Visa Bulletin Update: October 2025

US Immigration keywords in shape of country map

By Joseph Hinton, Immigration Paralegal

October 2025

With the beginning of the U.S. Government’s Fiscal Year 2026 on October 1, the October 2025 Visa Bulletin has indicated advancement across several employment-based visa categories. USCIS has also announced that they will accept Adjustment of Status applications in all categories based on Dates for Filing in October 2025, opening eligibility to some backlogged applicants.  

With respect to movement in the EB-2 India category, the Final Action date advanced 3 months to April 1, 2013, with USCIS accepting applications based on a further advanced Date for Filing of December 1, 2013. Similarly, the EB-3 India Professional/Skilled Worker and Other Worker category also advanced by around 3 months to a Final Action Date of August 22, 2013, with a Date for Filing of August 15, 2014. The EB-2 China category Final Action date moves up about 3.5 months to April 1, 2021, with a Date for Filing of December 1, 2021, whereas the EB-3 China Professional category has moved up 3 months to March 1, 2021, with a Date for Filing of January 1, 2022.

For all other countries, the EB-2 category Final Action Date has advanced 3 months to December 1, 2023, with a Date for Filing of July 15, 2024. The EB-3 Professional and Skilled Worker category reflects no movement from the prior Final Action Date of April 1, 2023, but the Date for Filing in this category has advanced to July 1, 2023.

In the EB-1 category, the Final Action Date has held steady for India and has advanced by around 1 month for China. There is advancement in the Date for Filing by a margin of 1 year for India, to April 15, 2023, and an almost five-month advancement for China to May 15, 2023, with All Other Countries remaining current for Date for Filing and Final Action Date.

For foreign nationals in various employment-based categories, the new bulletin reflects significant advancement. As such, applicants for Adjustment of Status with current priority dates should prepare for the filing of their application by proactively obtaining medical exams, collecting appropriate documents, such as birth certificates and expired passports, and staying in contact with their attorney. Those with pending I-485 applications that now have current priority dates under the Final Action dates chart should prepare for the adjudication of their applications by making sure their address is accurate in USCIS systems by completing Form AR-11, notifying their attorney of any changes to the details of their current position, and preparing for Medical Exam Requests For Evidence (RFEs).

Individuals who have backlogged priority dates may have the opportunity to secure additional H-1B extensions as needed while awaiting visa bulletin advancement. Those with pending Adjustment of Status applications that are now backlogged can continue to renew EADs and Advance Parole documents as needed and may have opportunities to port employment. Consult with your Parker Gallini attorney if you have any questions about these options.