December 2025 Visa Bulletin Movements: Winners and Losers vs November

(UNITED STATES) The United States 🇺🇸 Visa Bulletin for December 2025 shows how monthly data can push cut-off dates forward, hold them flat, or pull them back. When you place December 2025 next to November 2025, clear patterns emerge across family-sponsored, employment-based, and Diversity Visa charts. This guide explains how the monthly process works, what each stage means for you, and how to read your own path step by step—using only the numbers and notes reflected in the two bulletins. The goal is simple: help you read December’s movement against November and know what to do next.

How the monthly Visa Bulletin sets cut-off dates

• The Department of State sets cut-off dates each month using:
  • Documentarily qualified applicants reported by consulates and USCIS.
  • Annual numerical limits (about 226,000 for family, at least 140,000 for employment).
  • Per-country caps (7% of the combined family + employment totals) and dependent area limits (2%).
• Four oversubscribed chargeability areas remain the same month to month:
  • China (mainland born), India, Mexico, Philippines.
• The two charts you must know:
  • Final Action Dates (FAD): who can actually receive a visa or have adjustment approved this month.
  • Dates for Filing (DFF): who may file paperwork if USCIS allows the filing chart for that month.
• November 2025 used demand data through October 1, 2025; December 2025 used demand through November 3, 2025. That one extra month of real demand is what drove every move listed below.

For the official monthly charts and notes, use the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin page at U.S. Department of State – Visa Bulletin.

Step-by-step: How to read December 2025 against November 2025

1) Find your path
– Identify your category and country:
– Family: F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4
– Employment: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 (and Other Workers), EB-4, EB-5
– Diversity Visa: DV-2026
– Note your priority date and chargeability country.

2) Pick the chart that controls you this month
– Final Action Dates control visa issuance and adjustment approvals right now.
– Dates for Filing control who can submit filings, but only if USCIS allows the DFF chart to be used that month. If not, the FAD chart is your guide for both filing and approval readiness.

3) Compare November vs December cut-off dates
– If your category moved forward, your priority date may now be current—or closer.
– If your category is flat, your place in line did not change.
– If your category retrogressed, your priority date may no longer be current.

4) Read what movement means for you
– Forward move: more applicants can be approved or can file (if DFF is in use).
– No change: demand and numbers are holding steady.
– Retrogression: demand outpaced numbers; approvals or filings may pause.

5) Set expectations by month
– The Visa Bulletin is monthly. The December 2025 chart reflects demand changes through November 3, 2025, just one month after the snapshot used for November. That tight window explains the mostly modest forward moves in employment—and the sharper swings in certain family lines.

Family-sponsored movement: Where gains and setbacks landed

Family categories in December show a mix of steady lines and sharp shifts. Mexico and the Philippines see the biggest family-based setbacks, especially in F2B and F3, while F1 Mexico and F3 for the Rest of World posted gains.

F1 (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens) – Final Action Dates

• November → December:
  • All Chargeability, China, India, Philippines: stayed the same at 08NOV16 (Philippines at 22JAN13).
  • Mexico: 22NOV05 → 01MAR06 (forward ~3+ months).

What to do now:
– If you’re F1 Mexico with a priority date before 01MAR06, December may allow approval.
– If you’re F1 elsewhere, your place in line is unchanged month-to-month.

F2A (spouses and children of permanent residents) – Final Action Dates

• December shows:
  • All Chargeability, China, India, Philippines: 01FEB24
  • Mexico: 01FEB23
• Notes explain numbers exempt from per-country limits are available for priority dates earlier than 01FEB23, and numbers subject to per-country limits work from 01FEB23 up to but not including 01FEB24.

What to do now:
– Treat F2A as stable. Mexico remains more restricted but the pattern is unchanged.

F2B (unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents) – Final Action Dates

• November:
  • All Chargeability: 01FEB23
  • China, India, Mexico: 01DEC16
  • Philippines: 01FEB24
• December:
  • All Chargeability: 01DEC16
  • China, India: 01DEC16
  • Mexico: 15MAY08
  • Philippines: 08OCT12

What this means:
– All Chargeability: moved back from 01FEB23 → 01DEC16 (about 6 years).
– Mexico: retrogressed from 01DEC16 → 15MAY08 (over 8 years).
– Philippines: retrogressed from 01FEB24 → 08OCT12 (over a decade).
– China and India: static at 01DEC16.

Actions to consider:
– If your F2B date is now after the new cut-off, expect a pause in approvals. If you already filed, the case remains in line but cannot be approved until your date becomes current again.

F3 (married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens) – Final Action Dates

• November:
  • All Chargeability: 15DEC07
  • China, India, Mexico: 08SEP11
  • Philippines: 01OCT12
• December:
  • All Chargeability (Rest of World): 08SEP11 (major forward move)
  • China, India: 08SEP11 (no change)
  • Mexico: 01MAY01 (large backward move)
  • Philippines: 01NOV04 (large backward move)

Takeaways:
– Rest of World F3 received a major forward move to 08SEP11.
– Mexico and Philippines retrogressed by many years, undoing prior gains.

F4 (brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens) – Final Action Dates

• December shows:
  • All Chargeability: 08JAN08
  • China: 08JAN08
  • India: 01NOV06
  • Mexico: 08APR01
  • Philippines: 15JUL06
• Mexico’s F4 date (08APR01) appears unchanged month-to-month.

How to plan:
– F4 remains heavily backlogged across the board. If you’re Mexico F4, treat December as flat vs November.

Employment-based movement: Final Action progress; filing-date tightening

Employment lines mostly improved on Final Action Dates in December 2025, while some Dates for Filing tightened—especially for EB-2 and EB-3.

EB-1 – Final Action Dates

• All Chargeability, Mexico, Philippines: Current → Current.
• China: 22DEC22 → 22JAN23 (one-month bump).
• India: 15FEB22 → 15MAR22 (one-month bump).

Result: China and India saw a one-month advance; everyone else stayed current.

EB-2 – Final Action Dates

• All Chargeability, Mexico, Philippines: 01DEC23 → 01FEB24 (two months forward).
• China: 01APR21 → 01JUN21 (two months).
• India: 01APR13 → 15MAY13 (~1.5 months).

EB-3 – Final Action Dates

• All Chargeability, Mexico, Philippines: 01APR23 → 15APR23 (~2 weeks).
• China: 01MAR21 → 01APR21 (one month).
• India: 22AUG13 → 22SEP13 (one month).

EB-3 Other Workers – Final Action Dates
– All Chargeability, Mexico, Philippines: 15JUL21 → 01AUG21 (~half a month).
– China: 01DEC17 → 08DEC17 (slight forward).
– India: 22AUG13 → 22SEP13 (one month).

EB-4 and SR – Final Action Dates

• EB-4: 01JUL20 → 01SEP20 for all countries (two months forward).
• SR (certain religious workers): November listed SR as unavailable pending action beyond Sep 30, 2025. December shows SR available with the EB-4 date of 01SEP20, after H.R. 5371 extended the category through January 30, 2026.

What this means:
– EB-4 moved forward worldwide.
– SR flipped from “U” to available, one of December’s largest positive changes.

EB-5 – Final Action Dates

• Unreserved:
  • All Chargeability, Mexico, Philippines: Current → Current.
  • China: 08DEC15 → 15JUL16 (~7 months forward).
  • India: 01FEB21 → 01JUL21 (~5 months forward).
• Set-asides (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure): Current in both months for all countries.

Dates for Filing – Employment-based

• EB-1 DFF: unchanged (All Chargeability/Mexico/Philippines current; China 15MAY23; India 15APR23).
• EB-2 DFF:
  • November: Rest of World/Mexico/Philippines Current; China 15JUL24; India 01DEC21 / 01DEC13.
  • December: Rest of World/Mexico/Philippines rolled back to 15JUL24; China 01DEC21; India 01DEC13.
  • Net: filing dates tightened for Rest of World/Mexico/Philippines (no longer current).
• EB-3 DFF:
  • November: Rest of World/Mexico/Philippines 15JUL24; China 01JUL23; India 01JAN22.
  • December: Rest of World/Mexico/Philippines 01JUL23; China 01JAN22; India 15AUG14.
  • Net: broad retrogression across EB-3 filing dates.

How to act on EB moves:
– If your Final Action Date is now later than your priority date, approvals may be possible in December.
– If Dates for Filing in your line rolled back, you may no longer be able to file now—even if you were allowed in November—unless USCIS allows filings under DFF and your priority date is still earlier than the new DFF cut-off.

Diversity Visa (DV-2026): Algeria moves forward

Both bulletins note DV-2026 is reduced from 55,000 to about 52,000 after NACARA and NDAA adjustments. Month-to-month cut-off numbers:

Only Algeria clearly advanced—14,500 → 17,250—bringing many more Algerian selectees into range in December.

Winners and setbacks: Who moved best in December 2025?

• India:
  • Forward across EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-3 Other Workers, EB-4, EB-5.
  • December is better than November on the employment side, even though filing dates tightened in some lines.
• China (mainland born):
  • Gains across EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-3 Other Workers, EB-4, and a strong jump in EB-5.
• Rest of World:
  • Big F3 jump; steady EB-2/EB-3 Final Action progress; EB-4 up two months.
  • However, DFF tightened in EB-2 and EB-3, limiting new filings now.
• Mexico and Philippines:
  • Family setbacks in F2B and F3 are steep; F1 Mexico moved forward modestly.
  • Employment lines still improved month to month with the rest of the world.
• Algeria (DV-2026):
  • Clear DV winner with the Africa rank cut-off rising to 17,250.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, reading month-to-month moves this way helps spot where the queue is opening and where pressure is building, especially when Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing diverge.

Practical scenarios to apply December 2025 numbers

• F1 Mexico example:
  • Priority date: 15FEB06. December FAD is 01MAR06. You’re earlier than the date, so December may allow approval; November would not.
• F2B Philippines example:
  • Priority date: 15JUN15. November FAD was 01FEB24, but December fell to 08OCT12. Your date is now after the cut-off, so case action pauses until your date is current again.
• EB-2 India example:
  • Priority date: 10MAY13. December FAD is 15MAY13. You’re slightly earlier, so December may open the door where November did not (01APR13).
• EB-5 China (Unreserved) example:
  • Priority date: 01JUN16. December FAD 15JUL16 is now later than your date, so you move into range; November’s 08DEC15 did not cover you.
• DV-2026 Algeria example:
  • Case number around AF17,000. November’s Algeria cut-off 14,500 didn’t reach you; December’s 17,250 may.

What to expect from authorities and what you should do next

From the Department of State:
– Expect monthly updates keyed to real demand. The one-month data gap (through Nov 3 for December) explains why many EB categories moved by a month or two, while some family lines swung sharply due to heavy demand.

From USCIS:
– Each month, USCIS may allow the Dates for Filing chart to be used. If it does, more people can file even if they can’t be approved yet. If not, Final Action Dates control both filing and approvals.
– December’s charts show that even as employment Final Action Dates mostly improved, EB-2 and EB-3 filing dates tightened, limiting who can start filings now.

Your action plan:
– Track your Final Action Date first. That controls actual visa issuance or adjustment approval.
– If you’re close on Dates for Filing and USCIS allows the DFF chart, prepare to submit while you can.
– If DFF just retrogressed past your date, watch for the next bulletin.
– Note sharp family retrogressions (especially F2B Mexico, F2B Philippines, and F3 Mexico/Philippines). If your date moved behind the line, expect a wait before approvals can resume.

Bottom line for December 2025

• Employment-based lines are broadly better than November on Final Action Dates, with China and India moving forward across multiple EB categories, and EB-4/SR improving worldwide.
• Filing dates for EB-2 and EB-3 tightened for many, which matters if your plan was to start filings now.
• Family-sponsored movement is uneven: F1 Mexico and F3 Rest of World show gains; but F2B and F3 retrogressions hit Mexico and the Philippines hard.
• In the DV space, Algeria clearly advances, letting many more selectees move ahead in December.

Use the December 2025 Visa Bulletin to check your cut-off dates against November, decide whether you can be approved now under Final Action Dates, and see if Dates for Filing still let you submit. When the numbers shift this much in a single month, reading both charts carefully is the surest way to set fair expectations for the month ahead.