The U.S. Department of State has released the December 2025 Visa Bulletin, revealing some advancements in final action dates for employment-based immigrant visa categories, while the dates for filing largely remain unchanged. Notably, adjustments were made for the fourth preference category pertaining to certain religious workers and the fifth preference unreserved category.
According to the bulletin, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to accept adjustment of status filings based on the Dates for Filing chart throughout December. This decision allows applicants who became eligible in November 2025 to submit their applications with an extended timeframe.
Details on Final Action Dates
The December 2025 Visa Bulletin indicates that several employment-based categories have seen minor advancements in their final action dates. Specifically, in the EB-1 category, all countries remain current, except for China, which has advanced by one month to January 22, 2023, and India, which has also advanced by one month to March 15, 2022.
For the EB-2 category, advancements are noted for all countries, moving forward by two months to February 1, 2024. China and India, however, have specific advancements: China moves two months to June 1, 2021, while India sees a six-week advancement to May 15, 2013.
In the EB-3 category, all countries have advanced by two weeks to April 15, 2023, with China and India each advancing by one month to April 1, 2021 and September 22, 2013, respectively. The category for Certain Religious Workers has transitioned from unauthorized status to a date of September 1, 2020.
The EB-5 category remains current for all countries except China, which has advanced by seven months to July 15, 2016, and India, which sees a five-month advancement to July 1, 2021.
Changes in Dates for Filing
In contrast to the advancements in final action dates, the December 2025 Visa Bulletin has maintained the same dates for filing across most employment-based categories. The only exceptions are for Certain Religious Workers, which changed from unauthorized status to February 15, 2021, and the EB-5 unreserved category for China, which advanced by three weeks to July 22, 2016.
This information is crucial for applicants navigating the complex U.S. immigration system. Those who were eligible to file their adjustment requests under the Dates for Filing chart in November 2025 will have additional time to submit their applications.
The December 2025 Visa Bulletin serves as an essential tool for individuals seeking employment-based immigration to the United States, providing clarity and updates on their potential pathways to residency. As the situation continues to evolve, applicants are encouraged to stay informed and consider their options carefully.
