.
Why Visa Bulletin Dates Move Backward or Stay Flat
Retrogression happens when demand for a category temporarily outpaces the annual visa supply, forcing the State Department to pull the cut-off date backward to slow allocations. It is not a rejection of your case; it simply reflects the limited, congressionally-set number of visas available each fiscal year, split across worldwide and per-country caps. Categories like EB-2 and EB-3 for India and China, and F4 for most countries, have shown this pattern for years due to sustained high demand relative to their allocation.
Visa Bulletin July 2025 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Visa Bulletin for July 2025?
It is the monthly Department of State publication listing Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visa categories, published June 3, 2025, and covering the month of July 2025.
Which chart should I use for adjustment of status in July 2025?
Family-sponsored applicants use the Dates for Filing chart, and employment-based applicants use the Final Action Dates chart, based on USCIS’s monthly determination.
What does “Current” mean on the Visa Bulletin?
“Current” means visa numbers are available to every applicant in that category and country, regardless of priority date, so there is effectively no wait for that specific chart.
Why is my category marked “Unavailable”?
“Unavailable” means the annual numerical limit for that category has already been reached, so no further visa numbers can be issued until the next fiscal year begins in October.
Does my country of birth or my citizenship determine my chargeability?
Chargeability is generally based on your country of birth, not your current citizenship or the passport you hold, with limited cross-chargeability exceptions for spouses.
Will the August 2025 bulletin move forward or retrogress?
Only the State Department can confirm future movement, but historically categories like F2A and the EB categories for China and India tend to shift gradually rather than jump, so checking the monthly bulletin directly remains the most reliable way to track changes.
Final Thoughts on the Visa Bulletin July 2025
The Visa Bulletin July 2025 brought welcome, near-current movement for F2A applicants and held relatively steady across most employment-based categories, while EB-4 remained closed and India and China continued to see the longest waits in EB-2 and EB-3. As always, treat this article as a starting point rather than a substitute for reading the official Visa Bulletin on travel.state.gov or speaking with a qualified immigration attorney about your specific priority date and case type.