Each month the U.S. Department of State releases a Visa Bulletin that tells family- and employment-based immigrants when they may file and receive a green card. The August 2025 edition introduces a mixture of forward movement, a significant retrogression in one employment category, and early warnings about tight visa ceilings. This article walks you through:
- the headline shifts and why they happened,
- detailed side-by-side tables of every category that changed, and
- practical next steps if your priority date has just become current—or slipped back again.
All figures come directly from the official July 2025 and August 2025 Visa Bulletins. Travel.state.govTravel.state.gov
1. Big-picture take-aways
- EB-2 “Rest of World” (ROW) retrogresses 6 weeks to 1 Sep 2023, a move the State Department attributes to the category “rapidly approaching the annual limit.” Travel.state.gov
- EB-5 Unreserved leaps forward for China (+22 months) and India (+6½ months) after lower-than-expected demand elsewhere and the “fall-down” of unused family numbers. Travel.state.gov
- EB-3 India inches ahead one month, while most other EB categories stay put.
- Family-based charts are largely stable, with one notable advance for F-4 India and a one-month bump in the F-2A Filing Date worldwide.
- DV-2025 cut-offs climb again, opening interview slots for thousands of additional lottery winners.
2. Family-sponsored categories
2.1 Final Action Dates – where approvals moved
| Category | Chargeability | July 2025 | August 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-4 | India | 08 Jul 2006 | 01 Nov 2006 | ▲ 3 mo 24 d |
All other family Final Action Dates—including the widely watched F-2A cut-off of 01 Sep 2022—remain unchanged. Travel.state.govTravel.state.gov
2.2 Dates for Filing – where applicants may now submit
| Category | Worldwide (unless noted) | July 2025 | August 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-2A (all countries) | 01 Mar 2025 | 01 Apr 2025 | ▲ 1 mo | |
| F-4 (all countries) | 08 Sep 2008 | 01 Jan 2009 | ▲ 3 mo 23 d |
These modest advances let new spouses/children of green-card holders and siblings of U.S. citizens start their paperwork sooner, even if visas are not yet ready to issue. Travel.state.govTravel.state.gov
3. Employment-based categories
3.1 Final Action Dates – approvals this month
| Preference | Chargeability | July 2025 | August 2025 | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | China | 15 Nov 2022 | 15 Nov 2022 | — |
| India | 15 Feb 2022 | 15 Feb 2022 | — | |
| EB-2 | ROW, Mexico, PH | 15 Oct 2023 | 01 Sep 2023 | ▼ 1 mo 14 d (retrogression) |
| China | 15 Dec 2020 | 15 Dec 2020 | — | |
| India | 01 Jan 2013 | 01 Jan 2013 | — | |
| EB-3 | India | 22 Apr 2013 | 22 May 2013 | ▲ 1 mo |
| EW (Other Workers) | India | 22 Apr 2013 | 22 May 2013 | ▲ 1 mo |
| EB-5 Unreserved | China | 22 Jan 2014 | 08 Dec 2015 | ▲ 22 mo |
| India | 01 May 2019 | 15 Nov 2019 | ▲ 6 mo 14 d |
Rows not shown experienced no movement. Travel.state.govTravel.state.gov
Why the EB-2 ROW step-back?
August’s bulletin (section D) says EB-2 issuance is “rapidly approaching the annual limit.” Retrogressing the cut-off slows approvals so numbers last through September. If demand keeps climbing, the category could become “U” (unavailable) before the fiscal year ends. Travel.state.gov
Why the EB-5 leap forward?
Sections F and G explain that (1) anticipated Rest-of-World demand never materialised, and (2) unused family-preference visas “fell down” for employment use, freeing inventory for long-back-logged Chinese and Indian investors. Travel.state.gov
4. Diversity-Visa (DV-2025) lottery
| Region | July 2025 | August 2025 | Increment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 45 000 | 50 000 | +5 000 |
| Asia | 9 000 | 11 000 | +2 000 |
| Europe | 19 000 | 22 000 | +3 000 |
| Oceania | 1 650 | 1 700 | +50 |
| S. America/Caribbean | 2 450 | 2 600 | +150 |
| Bahamas | Current | Current | — |
Cut-offs will rise once more for September (projected to Africa 58 500, Asia 14 500, etc.) before FY-2025 closes on 30 Sep 2025. Travel.state.gov
5. Policy notes & warnings inside the August bulletin
| Section | Message | Take-away |
|---|---|---|
| D | EB-2 ROW could hit the cap in August; category may turn Unavailable without notice. | File adjustment packets immediately if your priority date is now current. |
| E | EB-3 and EW usage “approaching annual limits.” | Expect possible retrogression—or a freeze—in the September bulletin. |
| F & G | EB-5 Unreserved dates advanced for China/India due to low demand and fall-down numbers. | Window may close quickly if demand spikes; investors should act fast. |
6. Practical action checklist
- EB-2 ROW applicants with PD ≤ 1 Sep 2023 – Your case can now be approved; respond to any RFE promptly.
- EB-2 ROW with PD 2 Sep–14 Nov 2023 – You may still file (Chart B cut-off stays 15 Nov 2023) but approval will wait until dates advance again.
- Chinese/Indian EB-5 investors – The Unreserved queue is the best it has looked in years; consider completing your I-526E filing before September.
- Indian EB-3 workers – PD ≤ 22 May 2013 is newly current; ensure medicals and civil docs are up-to-date.
- Family F-4 India – PD ≤ 1 Nov 2006: the National Visa Center may begin document review—look out for the welcome letter.
- DV-2025 selectees who just became current – Submit DS-260 and schedule the medical immediately; visas must be issued by 30 Sep 2025.
Conclusion
The August 2025 Visa Bulletin delivers both good news and caution: families see only minor gains, while some employment categories enjoy rare forward surges (EB-5) even as EB-2 ROW hits the brakes. With only two months left in the fiscal year, every week counts. Monitor the State Department’s monthly releases and be ready for potential September tightening—especially in EB-3 and EW.
For the latest official charts, visit travel.state.gov or follow the Visa Office’s mid-month updates.
1. Snapshot of headline changes
| Area | What moved in August | Size / direction of move | Practical impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-2 “Rest of World” (ROW) | Final Action Date rolled back | 15 Oct 2023 → 1 Sep 2023 (-1 mo 14 d) | New filings in this category must now wait longer for approval; AOS cases already filed remain safe. |
| EB-5 Unreserved | China advanced 22 Jan 2014 → 8 Dec 2015 • India advanced 1 May 2019 → 15 Nov 2019 | +22 months (CN) • +6 ½ months (IN) | Large pool of investors regain immediate visa availability. |
| EB-3 & EW India | Final Action nudged forward | 22 Apr 2013 → 22 May 2013 | Roughly one month of additional Indian EB-3 priority dates can now be approved. |
| Family F-4 India | Final Action advanced | 8 Jul 2006 → 1 Nov 2006 (+3 mo 24 d) | Modest relief for India-born siblings of U.S. citizens. |
| Family F-2A (worldwide) | Filing Date Chart moved | 1 Mar 2025 → 1 Apr 2025 (+1 month) | New I-130 beneficiaries may file AOS a month earlier. |
| DV-2025 cut-offs | All regions higher | e.g., Africa 45 000 → 50 000 | More lottery selectees reach interview eligibility. |
| Everything else | No change (including EB-1 China/India, EB-2 India, EB-3 ROW, and F-1/F-2B/F-3 worldwide) | — | Wait-times hold steady. |
Travel.state.govTravel.state.gov
2. Family-sponsored categories
2.1 Final Action Dates – differences only
| Preference | July | August | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-4 India | 8 Jul 2006 | 1 Nov 2006 | ▲ 3 m 24 d |
All other family Final Action Dates remain identical to July, including the widely watched F-2A world-wide cut-off of 1 Sep 2022. Travel.state.govTravel.state.gov
2.2 Dates for Filing – differences only
| Preference | July | August | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-2A (all) | 1 Mar 2025 | 1 Apr 2025 | ▲ 1 m |
| F-4 (worldwide) | 8 Sep 2008 | 1 Jan 2009 | ▲ 3 m 23 d |
Everything else in Chart B is unchanged. Travel.state.govTravel.state.gov
3. Employment-based categories
3.1 Final Action Dates – key movements
| Category | Chargeability | July | August | Δ | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | China / India | 15 Nov 2022 (CN) • 15 Feb 2022 (IN) | No change | — | Fourth straight month flat. |
| EB-2 | ROW + Mexico + Philippines | 15 Oct 2023 | 1 Sep 2023 | ▼ 1 mo 14 d | Retrogression flagged in section D of the bulletin. |
| China | 15 Dec 2020 | No change | — | ||
| India | 1 Jan 2013 | No change | — | ||
| EB-3 | India | 22 Apr 2013 | 22 May 2013 | ▲ 1 m | Small forward step. |
| ROW / China / Mexico / PH | No change | — | |||
| Other Workers | India | 22 Apr 2013 | 22 May 2013 | ▲ 1 m | Matches EB-3 progression. |
| EB-5 Unreserved | China | 22 Jan 2014 | 8 Dec 2015 | ▲ 22 m | Reflects lower-than-expected ROW demand (bulletin § F). |
| India | 1 May 2019 | 15 Nov 2019 | ▲ 6 m 14 d | Utilises “fall-down” of unused family numbers (bulletin § G). |
Travel.state.govTravel.state.gov
3.2 Dates for Filing (Chart B)
Only one line moves: F-2A world-wide (1 Apr 2025). All EB filing dates stay identical to July, so ROW EB-2 applicants may still file at 15 Nov 2023 even though approval must now wait for the retrogressed 1 Sep 2023 Final Action Date. Travel.state.govTravel.state.gov
4. Diversity-Visa (DV-2025) lottery
| Region | July cut-off | August | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 45 000 | 50 000 | ▲ 5 000 |
| Asia | 9 000 | 11 000 | ▲ 2 000 |
| Europe | 19 000 | 22 000 | ▲ 3 000 |
| Oceania | 1 650 | 1 700 | ▲ 50 |
| S. America/Caribbean | 2 450 | 2 600 | ▲ 150 |
A preview table in the bulletin also projects even higher September cut-offs (e.g., Africa 58 500). Travel.state.gov
5. Policy notes embedded in the August bulletin
| Paragraph | What it says | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| § D | EB-2 ROW retrogressed; category may become unavailable if the FY-2025 limit is hit in August. | Applicants with current priority dates should act immediately. |
| § E | EB-3 & EW categories close to the annual ceiling; might retrogress or go unavailable in September. | Signals possible slow-down next month. |
| § F & G | Explains large EB-5 Unreserved advances for China and India (low usage + fall-down of family numbers). | Rare window for back-logged investors. |
6. Action checklist
| If you are… | You should… |
|---|---|
| EB-2 ROW applicant with priority date on/before 1 Sep 2023 | Expect adjudication; file quickly if not already done. |
| EB-2 ROW with PD after 1 Sep 2023 but before 15 Nov 2023 | You can still file AOS under Chart B, but approval will wait for future forward movement. |
| Chinese or Indian EB-5 investor (Unreserved pool) | File immediately while the category is current; big advances like this often reverse late in the fiscal year. |
| Indian EB-3 beneficiary with PD ≤ 22 May 2013 | Your case is now current—prepare for interview/RFE response. |
| Family F-4 India petitioner | If PD ≤ 1 Nov 2006, assemble documents for NVC; interviews may begin. |
| DV-2025 selectee newly current | Complete DS-260 and medical exam; FY-2025 ends 30 Sep 2025, and numbers can run out early. |
7. Outlook for September 2025
- Expect tightening in EB-3 and EW ROW/India if demand continues (§ E).
- EB-2 ROW could go “U” (unavailable) before 30 Sep if usage stays high.
- Family-based categories generally move in small, predictable increments; no major shifts projected.
- DV cut-offs will reach their final FY-2025 levels; after 30 Sep unused numbers disappear.
Stay tuned to the Visa Office’s “Chats with Charlie” successor videos and the official bulletin page for mid-month updates.
