The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2025 Visa Bulletin, the first update of the new fiscal year, bringing significant forward movement for Indian applicants across both employment-based and family-sponsored visa categories. Compared with September 2025, notable improvements are seen in EB-2, EB-3, and F2A, while EB-4 reopens after being unavailable for several months.
Indian applicants in employment-based categories experienced meaningful advancement. EB-2 and EB-3 moved forward by three months in Final Action Dates and over a year in Dates for Filing. EB-4 reopened with a new cutoff, and EB-5 investors gained more than a year. The only setback was the Religious Worker program, which moved back to “U” in filing dates. EB-1 remains unchanged at 15 February 2022, while EB-2 advances to 1 April 2013, EB-3 and EB-3 Other Workers move to 22 August 2013, and EB-4 reopens at 1 July 2020. Certain Religious Workers remain unavailable, and EB-5 unreserved visas jump to 1 February 2021, with set-aside EB-5 visas remaining current.
For Dates for Filing, EB-1 is now 15 April 2023, EB-2 moves to 1 December 2013, and EB-3 and EB-3 Other Workers advance to 15 August 2014. EB-4 shifts slightly to 15 February 2021, Religious Workers remain unavailable, and EB-5 unreserved remains at 1 April 2022, with set-aside visas still current.
Family-sponsored visas also show progress, with F2A seeing the most significant improvement. Final Action Dates for F1 advance to 8 November 2016, F2A jumps to 1 February 2024, F2B moves to 22 November 2016, F3 reaches 8 September 2011, and F4 remains steady at 1 November 2006. For Dates for Filing, F1 remains at 1 September 2017, F2A advances to 22 September 2025, F2B stays at 1 January 2017, F3 remains at 22 July 2012, and F4 moves slightly to 15 December 2006.
The Visa Bulletin provides critical guidance for individuals seeking green cards, indicating when they can submit their applications and when approvals are likely. For Indian applicants, the October 2025 bulletin offers meaningful forward movement in employment-based categories, the reopening of EB-4, and modest but notable gains in family-sponsored visas, particularly F2A. Despite ongoing oversubscription and delays, this update brings more hope and clarity compared with September, helping applicants plan their filings and track green card eligibility.
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