October 2025 Visa Bulletin: Major Leaps for F2A, Key Shifts for Employment Categories, and a New Fiscal Year Reset

The wait for your green card can feel like an eternity, filled with hope, anxiety, and constant checking of official updates. At ImmiBook, we understand this journey intimately, and we're here to break down the latest news that directly impacts your immigration path.

The U.S. Department of State has just released the highly anticipated October 2025 Visa Bulletin, marking the start of a new fiscal year (FY2026). This bulletin is a crucial indicator of green card availability, and for many, it brings a fresh wave of optimism, while for others, it signals continued patience or adjustments to strategy. This month brings some truly significant movements, particularly for family-sponsored F2A applicants, alongside critical updates for various employment-based categories.

Let's dive deep into what these changes mean for you and your family. For personalized tracking and real-time updates on your priority date, make sure to visit our ImmiBook Visa Bulletin Tracker.

Understanding the Visa Bulletin: Your Roadmap to a Green Card

Before we dissect the October 2025 data, let's quickly review the fundamentals of the Visa Bulletin. This monthly publication from the U.S. Department of State determines when immigrant visa applicants can proceed with their applications.

It features two main charts:

1. Final Action Dates (Chart A): This chart indicates when a visa number is actually available. If your priority date is earlier than the date listed in Chart A for your category and country, you are eligible to have your green card interview scheduled or, if already in the U.S., for USCIS to make a final decision on your Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) application.
2. Dates for Filing (Chart B): This chart allows certain applicants to file their Adjustment of Status application (Form I-485) with USCIS earlier than their Final Action Date. USCIS decides each month whether applicants can use Chart B. You must check the USCIS website for their specific announcement, usually within a week of the bulletin's release. If USCIS permits the use of Chart B, it means you can submit your I-485 even if a final green card isn't immediately available, allowing you to get in line, obtain work authorization (EAD), and travel parole (Advance Parole) sooner.

Your Priority Date is the date your petition was officially received by USCIS. For family-sponsored petitions, it's typically the date the I-130 petition was filed. For employment-based petitions, it's usually the date the PERM Labor Certification was filed, or the I-140 petition if no PERM is required.

"Current" (C) means that visa numbers are immediately available for all eligible applicants in that category, regardless of their priority date. There is no backlog.

October 2025: A New Fiscal Year, New Opportunities

The start of a new fiscal year on October 1st is always a significant event for the Visa Bulletin. Each fiscal year, Congress allocates a fixed number of immigrant visas (green cards) for various categories. When October rolls around, this fresh allocation of visa numbers becomes available, often leading to noticeable advancements in many categories.

This October 2025 bulletin is largely positive, with 72 categories advancing across family and employment-based preferences. The average movement across these advancements is a robust 150 days. However, it's not universally good news, with 1 category retrogressing and 5 categories becoming unavailable, specifically impacting EB-4 Religious Workers.

Let's break down the key movements and what they mean for you.

Family-Sponsored Preference Categories: Hope on the Horizon

The family-sponsored categories have seen some of the most dramatic and welcome movements this month, particularly for F2A. This is fantastic news for many families eager to reunite.

F1: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

This category is for adult children of U.S. citizens who are not married.

• All Other Countries: Saw moderate advancement in both Final Action and Dates for Filing.
• Mexico: Showed some movement, but remains significantly backlogged.
• Philippines: Experienced modest progress.

Practical Impact: While not as dramatic as F2A, any forward movement is positive. If your priority date is now current or closer to being current, ensure your documents are ready. For those using Dates for Filing, prepare your I-485 application.

F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents (LPRs) - *Massive Leap!*

This category is for the spouses and minor children (under 21, unmarried) of U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders).

This is arguably the biggest news of the October 2025 bulletin!

• All Other Countries (Final Action): Advanced by an astonishing 518 days, moving from September 1, 2022, to February 1, 2024.
• China (Final Action): Advanced by 518 days, to February 1, 2024.
• India (Final Action): Advanced by 518 days, to February 1, 2024.
• Philippines (Final Action): Advanced by 518 days, to February 1, 2024.
• Mexico (Final Action): Advanced by a very strong 365 days, moving from February 1, 2022, to February 1, 2023.

Practical Impact: This is phenomenal news for thousands of F2A applicants! If your priority date is on or before February 1, 2024 (for most countries) or February 1, 2023 (for Mexico), you are now eligible for final action on your green card. This means:

• For those inside the U.S.: If your I-130 petition was approved and your priority date is now current, you may be able to file your I-485 Adjustment of Status application immediately if you haven't already. If you have already filed, USCIS can now process your application for final approval.
• For those outside the U.S.: Your immigrant visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate could be scheduled very soon. Ensure all your civil documents are in order and you are prepared for the interview.

This significant advancement reflects the new fiscal year's visa allocation and indicates a strong effort to clear the F2A backlog. Do not delay in taking action!

F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 or Older) of Permanent Residents

This category covers adult unmarried children (21 or older) of U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents.

• All Other Countries: Experienced moderate advancements in both Final Action and Dates for Filing.
• Mexico: Saw some forward movement.
• Philippines: Also moved forward, but remains substantially backlogged.

Practical Impact: Keep a close eye on your priority date. If it's now current for Final Action, be ready for your interview or I-485 approval. If it's current for Dates for Filing, consider preparing your I-485 to submit if USCIS permits.

F3: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

This category is for married adult children of U.S. citizens.

• All Other Countries: Saw modest but consistent advancements.
• India: Showed some forward movement.
• Mexico: Experienced slight progress.
• Philippines: Moved forward, but still faces a significant backlog.

Practical Impact: Progress in this category is often slow due to high demand. Continue to monitor and ensure all your documents are up to date.

F4: Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens

This category is for siblings of adult U.S. citizens.

• All Other Countries: Saw minor advancements in both charts.
• India: Experienced some movement.
• Mexico: Showed slight progress.
• Philippines: Moved forward, but remains one of the most backlogged categories.

Practical Impact: This category typically has the longest waits. Any movement is welcome, but applicants should prepare for a long journey. Use the ImmiBook tracker to stay informed.

Summary of Family-Sponsored Visa Bulletin Movements (October 2025)

Below is a table summarizing the key changes in Final Action Dates for family-sponsored categories:

Employment-Based Preference Categories: Mixed Signals

The employment-based categories present a more varied picture, with strong advancements for some, but also a notable retrogression and a concerning unavailability.

EB-1: Priority Workers (Persons of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors/Researchers, Multinational Executives/Managers)

This category is generally current for most countries, reflecting its high-priority status. However, for countries with high demand like India and China, backlogs can occur.

• India (Dates for Filing): Saw a substantial leap of 365 days, moving from April 15, 2022, to April 15, 2023. This is excellent news for many Indian applicants who can now submit their I-485.
• China: Remains current for Final Action, with Dates for Filing also showing positive stability.

Practical Impact: For Indian EB-1 applicants, this DFF movement is a significant opportunity to file your I-485, secure an EAD, and Advance Parole. Ensure your petition is approved and all supporting documents are ready.

EB-2: Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability

This category often experiences significant fluctuations, especially for India and China.

• India: Showed modest forward movement in both Final Action and Dates for Filing.
• China: Saw some positive movement in both charts.
• All Other Countries: Generally remain current or saw slight advancements.

Practical Impact: While not as dramatic as some other categories, any forward movement is a step in the right direction. Continue to monitor your priority date closely and consult with your employer's immigration attorney.

EB-3: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers

This category also sees high demand, particularly from India and China.

• India (Dates for Filing): Experienced a strong advancement of 433 days, moving from June 8, 2013, to August 15, 2014. This is a welcome development for many.
• China (Dates for Filing): Moved forward by a solid 375 days, from December 22, 2020, to January 1, 2022.
• All Other Countries: Generally remain current or saw slight advancements.

Practical Impact: For Indian and Chinese EB-3 applicants, the DFF movement provides a window to file your I-485. This is a critical step towards getting your green card and obtaining interim benefits. Act quickly if your priority date is now current for filing.

EB-4: Certain Special Immigrants (Religious Workers, Broadcasters, etc.) - *Major Unavailability!*

This category includes religious workers, certain broadcasters, and others. The religious worker subcategory has a sunset date, which often causes fluctuations.

• EB-4 Religious Workers (Dates for Filing): Became UNAVAILABLE for ALL COUNTRIES (All Other, China, India, Mexico, Philippines). This is a significant setback.

Practical Impact: If you are an EB-4 Religious Worker, this means you currently cannot file your I-485 or have your immigrant visa interview scheduled based on the Dates for Filing chart. This unavailability is usually tied to the statutory expiration of the program (which often gets extended retroactively by Congress). You should:

• Consult an immigration attorney immediately: Understand your specific situation and potential alternatives.
• Monitor future bulletins closely: The program may be reauthorized, leading to its return in future bulletins.
• Do not panic, but be prepared for a delay.

EB-5: Immigrant Investors

This category is for foreign investors who make a qualifying investment in a U.S. commercial enterprise and create/preserve jobs.

• EB-5 Unreserved (India - Final Action): Advanced by a strong 444 days, moving from November 15, 2019, to February 1, 2021. This is excellent news for many Indian investors.
• EB-5 Unreserved (China - Dates for Filing): Experienced a retrogression of 92 days, moving from October 1, 2016, to July 1, 2016.

Practical Impact: For Indian EB-5 Unreserved applicants, this substantial forward movement means many are now eligible for final green card processing. For Chinese EB-5 Unreserved applicants, the retrogression means a temporary setback for filing I-485s. This highlights the volatility in this category, especially for high-demand countries. If your priority date is now retrogressed, you will have to wait for future advancements before you can file or proceed.

Summary of Employment-Based Visa Bulletin Movements (October 2025)

Below is a table summarizing the key changes in Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for employment-based categories:

Actionable Advice for All Applicants

Regardless of your category, here's what you should do based on the October 2025 Visa Bulletin:

1. Check Your Priority Date Immediately:

   Compare your priority date with the Final Action Dates (Chart A) and Dates for Filing (Chart B) for your specific preference category and country of chargeability. Use our ImmiBook Visa Bulletin Tracker for easy monitoring.

2. Verify USCIS Chart B Usage:

   If your priority date is current under Dates for Filing (Chart B), check the USCIS website to confirm if they will accept I-485 applications based on Chart B for October 2025. This decision is usually announced within a week after the State Department releases the bulletin.

3. Prepare Your Documents (If Current):

   If your priority date is current under either Chart A or Chart B (and USCIS allows), gather all necessary documents for your I-485 Adjustment of Status application or your immigrant visa interview. This includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, medical examination results, affidavits of support, and any other required forms.

4. Consult an Immigration Attorney:

   Immigration law is complex. An experienced attorney can provide personalized advice, help you understand your options, and ensure your application is correctly prepared and submitted. This is especially crucial if your category retrogressed or became unavailable.

5. Stay Informed:

   The Visa Bulletin changes monthly. Continue to monitor the official State Department Visa Bulletin page and our ImmiBook updates. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive timely alerts.

6. For Retrogressed or Unavailable Categories:

   If your category retrogressed (like EB-5 China DFF) or became unavailable (like EB-4 Religious Workers DFF), you will need to wait for future bulletins to see if it moves forward again. This can be frustrating, but it's important to remain patient and explore any alternative pathways with your attorney.

Historical Context and Future Outlook

The October Visa Bulletin, as the first of the fiscal year, often brings welcome advancements due to the fresh allocation of visa numbers. The significant leap in F2A this month is a prime example of this annual reset providing substantial relief to applicants.

Looking back at previous fiscal year starts, we often see similar patterns of forward movement, especially in categories that were heavily backlogged at the end of the prior fiscal year. The average movement of 150 days across advancing categories is quite strong, indicating a healthy start to FY2026.

However, the retrogression in EB-5 China DFF and the unavailability of EB-4 Religious Workers DFF serve as a reminder that demand and legislative factors can quickly shift the landscape. The EB-4 Religious Worker category often faces temporary unavailability due to its sunset clause, which typically requires congressional reauthorization. Applicants in this category should remain hopeful for a legislative fix that would make visas available again.

What to expect in the coming months?

• Continued Fluctuations: While the new fiscal year provides a boost, demand continues to be high in many categories, particularly for India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines. We can expect continued adjustments, and potentially further retrogressions if demand outstrips the available visa numbers.
• F2A Momentum: The massive movement in F2A is very positive. While it's unlikely to repeat such a large jump every month, we hope to see continued, albeit slower, progress in this category.
• Employment-Based Demand: EB-1 and EB-2 for India and China will likely remain dynamic. The advancements in DFF for EB-1 India and EB-3 India/China are good signs for early filers, but Final Action Dates may move more cautiously.
• Legislative Impact: Any new immigration legislation could drastically alter future bulletins, though significant changes are rare.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a "priority date" and why is it important?

Your priority date is essentially your place in line for a green card. It's the date USCIS first received your immigration petition (e.g., I-130 for family, I-140/PERM for employment). It's crucial because you cannot apply for a green card (or have it finalized) until your priority date becomes "current" according to the Visa Bulletin for your specific category and country.

Q2: What does it mean if my category "retrogressed"?

Retrogression means that the priority date for your category and country has moved backward, making fewer people eligible to apply or receive their green card. This typically happens when the demand for visas exceeds the supply for a given period, or if administrative errors occurred in previous projections. If your date retrogresses, you will have to wait longer until it moves forward again.

Q3: What does "current" (C) mean in the Visa Bulletin?

When a category is listed as "C" or "Current," it means that visa numbers are immediately available for all eligible applicants in that specific category