January 2025 Visa Bulletin: Major Movement for Family Sponsored Categories and Modest Movement for Employment-Based

We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the January 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

The U.S. Citizenship and immigration Services (USCIS) has not yet indicated which chart it will use to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in January 2025.

Please click here for more information.

Highlights of the January 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

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

Employment-Based Categories

Dates for Filing

No change from previous month

Final Action Advancements

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

EB-2 India will advance by two months to October 1, 2012
EB-2 China will advance by one month to April 22, 2020
EB-2 All other countries will advance by two weeks to April 1, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

EB-3 India will advance by three weeks to December 1, 2012
EB-3 China will advance by two months to June 1, 2020
EB-3 All other countries will advance by two weeks to December 1, 2022

EB-3 Other Workers

EB-3 India will advance by three weeks to December 1, 2012
EB-3 Except China, all other countries will advance by one week to December 8, 2020

Family-Sponsored Categories

Final Action Advancements

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

F1 Philippines will advance by one week to March 8, 2012
F1 India, China, and Worldwide will advance by one month to November 22, 2015

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

F2A Mexico will advance by one month to May 15, 2021

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

F2B India, China, and Worldwide will advance by three weeks to May 22, 2016

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F3 Mexico will advance by one month to November 22, 2000
F3 Philippines will advance by two months to November 8, 2002
F3 All other countries will advance by two months and sixteen days to July 1, 2010

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

F4 Philippines will advance by three months to May 1, 2004
F4 India will advance by one month to April 8, 2006

Dates for Filing Advancements

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

F2B Mexico will advance by three months to October 1, 2006

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F3 India, China, and Worldwide will advance by three months to July 22, 2012

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

F4 Philippines will advance by five months to January 1, 2008
F4 India will advance by two weeks to August 15, 2006

Now let’s dive into our analysis of the January 2025 Visa bulletin.

Employment-Based Categories

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

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

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 two months to October 1, 2012
EB-2 China will advance by one month to April 22, 2020
EB-2 All other countries will advance by 2 weeks to April 1, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

EB-3 India will advance by three weeks to December 1, 2012
EB-3 China will advance by two months to June 1, 2020
EB-3 All other countries will advance by two weeks to December 1, 2022

EB-3 Other Workers

EB-3 India will advance by three weeks to December 1, 2012
EB-3 China will remain at January 1, 2017
EB-3 All other countries will advance by one week to December 8, 2020

EB-4 Religious Workers

EB-4 All countries will remain at January 1, 2021

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

Employment- based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	08NOV22	01FEB22	C	C
2nd	01APR23	22APR20	01OCT12	01APR23	01APR23
3rd	01DEC22	01JUN20	01DEC12	01DEC22	01DEC22
Other Workers	08DEC20	01JAN17	01DEC12	08DEC20	08DEC20
4th	01JAN21	01JAN21	01JAN21	01JAN21	01JAN21
Certain Religious Workers	U	U	U	U	U
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 January 2025 Visa Bulletin , the following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply in January:

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 Religious Workers

EB-4 Religious Workers 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 January 2025 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories in the month of January.

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

F1 Mexico will remain at November 22, 2004
F1 Philippines will advance by one week to March 8, 2012
F1 All other countries will advance by one month to November 22, 2015

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

F2A Mexico will advance by one month to 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 advance by three weeks to May 22, 2016

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F3 Mexico will advance by one month to November 22, 2000
F3 Philippines will advance by two months to November 8, 2002
F3 All other countries will advance by two months and sixteen days to 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 three months to May 1, 2004
F4 India will advance by one month to April 8, 2006
F4 All other countries will remain at August 1, 2007

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	08NOV02
F4	01AUG07	01AUG07	08APR06	01MAR01	01MAY04

DATES FOR FILING FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES

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

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 advance by three months to 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 advance by three months to July 22, 2012

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

F4 Mexico will remain at April 30, 2001
F4 Philippines will advance by five months to January 1, 2008
F4 India will advance by two weeks to 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 all employment-based categories, there will be no movement in the Dates for Filing chart for the month of January.

For the Final Action Dates, EB-2 India will advance by two months to October 1, 2012, EB-2 China will advance by one month to April 22, 2020, and EB-2 all other countries will advance by two weeks to April 1, 2023.

For EB-3 professionals and skilled workers, India will advance by three weeks to December 1, 2012, China will advance by two months to June 1, 2020, and all other countries will advance by two weeks to December 1, 2022.

For EB-3 other workers, EB-3 India will advance by three weeks to December 1, 2012, and all other countries except China will advance by one week to December 8, 2020.

With respect to the family-based categories, significant advancements can be seen in both the Dates for Filing chart and Final Action Dates chart as indicated in the highlights.

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.

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