The March 2025 bulletin was released this week. Filings for family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing Chart (B), whereas filings for employment-based preference categories must use the Final Action Dates Chart (A). For family-sponsored preference categories, the March 2025 Visa Bulletin shows no changes to the Dates for Filing, except for the Philippines in a few categories. For employment-based preference categories, the March 2025 Visa Bulletin shows forward movement in several employment-based categories as shown below.
Commentary:
March 2025
Final Action Dates Update
For All Areas except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F1 category remains the same at November 22 2015; F2A category remains the same at January 01 2022, F2B remains the same at May 22 2016, F4 category remains the same at August 01 2007; EB1 remains Current; EB2 advances by 44 days from April 01 2023 to 15 May 2023; and EB3 remains the same at December 01 2022.
For India only: F2A category remains the same at January 01 2022; F2B category remains the same at May 22 2016; F4 category remains the same at April 08 2006; EB1 category remains the same at February 01 2022; EB2 category advances by 47 days from October 15 2012 to 01 December 2012; EB3 category advances by 48 days from December 15 2012 to 01 February 2013; All EB5 visas are current except for Unreserved which remains at January 01 2022.
For China only: EB1 category remains the same at November 08 2022; EB2 category advances by 16 days from April 22 2020 to 08 May 2020; EB3 advances by a month from July 01 2020 to 01 August 2020; All EB5 visas are current except for the Unreserved (I5 and R5) which remains at July 15 2016.
Vietnam is not individually listed and you should use the all countries category.
Can file your immigrant applications if Priority Date before:
F1 category remains at September 01 2017 for All Areas, China, India with Mexico remaining at October 01 2005 and Philippines remaining at April 22 2015; F2A category remains at July 15 2024 for All Areas, China, India, Mexico and Philippines; F2B remains at January 01 2017 for All Areas, China, and India, with Mexico remaining at October 01 2006 and Philippines remaining at October 01 2013; F4 remains at March 01 2008 for All Areas and China, India remains at August 06 2015, Mexico remains at April 30 2001, and Philippines remains at January 01 2008.
EB-1 PDs remain current for All Areas, Mexico, and Philippines, China remains at January 01 2023, India remains at April 15 2022; EB-2 PDs remains at August 01 2023 for All Areas, Mexico, and Philippines. EB-2 India remains at January 01 2013; EB-2 China remains at October 01 2020; EB-3 PDs remain at March 01 2023 for All Areas, Mexico and Philippines. EB-3 India remains at June 08 2013. EB-3 China remains at November 15 2020; EB-5 China (C5, T5, I5, R5) remains at October 01 2016; All other EB-5 China remain Current; Vietnam is not individually listed and should use the All Areas category.
B. DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH
Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years. The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. Visa numbers made available to NACARA applicants in FY 2024 will result in reduction of the DV-2025 annual limit to approximately 54,850. Section 5104 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 amended the NACARA’s provisions on the DV program such that the number of visas made available under the NDAA each fiscal year will be deducted from the 55,000 DVs annually allocated. These amendments will further reduce the DV-2025 annual limit to approximately 52,000. DVs are divided among six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year.
For March, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2025 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
| AFRICA | 25,000 | Except: Algeria 24,500 Egypt 23,000 Morocco 22,000 |
| ASIA | 6,000 | Except: Iran 5,400 Nepal 4,500 |
| EUROPE | 13,000 | Except: Russia 12,950 Uzbekistan 7,750 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 20 | |
| OCEANIA | 1,125 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 1,800 |
Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2025 program ends as of September 30, 2025. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2025 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2025 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2025. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2025 cannot be taken for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30.
C. THE DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN APRIL
For April, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2025 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
| AFRICA | 30,000 | Except: Algeria 29,950 Egypt 27,950 Morocco 27,950 |
| ASIA | 6,000 | Except: Iran 5,950 Nepal 5,950 |
| EUROPE | 16,000 | Except: Russia 15,950 Uzbekistan 7,750 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 20 | |
| OCEANIA | 1,500 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 2,200 |
D. RETROGRESSION IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED FOURTH PREFERENCE (EB-4) CATEGORY
Due to high demand and number use throughout the first half of the fiscal year, it has become necessary to retrogress the final action date in the EB-4/SR categories for the month of March to keep issuances within the annual limit. Further, it may be necessary to make the category “Unavailable” in the coming months, possibly as soon as April. Note that the quarterly limits established in INA 201(a)(2) apply to the overall employment-based limit, and thus a specific category may become unavailable prior to the end of a fiscal year if demand and issuance rates for that category would otherwise exceed its annual limit. The situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments made accordingly. In the event that the category becomes “Unavailable,” EB-4/SR visa numbers will be available on October 1 with the start of FY-2026.
E. SCHEDULED EXPIRATION OF THE EMPLOYMENT FOURTH PREFERENCE RELIGIOUS WORKERS (SR) CATEGORY
H.R. 10545, signed on December 21, 2024, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until March 14, 2025. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight March 13, 2025. Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until March 13, 2025, and all individuals seeking admission in the non-minister special immigrant category must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the United States no later than midnight March 13, 2025.
The SR category is available and subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability for March. In the event there is no legislative action extending the category beyond March 14, 2025, the category will immediately become “Unavailable” as of March 14, 2025. In the event there is legislative action extending the category beyond March 14, the published dates will continue to be in effect for the remainder of March.
F. U.S. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS (SIVs)
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, signed into law on December 22, 2023, may affect certain current and former employees of the U.S. Government abroad, as well as certain surviving spouses and children of deceased employees of the U.S. government abroad, applying for SIVs or adjustment of status, as described in section 101(a)(27)(D) of the INA. This does not affect certain Iraqis and Afghans applying for SQ and SI SIVs. Applicants should contact the consular section at which they filed their Form DS‑1884 for further information on the impact of that law on their case.
G. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV
Department of State Publication 9514
CA/VO: February 3, 2025