EB-3 India Priority Dates: September to October 2025 Explained

When a new fiscal year opens in October, many EB-3 India applicants look for two things in the Visa Bulletin: whether they can finally receive approval and whether they can at least start filing. The October 2025 Visa Bulletin delivers both—just not in the same measure.

On the one hand, the Final Action Dates (Chart A) for EB-3 India moved forward by three months, from 22 MAY 2013 (September 2025) to 22 AUG 2013 (October 2025). On the other, the Dates for Filing (Chart B) advanced dramatically by 14 months and 7 days, from 08 JUN 2013 to 15 AUG 2014.

Understanding exactly what those movements mean, what actions each group of applicants should take, how the shift fits the fiscal-year rhythm, and how to plan month-to-month can make the difference between stalled progress and steady momentum. At VisaVerge.com, we help you interpret these movements and build a clear, step-by-step plan so you know what to do now and what to expect next.

Overview of what changed and why it matters

• Final Action Dates (Chart A) for EB-3 India advanced by three months, to 22 AUG 2013 in October 2025. This is the gate for approvals. If your EB-3 India priority date is on or before 22 AUG 2013 and your case is otherwise ready, your green card can be approved when a visa number is available.
• Dates for Filing (Chart B) for EB-3 India jumped to 15 AUG 2014 in October 2025. This is the gate for starting your process. If USCIS authorizes Chart B for filings in October, many more applicants—those with EB-3 India priority dates through 15 AUG 2014—can:
  • file Adjustment of Status (AOS) inside the U.S. with work and travel benefits (I-765/I-131), or
  • assemble documentation with the National Visa Center (NVC) if pursuing consular processing.
• The gap between the two charts is just under a year. That gap is deliberate: it creates a robust pipeline of filed cases ready for approval later, while keeping approvals aligned with numerical limits right now. In short, the bulletin expands eligibility to file even as it paces approvals carefully at the start of the fiscal year.

The numbers, precisely compared: September vs. October 2025

Chart A (Final Action Dates)

• September 2025 EB-3 India: 22 MAY 2013
• October 2025 EB-3 India: 22 AUG 2013
• Exact movement: forward 3 months (May 22, 2013 → August 22, 2013)

Chart B (Dates for Filing)

• September 2025 EB-3 India: 08 JUN 2013
• October 2025 EB-3 India: 15 AUG 2014
• Exact movement: forward 14 months and 7 days (June 8, 2013 → August 15, 2014)

What this immediately means in practice

• If your EB-3 India priority date is May 23, 2013 through August 22, 2013, you moved from not current in September to current in October. Your case can be approved if all other requirements are satisfied and a visa number is available.
• If your priority date is after August 22, 2013 but on or before August 15, 2014, you are within the Dates for Filing window for October. If USCIS designates Chart B for AOS filings, you can file AOS and receive ancillary benefits (employment authorization and advance parole) while you wait for Final Action Dates to reach your priority date.

Why two charts move differently — and why Chart B leapt so far

The two charts serve distinct system functions:

• Final Action Dates govern approvals. This is where visa numbers are actually allocated. A modest three-month movement reflects careful pacing at the start of a new fiscal year.
• Dates for Filing stage the pipeline. The large jump ensures there will be a steady supply of cases ready to approve as visa numbers become available throughout FY-2026.

Three drivers explain the discrepancy:
1. Pipeline management. Chart B brings in demand so adjudications do not stall later.
2. New annual limits. October begins FY-2026, when fresh employment-based immigrant visa numbers (at least 140,000 worldwide) become available.
3. Oversubscription and per-country rules. India remains oversubscribed; expanding Chart B into 2014 lets DOS better measure and shape demand for final action over FY-2026.

The fiscal-year rhythm: why October behaves this way

Every year follows a familiar cadence:

• August–September: The system tightens as category limits are reached. The September 2025 bulletin anticipated that FY-2025 limits would be met in most employment-based preferences.
• October reset: New FY-2026 numbers come online. DOS takes a measured step forward on Final Action (three months for EB-3 India) while making a bold move on filing (14 months and 7 days). This balances relief for applicants with responsible management of visa numbers.

At VisaVerge.com, we emphasize that this balance is intentional: modest final action movement prevents over-committing at the start of the year, while aggressive filing movement builds a healthy pipeline.

Step-by-step planning if your priority date is on or before 22 AUG 2013 (current under Final Action)

What you should do now:
1. Confirm case readiness. Ensure your I-140 is approved and your underlying eligibility remains intact. If in the U.S., confirm RFEs/NOIDs have been addressed and that any required medical exam is on file or ready.
2. Monitor case status. Watch for notices from USCIS (AOS) or NVC/consulate (consular processing).
3. Coordinate with your employer. Maintain communication to ensure continued job availability consistent with your approved classification.

What to expect from authorities:
– USCIS or a consulate can approve once all requirements are met and a number is available under the 22 AUG 2013 cutoff.
– If further evidence is needed, you may receive an RFE—respond promptly to avoid delays.

Estimated timeframe perspective:
– Approvals can occur in October for complete, documentarily qualified cases. If additional steps are needed, build in time to complete them during your current month of eligibility.

Step-by-step planning if your priority date is after 22 AUG 2013 and on or before 15 AUG 2014 (within Dates for Filing)

What you should do now:
1. Check whether USCIS designates Chart B. USCIS announces monthly whether employment-based applicants can use the Dates for Filing chart for AOS.
2. Prepare a complete AOS filing. An AOS filing can include I-765 and I-131. Assemble evidence consistent with AOS eligibility and ensure employer confirms the job offer.
3. If consular processing, follow NVC staging. Respond to NVC notices and assemble documents for later interview scheduling.

What to expect from authorities:
– USCIS will accept your filing package when Chart B is in effect. After filing, you may receive EAD/AP while waiting for Final Action Dates to reach your priority date.
– If demand exceeds expectations, Final Action movement can slow; however, your pending AOS and EAD/AP typically remain intact.

Estimated timeframe perspective:
– Filing can occur in October if Chart B is authorized, but approval will not occur until Final Action Dates cover your priority date. Expect to maintain pending status for some months as FY-2026 unfolds.

The EB-3 India gap: why it matters and how to use it

The near one-year gap between Final Action (22 AUG 2013) and Filing (15 AUG 2014) is a strategic opportunity:

• Protection and stability: Filing AOS early (when allowed) provides lawful pending status and access to employment/travel benefits for you and eligible family members.
• Work authorization continuity: EAD access stabilizes employment planning, particularly for spouses who rely on derivative work authorization.
• Anticipatory readiness: If Final Action advances later, your case is already prepared, minimizing delays between pending status and approval.

EB-3 “Other Workers” note — and why it touches everyone

The bulletins include a NACARA-related note reducing the EB-3 Other Workers (EW) annual limit:
– FY-2025 reduction: limited to 106
– FY-2026 reduction: limited to approximately 150

For EB-3 India, October 2025 movement for Other Workers mirrors the main EB-3 movement: Final Action 22 AUG 2013, Dates for Filing 15 AUG 2014. Even if you are not in EW, these statutory adjustments affect DOS’s management of the overall EB-3 pool, contributing to cautious Final Action movement paired with expanded filing.

Category strategy: EB-3 India vs. EB-2 India in this snapshot

• EB-2 India Final Action: 01 JAN 2013 (Sep 2025) → 01 APR 2013 (Oct 2025)
• EB-3 India Final Action: 22 AUG 2013 (Oct 2025)

Implications:
– There is no clear advantage to porting from EB-3 to EB-2 based solely on October Final Action cut-offs—EB-3 India is slightly more favorable for approvals now.
– The filing advantage sits with EB-3 India because of the Chart B jump to 15 AUG 2014.
– Strategy should be individualized: job duties, position requirements, and portability rules determine whether porting makes sense.

How the October EB-3 India pattern aligns with other categories

Context from the same bulletins shows a system-wide tuning:
– EB-3 China Final Action moved three months (01 DEC 2020 → 01 MAR 2021).
– All Chargeability (Rest of World) EB-3 Final Action remained at 01 APR 2023.

This demonstrates a consistent approach entering the new fiscal year: modest Final Action advances across EB-3, with more liberal filing dates in oversubscribed areas.

Month-by-month expectations and monitoring plan

Because Final Action determines approvals and moves cautiously:
– Review the Visa Bulletin monthly. Expect measured shifts, especially early in the fiscal year.
– Maintain readiness. Keep documents and responses prepared (e.g., medicals, employer confirmation).
– Watch USCIS’s monthly chart selection. If USCIS continues to permit Chart B, more applicants can file and build stability even as Final Action moves gradually.

Practical questions and answers for EB-3 India applicants

Q: My EB-3 India priority date is 10 JUN 2013. What can I do in October?
A: You are not current for Final Action, but you are within the filing window through 15 AUG 2014. If USCIS authorizes Chart B in October, you can file AOS and request EAD/AP. Expect to remain pending until Final Action advances to cover June 2013.

Q: My priority date is 10 AUG 2013. Will I get approved now?
A: Yes, you are within the current Final Action window (on or before 22 AUG 2013). If your case is complete and a number is available, approval can occur. Ensure any RFEs are satisfied and employer sponsorship remains in place.

Q: My priority date is 10 SEP 2014. Does October help me?
A: Not yet. Chart B only goes through 15 AUG 2014, so you are outside the filing window. Monitor monthly bulletins; if Chart B moves further, you may become eligible to file.

Q: I am consular processing. What does the October filing movement mean for me?
A: It allows you to assemble and submit documentation to NVC when directed under Chart B rules, positioning your case for interview scheduling once Final Action becomes current.

Documentation readiness: what to assemble and why it matters

For applicants positioned to file under Chart B (subject to USCIS authorization), prepare:
– Core petition status: Confirm EB-3 I-140 is approved and shows the correct priority date.
– Employer confirmation: Evidence of a bona fide job offer aligned with EB-3 requirements.
– Personal eligibility: Proof of continued eligibility for AOS, including responsiveness to USCIS requests.
– Ancillary benefits: Include I-765 and I-131 with your AOS filing to obtain work and travel benefits while pending.

Risk management: make the most of the filing window without overreaching

• File promptly when eligible. Filing when Chart B is open protects your place and grants benefits while you wait.
• Expect variability. DOS can modulate Final Action movement if demand exceeds expectations; that is a stability measure, not a setback.
• Keep your case complete. Respond thoroughly and on time to requests. A complete record prevents avoidable delays once your priority date becomes current for Final Action.

EB-3 India in the bigger picture: per-country caps and chronological allocation

Two mechanics anchor the October results:
– Annual limits and per-country caps. Worldwide employment-based level is at least 140,000, with per-country caps applied. India’s oversubscription requires careful balancing.
– First-in, first-out by priority date. Allocations follow chronological order. A three-month advance at fiscal-year start respects this order while pacing numbers to last through the year.

Your action checklist, by situation

If your priority date is on or before 22 AUG 2013 (current now):
– Verify I-140 approval and job offer continuity.
– Ensure case completeness; respond to outstanding USCIS/NVC requests.
– If in the U.S. with AOS pending, confirm medical and evidence readiness; approvals can occur when numbers are available.

If your priority date is after 22 AUG 2013 and on or before 15 AUG 2014 (within filing window):
– Confirm USCIS has authorized Chart B for October filings.
– Prepare and file AOS with I-765/I-131, or respond to NVC for consular processing.
– Plan for a pending period; use EAD/AP benefits to maintain stability.

If your priority date is after 15 AUG 2014 (outside filing window):
– Monitor monthly bulletins for further Chart B movement.
– Keep petition and supporting evidence in order to act quickly when filing opens to your date.
– Coordinate with your employer to maintain sponsorship readiness.

Why steady, informed planning wins over time

The October 2025 bulletin’s split result—a three-month Final Action step and a 14-month-plus filing leap—reflects a strategy that benefits prepared applicants. Approvals are possible now for those current through 22 AUG 2013, and a much larger group can file through 15 AUG 2014, securing benefits while waiting for approvals later in FY-2026.

At VisaVerge.com, we guide EB-3 India applicants to turn these windows into progress by emphasizing readiness, timely filing, and month-to-month vigilance.

Key takeaways, translated into next steps

• Final Action Dates moved to 22 AUG 2013. If your date is on or before this cutoff, approvals can proceed when your case is complete.
• Dates for Filing moved to 15 AUG 2014. If USCIS designates Chart B, many more can file AOS (with I-765/I-131) or prepare with NVC and gain practical benefits while awaiting final action.
• The gap is a feature, not a flaw. It preserves system stability: cautious approvals now, robust filings to sustain momentum later.
• NACARA/EW reductions matter. Statutory adjustments affect how DOS manages the EB-3 pool, contributing to cautious Final Action movement paired with expanded filing.

Bottom line for EB-3 India, September → October 2025: Final Action advanced three months (22 MAY 2013 → 22 AUG 2013). Dates for Filing advanced 14 months and 7 days (08 JUN 2013 → 15 AUG 2014). That translates into two forms of progress: immediate approvals for those current and a sweeping expansion of filing eligibility for many more. Build your plan around where your priority date falls, act when filing opens to you, and maintain readiness as Final Action moves month by month. VisaVerge.com provides comprehensive guidance on navigating each step—so you can convert these movements into real, forward motion for your EB-3 India journey.