When to File Adjustment of Status Application: February 2025

Key Takeaways

The Adjustment of Status (AOS) allows qualifying applicants to apply for U.S. permanent residency without leaving the country.
Visa Bulletin charts and priority dates determine eligibility for filing AOS applications based on family or employment visa categories.
Accurate filing requires monitoring USCIS updates, priority dates, and eligibility criteria outlined in the February 2025 Visa Bulletin.

If you are planning to become a U.S. permanent resident through a family-sponsored or employment-based preference visa, understanding the Adjustment of Status (AOS) process is critical. This process allows you to apply for lawful permanent residence (a green card) without leaving the United States. However, knowing the right time to file your AOS application is essential. The February 2025 Visa Bulletin provides key information regarding visa availability. This guide will simplify these details to help you determine your eligibility and understand how various factors influence filing dates.

Understanding Adjustment of Status and Priority Dates

When to File Adjustment of Status Application: February 2025

The Adjustment of Status process requires you to file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For applicants utilizing a family-sponsored or employment-based preference visa category, you can only file the AOS application when a visa is available to you. Your “priority date”—the date when your immigrant visa petition was filed—is central to determining visa availability. If your priority date is before the date listed on the Visa Bulletin, you may proceed if you meet the other eligibility requirements.

For family-sponsored applicants, priorities often depend on your relationship to the petitioner (the family member sponsoring you). For employment-based applicants, the visa category assigned to your job type or qualifications determines your timeline.

Key Charts on the Visa Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin contains two main charts:

Application Final Action Dates: These indicate when visas are actually issued to applicants.
Dates for Filing Applications: These show the earliest date when applicants can submit their AOS applications.

USCIS decides which chart to use each month for applicants in the U.S. For February 2025, USCIS will provide guidance on whether you should refer to the Dates for Filing chart or the Final Action Dates chart on their official page.

Family-Sponsored Visa Categories: Explained with February 2025 Filing Dates

Family-sponsored visa applicants fall under specific preference categories. The following Dates for Filing chart applies when filing AOS applications in February 2025:

F1 (Unmarried Sons/Daughters of U.S. Citizens): Applicants from most areas, including China 🇨🇳 and India 🇮🇳, may file if their priority date is before September 1, 2017. For Mexico 🇲🇽, the filing cut-off is October 1, 2005, and for the Philippines 🇵🇭, April 22, 2015.
F2A (Spouses/Children of Permanent Residents): Filing is open for all applicants in this category with priority dates before July 15, 2024, regardless of their country of birth.
F2B (Unmarried Sons/Daughters of Permanent Residents): Priority dates earlier than January 1, 2017, are acceptable for applicants globally, with exceptions for Mexico 🇲🇽 (October 1, 2006) and the Philippines 🇵🇭 (October 13, 2013).
F3 (Married Sons/Daughters of U.S. Citizens): Filing eligibility exists for applicants from most countries with priority dates before July 22, 2012. Mexican 🇲🇽 applicants have a cut-off date of June 15, 2001, while applicants from the Philippines 🇵🇭 must have dates before May 8, 2004.
F4 (Siblings of U.S. Citizens): Global applicants except for India 🇮🇳 and Mexico 🇲🇽 must have priority dates earlier than March 1, 2008. Indian 🇮🇳 nationals have a specific date of August 15, 2006, while those from Mexico 🇲🇽 face a cut-off date of April 30, 2001.

Employment-Based Visa Categories: Filing for February 2025

Employment-based applicants should note that priority dates vary widely between categories and countries. Below are the guidelines for February 2025:

EB-1 (First Preference Workers: extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, etc.): Filing is allowed for applicants from most nationalities because dates are marked as “C” (Current) except China 🇨🇳 (November 8, 2022) and India 🇮🇳 (February 1, 2022).
EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals/Exceptional Ability): Applications are welcome for dates earlier than April 1, 2023, unless you are from China 🇨🇳 (April 22, 2020) or India 🇮🇳 (October 15, 2012).
EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals): Most applicants can file if their priority date is before December 1, 2022, although China 🇨🇳 (July 1, 2020) and India 🇮🇳 (December 15, 2012) have separate cut-offs.
Other Workers: The chart indicates applicants may proceed with priority dates as early as December 8, 2020, with some limitations for China 🇨🇳 (January 1, 2017) and India 🇮🇳 (December 15, 2012).

Other categories, such as certain religious workers and employment investors under the EB-5 program (including reserved visas for rural and infrastructure projects), also remain marked as “C,” signaling that visas are available for all eligible applicants.

Updates to Visa Bulletin Through Revised Procedures

The Visa Bulletin system underwent notable changes to make visa allocations clearer and minimize unpredictable shifts in filing dates. These revisions allow the Department of State (DOS) to align better with USCIS, ensuring all congressionally allocated visas are utilized each year. This approach also adds consistency for both applicants in the U.S. and those seeking consular processing abroad.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, the dual-chart system introduced by USCIS and DOS provides applicants with greater clarity. The “Dates for Filing” chart acts as a forecast for when individuals should anticipate submitting their AOS applications, while the “Final Action Dates” confirm when visas can actually be issued.

Factors That Influence Visa Availability

USCIS considers three main aspects when determining visa availability for the remainder of a fiscal year:

Pending Adjustment of Status Applications: Records on currently open AOS applications are reviewed.
Historical Drop-Off Rates: Trends, including application withdrawals or denials, are factored in.
Documentarily Qualified Visa Applications: These refer to complete applications on file with the DOS.

The interplay of these factors ensures USCIS can predict future demand for visas more accurately and adjust filing cut-offs in response.

Filing Guidance and Recommended Actions

To file your Form I-485, first determine your eligibility using the Visa Bulletin charts. If your priority date falls before the given cut-off date for your category, ensure all other requirements are met. If you are unsure about when to file or need additional guidance, refer to the official USCIS Visa Bulletin webpage for up-to-date information.

Conclusion

Knowing when to file your Adjustment of Status application is a vital step toward becoming a permanent resident. The February 2025 Visa Bulletin outlines specific categories and cut-off dates for eligibility, helping applicants plan their next steps. Whether you are applying through a family-based or employment-based visa preference, be mindful of the charts and priority date systems. As USCIS continues to refine procedures for visa availability, staying informed through reliable sources like VisaVerge.com and official government platforms will ensure you take timely, accurate actions.

February 2025 Visa Bulletin: When to File for U.S. Permanent Residency

The February 2025 Visa Bulletin outlines when applicants in family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories can file for adjustment of status. Key updates include dates for filing applications and expanded clarity on visa availability processes.

Why it matters:
Knowing when you can file your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is crucial for securing U.S. permanent residency. The system aims to maximize the issuance of visas annually as intended by Congress while providing predictability for applicants.

State of play:
USCIS uses two charts from the Visa Bulletin to guide applicants:
– Dates for Filing Applications determine when applicants can submit their I-485 forms.
– Application Final Action Dates signal when visas may officially be issued.

By the numbers:
Key February 2025 dates for family-sponsored categories:
– F1 (Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens): Most countries – Sept. 1, 2017; Mexico – Oct. 1, 2005.
– F2A (Spouses/children of LPRs): July 15, 2024, across all categories.
– F4 (Siblings of U.S. citizens): Most countries – March 1, 2008; India – Aug. 15, 2006; Mexico – April 30, 2001.

For employment-based categories:
– EB-1 (Priority workers): Current for most but backlogged for China (Nov. 8, 2022) and India (Feb. 1, 2022).
– EB-2 (Advanced degree professionals): Most countries – April 1, 2023; India – Oct. 15, 2012; China – April 22, 2020.
– Other Workers: Cut-off dates reach as far back as Jan. 1, 2017, for China and Dec. 15, 2012, for India.

What they’re saying:
“This enhanced process helps align visa availability with actual demand, reducing wasted visa numbers and stabilizing filing timelines,” per the USCIS and Department of State joint reports.

Between the lines:
– Filing eligibility depends on individual priority dates, established when relatives or employers properly filed visa petitions.
– If the Visa Bulletin lists “C” (Current) for your category or your priority date is earlier than the chart’s cut-off date, you may file—assuming eligibility.

Yes, but:
– Dates can fluctuate month-to-month based on demand and available supply.
– Applicants must stay updated via the monthly Visa Bulletin to avoid missing filing windows.

The bottom line:
The February 2025 Visa Bulletin highlights crucial filing dates for family- and employment-based adjustment of status applicants. Staying informed ensures eligible individuals can act promptly and maximize opportunities for U.S. permanent residency.

Learn Today

Adjustment of Status (AOS): A process allowing eligible individuals to apply for permanent residency (green card) without leaving the United States.
Priority Date: The date an immigrant visa petition is filed, used to determine visa availability on the Visa Bulletin.
Visa Bulletin: A monthly publication by the Department of State showing visa availability and priority cut-off dates for applicants.
Dates for Filing: A chart in the Visa Bulletin indicating the earliest date applicants can submit their Adjustment of Status applications.
Final Action Dates: A chart in the Visa Bulletin showing when visas can be issued to eligible applicants.

This Article in a Nutshell

Navigating the Adjustment of Status (AOS) process requires understanding visa bulletin charts and priority dates. The February 2025 Visa Bulletin provides crucial filing dates for family- and employment-based applicants. Check if your priority date is eligible before filing Form I-485. Stay updated with official USCIS resources to ensure timely, accurate, and informed actions.
— By VisaVerge.com