Why EB-4 Religious Worker Visas Were Unavailable in October 2025

If you are a religious worker or a faith-based organization planning for staffing in the United States, the shift to October 2025—the start of Fiscal Year 2026—changes the entire landscape for the EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) subcategory. The monthly Visa Bulletin governs when U.S. immigration agencies can issue immigrant visas or finalize green card cases, and in October 2025 the EB-4 SR line is Unavailable for all countries. That single word—Unavailable—means no visas can be issued and no adjustment cases can be approved in this subcategory until there is a change in law.

Understanding why this happened, how it differs from the general EB-4 category, and what steps to take next requires walking through the process month by month, stage by stage, and action by action so you know exactly what to expect and how to plan.

High-level mechanics: two systems that control employment-based visas

• Annual numerical limits (quotas) with cut-off dates that move based on demand.
• Separate legislative authorization for some programs (including EB-4 SR) that can sunset unless Congress renews them.

In September 2025 (last month of FY2025), the religious worker line was already Unavailable, signaling the imminent sunset of the subcategory’s authorization at the end of that month. When October 2025 arrived:
– The general EB-4 category reopened with new cut-off dates because FY2026 numbers were allocated.
– The EB-4 SR subcategory remained Unavailable because Congress had not extended its legal authorization.

The U.S. Department of State explains this each month in the Visa Bulletin, which is the official reference point for whether you can file, whether a visa can be issued, or whether a green card can be approved. See the Visa Bulletin main page: Visa Bulletin main page.

Overview: September → October 2025 — what changed and why it matters

• September 2025: EB-4 and EB-4 SR were Unavailable due to a combination of quota exhaustion (EB-4) and the statutory end date for SR.
• October 2025: General EB-4 reopened with:
  • Final Action: July 1, 2020 (all countries)
  • Dates for Filing: February 15, 2021 (all countries)
  • EB-4 SR remained Unavailable for all countries.
• Legal basis: H.R. 1968 extended EB-4 SR only until September 30, 2025; after midnight September 29, 2025 no SR visas may be issued or SR adjustments finalized. See the October 2025 Visa Bulletin explanation: visa-bulletin-for-october-2025.html.

Step-by-step breakdown with timeframes and expected actions

1) September 2025: End-of-year closure signals the sunset
– Visa Bulletin: EB-4 and EB-4 SR = Unavailable.
– Meaning: No SR visa may be issued, and no final action for SR adjustments may be taken after midnight September 29, 2025.
– Timeframe: Entire month through September 30, 2025.
– Applicant actions:
– If you already had an SR immigrant visa issued, arrange travel and admission into the U.S. no later than September 29, 2025.
– If your SR case was pending with no visa issued, no action will complete the process in September.
– Expectation from authorities: Consulates and USCIS cannot issue or approve SR cases.

2) September 29, 2025: Hard deadline for SR visa validity and entry
– Bulletin instruction: SR visas issued before this date are valid only until September 29, 2025; admission must occur by midnight that day.
– Timeframe: Single-day cutoff.
– Applicant actions: If your visa was issued, enter the U.S. by the deadline. Missing the date renders the visa unusable.
– Authority action: U.S. border authorities may admit SR immigrants with valid visas prior to the cutoff; after that, admission on an SR immigrant visa is not possible.

3) October 2025: New fiscal year allocation — EB-4 reopens, EB-4 SR stays Unavailable
– Visa Bulletin:
– General EB-4: Final Action = July 1, 2020; Dates for Filing = February 15, 2021 (all countries)
– EB-4 SR: Unavailable (all countries)
– Timeframe: Entire month of October 2025 and ongoing until legislation changes.
– Applicant actions:
– Confirm whether your case is SR or general EB-4.
– If SR, accept that neither filing nor final action can proceed.
– Authority action: Department of State, USCIS, and consulates will follow the bulletin. They cannot bypass statutory restrictions.

4) If Congress extends SR later in FY2026: Immediate reopening possible
– Historical practice: If Congress acts, the Department of State can reopen SR and reflect availability in the next bulletin.
– Timeframe: Unknown until law passes; change can be implemented promptly once enacted.
– Applicant actions:
– Stay ready with documentation and verify whether the reopened SR line will mirror general EB-4 cut-off dates.
– Monitor each monthly bulletin carefully: Visa Bulletin main page.
– Authority action: State will publish changes; USCIS and consulates will resume processing in line with the updated bulletin.

5) Pending adjustment-of-status cases filed before the sunset: Held without final action
– October guidance: No final action can be taken on SR adjustments after midnight September 29, 2025, unless Congress acts.
– Timeframe: Indefinite hold until statutory renewal.
– Applicant actions: Recognize this is a legal/systemic hold. Keep your filing in order and communicate with your sponsor.
– Authority action: Cases remain pending; approvals cannot be granted while SR is Unavailable.

6) Consular immigrant visa cases close to issuance: Frozen unless issued prior to the deadline
– If a visa was not issued before the cutoff, consulates cannot issue it while SR is Unavailable.
– Timeframe: Frozen until extension.
– Applicant actions: Avoid scheduling travel based on expected issuance while SR remains Unavailable.
– Authority action: Consulates will not complete issuance without statutory authorization.

Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing — how they apply to EB-4 SR in Oct 2025

• Final Action Dates: Determine when a green card can be issued or approved. October 2025 general EB-4 Final Action = July 1, 2020. For EB-4 SR, Unavailable overrides cut-off logic—no approvals regardless of priority date.
• Dates for Filing: Determine when you may submit applications. October 2025 general EB-4 Date for Filing = February 15, 2021. For EB-4 SR, Unavailable means no filing window.
• Practical takeaway: Do not confuse general EB-4 movement with EB-4 SR availability. Always check both the EB-4 line and the Certain Religious Workers (SR) sub-line in the same chart. VisaVerge.com provides guidance on reading these charts and reconciling Dates for Filing with Final Action Dates.

Legal basis for “Unavailable” in October 2025 and operational impact

• Legal note: H.R. 1968 (signed March 15, 2025) extended SR only through September 30, 2025. After midnight September 29, 2025, no SR visas may be issued; visas issued earlier are valid only until that date.
• Operational effect:
  • Both the Department of State and USCIS are bound by statute. They cannot allocate SR numbers or finalize SR cases without congressional authority.
  • This differs from categories constrained by demand: those lines may retrogress but remain operable. SR is effectively turned off until Congress reenacts it.
• Practical implication: Preparation and advocacy with agencies cannot substitute for congressional reauthorization. Focus on monitoring, readiness, and staffing adjustments while you wait. VisaVerge.com helps translate these distinctions into actionable steps.

Comparing September and October 2025 — broader trends

• September 2025: EB-4 and SR both Unavailable — EB-4 due to quota exhaustion; SR due to statutory sunset.
• October 2025: General EB-4 reopens with FY2026 numbers; SR stays Unavailable because authorization lapsed.
• Employment-based context (October 2025 snapshot):
  • EB-1: Current for most categories; India Feb 15, 2022; China Dec 22, 2022.
  • EB-2: India Apr 1, 2013; China Apr 1, 2021.
  • EB-3: India Aug 22, 2013; China and others 2021–2023.
  • EB-5: Largely current; China cutoff Dec 8, 2015.
• Key point: SR is Unavailable not because of a long queue but because the law authorizing issuance expired.

Diversity Visa context for October 2025

• October 2025 begins DV-2026 allocations with an annual limit reduced to about 52,000 due to other statutory provisions.
• DV regional cutoffs proceeded even as EB-4 SR was set to zero allocation—this contrast highlights that SR’s status is a product of legislative authority, not routine quota adjustments.

Practical guidance for applicants and sponsoring organizations while SR is Unavailable

How to read the monthly bulletin and find your line:
– Visit the Visa Bulletin main page: Visa Bulletin main page.
– Locate the employment-based charts, find EB-4, then the “Certain Religious Workers (SR)” sub-line.
– Check both charts: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing. In October 2025, SR shows Unavailable in both.

How to plan when Unavailable persists:
– Staffing plans:
– Churches, mosques, temples, synagogues, and faith-based institutions should adjust onboarding timelines for religious workers who would rely on SR.
– Consider interim staffing arrangements that do not depend on SR immigrant visas.
– Case readiness:
– Maintain full readiness—documents, role confirmations, and organizational approvals—so you can act quickly when/if SR reopens.
– Communication cadence:
– Set a monthly check-in aligned with the bulletin publication to reassess status and update leadership.

If you had an SR visa issued pre-deadline but did not enter by Sept 29, 2025:
– The visa is not valid after that date; no flexibility exists in the bulletin’s instruction.
– Coordinate alternative plans with sponsors; only a future legislative extension could restore a path forward.

For pending adjustment cases:
– Expect your case to remain pending without final action while SR is Unavailable.
– Use the downtime to ensure filings are administratively complete to reduce delay when processing resumes.

Scenario examples to clarify expectations

• Scenario A — Approved petition, no visa number
  • September: SR Unavailable; no issuance.
  • October: General EB-4 reopens; SR remains Unavailable. Hold pattern continues. Action = monitor bulletins and prepare documents.
• Scenario B — Visa issued mid-September 2025
  • You must be admitted by midnight September 29, 2025. If you missed that entry, the visa cannot be used afterward.

• Scenario C — New sponsorship planned for October 2025
  • SR is Unavailable in October; you cannot file or finalize. Continue preparing now so you are ready if SR reopens.
• Scenario D — Congress extends SR later in FY2026
  • State can reopen SR immediately and likely align SR cut-off dates with general EB-4. Be ready to act in that bulletin cycle.

What to expect from authorities each month until change occurs

• Department of State: Will publish the monthly Visa Bulletin showing EB-4 SR as Unavailable until a new law takes effect. If Congress acts, State will update charts to show SR availability and cut-off dates.
• USCIS and consulates: Will follow the bulletin. No SR immigrant visas issued overseas and no SR adjustments approved domestically while SR is Unavailable. Processing resumes only after State’s updated bulletin reflects authorization.
• Predictability: The monthly bulletin is the single source of truth—align your internal planning to that cycle.

Why EB-4 SR differs from other employment-based categories in Oct 2025

• EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, and EB-5 operate under quota systems; movement reflects numerical management.
• General EB-4 also functions under quotas and reopened with FY2026 allocations.
• EB-4 SR requires a live statute. In October 2025 its authorization lapsed, so the line is Unavailable regardless of numerical capacity.
• Planning implication: Checking EB-4 alone is insufficient—always verify the SR sub-line.

Estimated timeframes for planning while SR is Unavailable

• Monthly review cycle: Use the Visa Bulletin’s monthly cadence for organizational updates and readiness checks.
• Immediate effect upon extension: If Congress extends SR, the Department of State can reopen the category immediately in the next bulletin.
• Long view: Legislative timing is unpredictable; historically SR has seen short-term temporary extensions. Plan in monthly increments.

Stepwise plan you can use now

1. Verify the bulletin monthly—check EB-4 and the SR line specifically.
2. If SR is Unavailable (as in Oct 2025), halt expectations for issuance or approval under SR and communicate clearly with stakeholders.
3. Maintain case readiness—documents, role confirmations, and sponsor coordination—so you can act rapidly when SR reopens.
4. If an extension is enacted, expect the bulletin to show SR availability immediately, likely mirroring general EB-4 cut-off dates; act within that same cycle.
5. For any visa issued pre-deadline, comply with the admission deadline. If missed, pivot to monitoring for reopening instead of relying on the expired visa.
6. Repeat the monthly cycle and align internal timelines to the Visa Bulletin publication rhythm.

Conclusion and next steps

• The EB-4 SR category is Unavailable in October 2025 because its legal authorization expired on September 30, 2025.
• Unlike categories constrained only by quotas, EB-4 SR cannot function at all until Congress renews it.
• The general EB-4 category reopened in October with Final Action = July 1, 2020 and Dates for Filing = February 15, 2021, but that movement does not apply to SR.
• Pending SR adjustments cannot be approved; consulates cannot issue SR visas; any SR visas issued were usable only if admission occurred by September 29, 2025.
• The path forward depends entirely on Congress. If extended, the Department of State can reopen SR immediately and assign cut-off dates, likely aligning with general EB-4.

Most effective strategy:
– Disciplined monitoring of the monthly Visa Bulletin: Visa Bulletin main page
– Internal readiness to act when the category reopens
– Clear communication to leadership grounded in the bulletin’s language

At VisaVerge.com, we help religious workers and faith-based organizations translate monthly changes into concrete action plans—what to do now, what to prepare next, and how to adjust when Unavailable becomes available again. For plain-English, stepwise guidance tailored to the EB-4 SR landscape and October 2025 realities, VisaVerge.com provides the tools to manage expectations, timelines, and outcomes with confidence.