EB-2 Visa Numbers Exhausted for FY2025; Issuance Paused until Oct 1, 2025

(UNITED STATES) The State Department, working with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has issued all available immigrant visas in the Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) category for fiscal year FY 2025, halting EB-2 visa issuance worldwide until October 1, 2025, when the new fiscal year starts and visa numbers reset.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, EB-2 has an annual limit equal to 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based cap. For FY 2025, the worldwide limit is 150,037, so EB-2’s ceiling is roughly 42,910. With that quota now fully used, U.S. embassies and consulates have marked EB-2 as “unavailable” through the end of September.

What the pause means and what continues

The stop applies to consular immigrant visa issuance, not to every step in the process.

• USCIS will continue following the Final Action Dates chart for September processing.
• That means some applicants whose priority dates are current may file for — or receive a decision on — adjustment of status ( I-485 ).
• However, if a visa number is not available because the EB-2 pool is exhausted, actual green card approval must wait until numbers refresh on October 1.

Applicants inside the United States who can file under Final Action Dates may still obtain interim benefits such as work permits (EAD) and travel documents (advance parole) while final approval is pending.

Important: Consular interview scheduling for applicants counted under EB-2 is paused even if documents are ready. Those applicants must await the new fiscal year to resume visa issuance.

September 2025 Visa Bulletin — EB-2 Final Action Dates

The September 2025 Visa Bulletin shows unchanged EB-2 Final Action Dates from August, reflecting heavy demand and limited supply. The cutoffs are:

• China: December 15, 2020
• India: January 1, 2013
• All other countries: September 1, 2023

India and China remain the most retrogressed. These dates determine who can move forward in late FY 2025 and who must wait for FY 2026 numbers.

Why EB-2 numbers ran out sooner this year

Analysis by VisaVerge.com points to two main factors:

• Sustained demand for EB-2 (advanced-degree and exceptional-ability professionals).
• A lower overall employment-based worldwide limit in FY 2025 versus pandemic-era peaks.

Historical EB totals:
– FY 2020: 156,253
– FY 2021: 262,288
– FY 2022: 281,507
– FY 2023: 197,071
– FY 2024: 160,791
– FY 2025: 150,037

A smaller worldwide base lowers the EB-2 ceiling, so in high-demand categories EB-2 exhaustion occurs earlier in the fiscal year.

How backlogs affect applicants differently

Backlogs are uneven by country and case specifics:

• A senior software engineer from India with a 2013 priority date may still be far back in the queue.
• A medical researcher from a country with lighter EB-2 demand (with a Sept. 1, 2023 cutoff for All Others) may be closer to the front.

When the annual limit is reached, visa issuance pauses for everyone in the category, but the backlog each applicant faces after October 1 depends on country-specific demand and future Final Action Dates.

USCIS use of Final Action Dates in September — why it matters

USCIS’s decision to use the Final Action Dates chart in September aims to:

• Keep filings aligned with actual visa availability.
• Avoid creating case inventory that cannot be approved.
• Prevent giving false hope tied to the broader Dates for Filing chart, which does not control final approvals.

Takeaway: If your priority date is current under the Final Action Dates chart, you can file, but your green card cannot be approved until a visa number becomes available.

Typical EB-2 procedural steps (simplified)

• Most EB-2 cases rest on an approved Form I-140 immigrant petition (employer-filed or self-petition under the national interest waiver).
• Many begin with a labor certification.
• Adjustment cases require filing Form I-485 for permanent residence.
• When EB-2 is unavailable, I-485 filings may be submitted (if current) but will not convert into approved green cards until numbers reset.

Practical steps for applicants now

If you’re ready to adjust status and your priority date is current under Final Action Dates, consider these actions:

1. File Form I-485 (if eligible) with complete supporting documents to secure a place in line for adjudication once numbers reset.
2. Request interim benefits by including applications for a work permit (EAD) and advance parole with the I-485 package.
3. Ensure dependent filings (spouse/children) are prepared and aligned with your priority date to avoid status gaps or age-out issues.

For consular-track applicants, focus on preparation and patience:

• Keep civil documents current.
• Ensure police certificates remain valid at interview time.
• Respond promptly to National Visa Center requests.

Once October 1 arrives, posts can resume EB-2 immigrant visa issuance based on case readiness and local capacity, assuming the category is again listed as available and your priority date meets the posted cutoff.

Considerations about EB-2 vs EB-3 “upgrades/downgrades”

Some applicants consider moving between EB-2 and EB-3 to find a faster route. Key points:

• The decision is case-specific, depending on current cutoffs for each category and country of chargeability.
• Employers may file in EB-3 when EB-2 is backlogged, or vice versa, but these moves carry costs, timing risks, and must match job requirements.
• Such changes do not override the annual limit. If a category is exhausted, availability remains constrained for the fiscal year.

Outlook and what to watch

• Visa bulletin watchers will scrutinize the first FY 2026 chart to see whether EB-2 reopens with forward movement or holds steady.
• Early FY 2026 movement will depend on DOS and USCIS projections of immigrant visa numbers and the amount of pent-up demand that reaches the front of the line on October 1.

For official monthly cutoff information, consult the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html

For adjustment filing guidance and required evidence, review Form I-485 instructions at:
https://www.uscis.gov/i-485

For petition details, see Form I-140:
https://www.uscis.gov/i-140

Policy context (quick reference)

• Legal basis: INA 203(b)(2) sets EB-2’s share at 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based limit.
• FY 2025 totals: Worldwide employment-based limit 150,037; EB-2 ceiling about 42,910.
• September cutoffs: China – Dec. 15, 2020; India – Jan. 1, 2013; All Others – Sept. 1, 2023.
• Status: EB-2 is unavailable for the remainder of FY 2025; issuance resumes no earlier than Oct. 1, 2025.
• Historical context: Worldwide EB totals varied greatly from FY 2020 through FY 2025, peaking during FY 2021–2022 due to unused family-based numbers rolling over.

Final notes and practical advice

• No major policy changes to the EB-2 cap have been announced for FY 2026, though stakeholders continue to advocate reforms (recapture of unused numbers, changes to per-country limits).
• Meanwhile, applicants can reduce stress by focusing on actionable items: complete filings, timely responses to requests for evidence, and monitoring official updates.
• Families often bear the emotional and practical weight of these pauses — planning, clear communication, and legal counsel when needed can help navigate the wait until visa numbers flow again on October 1.