.jpeg "July 2025 USCIS Visa Bulletin: Some Relief for Indian Green Card Applicants")
USCIS and the Department of State released the July 2025 Visa Bulletin, and for Indian emigrants, it brings a modest dose of optimism as certain family-sponsored and employment-based categories move forward.
Family-Sponsored Categories (Final Action Dates – India)
F1 (Unmarried sons & daughters of U.S. citizens): Advanced from June 8, 2016 → July 15, 2016
F2A (Spouses & minor children of permanent residents): Jumped from January 1, 2022 → September 1, 2022 — a massive 8-month forward shift
F2B (Unmarried adult children of permanent residents): From September 22 → October 15, 2016
F3 (Married children of U.S. citizens): June 22, 2011 → August 1, 2011
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F4 (Siblings of U.S. citizens): June 15, 2006 → July 8, 2006
Filing Dates for Family Categories
F2A sees a filing-window advancement from February 1 → March 1, 2025
F4 also moves ahead from October 1 → December 1, 2006
Employment-Based Categories
EB‑3 (Professionals & Skilled Workers – India): The Final Action Date improves by one week, moving from April 15 → April 22, 2013
Other categories (EB‑1, EB‑2, EB‑4, EB‑5) experience no change, with EB‑1 fixed on Feb 15, 2022, EB‑2 on Jan 1, 2013, and EB‑5 (unreserved) on May 1, 2019
Filing Dates for EB Categories
No movement across all employment-based Dates for Filing in July
Reduced Wait Times
The F2A category’s 8-month surge is especially significant—spouses and minor children of green card holders can now expect significantly faster final approvals and potentially earlier filings.
EB‑3’s incremental one-week progress, while small, signals continuity in forward momentum, even if modest.
Filing Guidance
USCIS has confirmed it will use the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based filings in July. Meanwhile, family-based applicants will follow the Dates for Filing chart.
Data at a Glance: July 2025 Breakthroughs for India
| Category | Final Action Date (June → July) |
Filing Date Shift |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Jun 8, 2016 → Jul 15, 2016 | — |
| F2A | Jan 1, 2022 → Sep 1, 2022 | Feb 1 → Mar 1, 2025 |
| F2B | Sep 22, 2016 → Oct 15, 2016 | — |
| F3 | Jun 22, 2011 → Aug 1, 2011 | — |
| F4 | Jun 15, 2006 → Jul 8, 2006 | Oct 1 → Dec 1, 2006 |
| EB-3 | Apr 15, 2013 → Apr 22, 2013 | — |
| EB-1, EB-2, EB-5 | No Change | No Change |
What to Do Next
1. Family-Based Applicants:
If in F2A, F4, or other moving categories, file as soon as your priority date is current per the July filing chart.
2. EB‑3 Applicants:
You’re inching forward—stay proactive. Review documents, liaise with your attorney or employer, and prepare for filing when USCIS indicates.
3. EB‑1/EB‑2/EB‑5 Applicants:
Hold steady. No forward movement this month—monitor upcoming bulletins for any changes.
Final Take
July 2025 offers notable progress for Indian EB‑3 and F2A applicants, while other family categories gain moderate momentum. Though EB‑1 and EB‑2 remain static, the steady advancement in EB‑3 offers hope. For those eligible now, March filings for F2A and final approvals for EB‑3 and others may happen sooner than expected.
Stay up-to-date: closely track upcoming Visa Bulletins and USCIS filings updates to seize these new openings.
