The U.S. Department of State has released the December 2025 Visa Bulletin (Number 9, Volume XI), setting out which immigrant visa applicants can move forward with their green card process during the month of December.

This bulletin primarily does three things:

1. Shows Final Action Dates – when green cards can actually be issued.
2. Shows Dates for Filing – when certain applicants may start submitting final documents or, in some cases, file Adjustment of Status.
3. Provides Diversity Visa (DV-2026) cut-off numbers and updates on special categories such as Certain Religious Workers and some U.S. Government employee SIVs.

All of this is based on priority dates – usually the date your petition (such as Form I-130 or I-140) was properly filed.

If your priority date is earlier than the date in your category and country, you may be able to move forward.

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1. How Visa Numbers Are Allocated

The bulletin briefly explains how visas are controlled and distributed:

• Annual limits:
  • Family-sponsored immigrant visas: 226,000 per year.
  • Employment-based immigrant visas: at least 140,000 per year.
• Per-country limit:
  • Set at 7% of the combined annual family and employment preference totals – 25,620 visas.
  • Dependent areas (certain territories) have a separate 2% limit, i.e. 7,320 visas.

For oversubscribed countries, meaning demand exceeds available visas, the per-country rules apply. As of this bulletin, the oversubscribed chargeability areas are:

• China (mainland born)
• India
• Mexico
• Philippines

Visas are issued in priority date order (Section 203(e)), and spouses and children of principal applicants are entitled to the same status and priority date (Section 203(d)).

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2. Understanding Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing

The bulletin uses two key charts:

• Final Action Dates (FA):
  These govern when a visa can actually be issued or a green card can be approved. If your priority date is earlier than the FA date for your category and country, a visa number can be issued in December 2025 (if your case is otherwise ready).
• Dates for Filing (DF):
  These govern when you can submit documents to the National Visa Center (NVC) or, if USCIS allows, file an Adjustment of Status application. If your priority date is earlier than the DF date, you may be able to begin the final paperwork stage, even if your case is not yet current for approval.

USCIS decides each month whether Adjustment of Status applicants must use the FA chart or may instead use the DF chart. Applicants must check the USCIS website to confirm which chart applies for December 2025.

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3. Family-Sponsored Preference Categories

3.1. Family Preference Structure

Under Section 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), family-sponsored visas are divided into these preference categories:

• F1 – Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
• F2 – Spouses, children, and unmarried adult sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents (LPRs)
  • F2A – Spouses and children of LPRs
  • F2B – Unmarried sons and daughters (21 and older) of LPRs
• F3 – Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
• F4 – Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens

Within these, the F2A category has special percentage rules and partial exemption from per-country limits.

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3.2. Final Action Dates – Family-Sponsored (December 2025)

The following dates indicate when a family-based immigrant visa can be approved in December 2025. Only applicants with priority dates earlier than these dates are eligible for final action.

F1 – Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), China, India: 08 NOV 2016
• Mexico: 01 MAR 2006
• Philippines: 22 JAN 2013

F2A – Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), China, India, Philippines: 01 FEB 2024
• Mexico: 01 FEB 2023

Special F2A notes in the bulletin:

• F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limits are available to all countries for priority dates earlier than 01 FEB 2023.
• F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limits are available for all countries except Mexico with priority dates from 01 FEB 2023 up to (but not after) 01 FEB 2024.
• All F2A numbers for Mexico are treated as exempt from the per-country limit.

In practice, this means F2A is relatively favorable compared to longer-wait categories like F3 and F4, especially for non-Mexico chargeability areas where the final action date is in February 2024.

F2B – Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21+) of Permanent Residents

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), China, India: 01 DEC 2016
• Mexico: 15 MAY 2008
• Philippines: 08 OCT 2012

F3 – Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), China, India: 08 SEP 2011
• Mexico: 01 MAY 2001
• Philippines: 01 NOV 2004

F4 – Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), China: 08 JAN 2008
• India: 01 NOV 2006
• Mexico: 08 APR 2001
• Philippines: 15 JUL 2006

Practical meaning:
Applicants with priority dates earlier than these dates in their category and country can have their visas issued or green cards approved in December 2025, provided all other processing steps are complete.

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3.3. Dates for Filing – Family-Sponsored

These dates control when you may submit supporting documents to the National Visa Center or, if USCIS allows, file Adjustment of Status.

F1 – Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), China, India: 01 SEP 2017
• Mexico: 01 MAR 2007
• Philippines: 22 APR 2015

F2A – Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), China, India, Mexico, Philippines: 22 NOV 2025

This indicates a very recent cut-off, allowing relatively new F2A petitions to begin final processing once they reach that priority date and if USCIS/NVC permit.

F2B – Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21+) of Permanent Residents

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), China, India: 08 MAR 2017
• Mexico: 15 MAY 2009
• Philippines: 01 OCT 2013

F3 – Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), China, India: 22 JUL 2012
• Mexico: 01 JUL 2001
• Philippines: 01 NOV 2005

F4 – Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), China: 01 MAR 2009
• India: 15 DEC 2006
• Mexico: 30 APR 2001
• Philippines: 01 JAN 2008

How to use these:
If your priority date is earlier than the DF date for your category and country, you may be able to:

• Start document submission to NVC; and
• If USCIS says the Dates for Filing chart may be used in December, file your Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) in the U.S.

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4. Employment-Based Preference Categories

4.1. Employment-Based Structure

Under Section 203(b) of the INA, employment-based visas are allocated as follows:

• EB-1 – Priority Workers
  28.6% of the worldwide EB total, plus any unused EB-4 and EB-5 numbers.
• EB-2 – Advanced Degree / Exceptional Ability
  28.6% of the EB total, plus any unused EB-1 numbers.
• EB-3 – Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
  28.6% of the EB total, plus any unused EB-1 and EB-2; up to 10,000 for the “Other Workers” subcategory.
• EB-4 – Certain Special Immigrants
  7.1% of the EB total.
• EB-5 – Immigrant Investors (Employment Creation)
  7.1% of the EB total, divided as:
  • 20% reserved for rural investments
  • 10% reserved for high unemployment areas
  • 2% reserved for infrastructure projects
  • 68% unreserved for all other qualifying EB-5 investments

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4.2. Final Action Dates – Employment-Based (December 2025)

These dates determine when employment-based green cards can be approved in December 2025.

EB-1 – Priority Workers

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), Mexico, Philippines: Current (C)
• China (mainland born): 22 JAN 2023
• India: 15 MAR 2022

“Current” means there is no waiting line based on priority dates in those chargeability areas; any qualified and fully processed case can receive a visa number.

EB-2 – Members of the Professions with Advanced Degrees / Exceptional Ability

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), Mexico, Philippines: 01 FEB 2024
• China: 01 JUN 2021
• India: 15 MAY 2013

This shows that while EB-2 is relatively recent for most of the world, China and India have earlier cut-off dates, reflecting larger queues in those countries.

EB-3 – Skilled Workers and Professionals

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), Mexico, Philippines: 15 APR 2023
• China: 01 APR 2021
• India: 22 SEP 2013

EB-3 – Other Workers

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), Mexico, Philippines: 01 AUG 2021
• China: 08 DEC 2017
• India: 22 SEP 2013

NACARA impact on EB-3 Other Workers:

• Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) requires a reduction in the annual limit for the EB-3 Other Workers category once its cut-off date reached 19 November 1997, which happened during FY 2001.
• Since FY 2002, the annual limit has been reduced to offset NACARA adjustments.
• For Fiscal Year 2026, the bulletin states that the reduction will be approximately 150 visas.

EB-4 – Certain Special Immigrants

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), China, India, Mexico, Philippines: 01 SEP 2020

This category includes various special immigrant types, including some religious workers (though certain religious workers have their own time-limited treatment, discussed below).

Certain Religious Workers (SR)

For December 2025:

• Final Action Date for SR: 01 SEP 2020 for all countries, matching other EB-4 dates.

The bulletin notes:

• H.R. 5371, signed on 12 November 2025, extends the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until 30 January 2026.
• No SR visas may be issued or approved after midnight 29 January 2026.
• Visas issued before that date are valid only until 29 January 2026.
• All individuals in this non-minister special immigrant category must be admitted to the U.S. no later than 29 January 2026.

EB-5 – Employment Creation (Investors)

EB-5 Unreserved (C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU):

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), Mexico, Philippines: Current (C)
• China: 15 JUL 2016
• India: 01 JUL 2021

EB-5 Set-Aside: Rural (20%) – NR, RR

• All countries: Current (C)

EB-5 Set-Aside: High Unemployment (10%) – NH, RH

• All countries: Current (C)

EB-5 Set-Aside: Infrastructure (2%) – RI

• All countries: Current (C)

This means investors in qualifying set-aside projects (rural, high-unemployment, infrastructure) have no priority date backlog according to this bulletin, whereas China and India face backlogs in the unreserved EB-5 categories.

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4.3. Dates for Filing – Employment-Based

These dates control when applicants can file immigrant visa applications or, if USCIS allows, file Adjustment of Status.

EB-1 – Priority Workers

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), Mexico, Philippines: Current (C)
• China: 15 MAY 2023
• India: 15 APR 2023

EB-2 – Advanced Degree / Exceptional Ability

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), Mexico, Philippines: 15 JUL 2024
• China: 01 DEC 2021
• India: 01 DEC 2013

EB-3 – Skilled Workers and Professionals

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), Mexico, Philippines: 01 JUL 2023
• China: 01 JAN 2022
• India: 15 AUG 2014

EB-3 – Other Workers

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), Mexico, Philippines: 01 DEC 2021
• China: 01 OCT 2018
• India: 15 AUG 2014

EB-4 – Certain Special Immigrants (including SR filing dates)

• All countries: 15 FEB 2021

EB-5 Unreserved

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide), Mexico, Philippines: Current (C)
• China: 22 JUL 2016
• India: 01 APR 2022

EB-5 Set-Aside – Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure

• All countries, all three set-asides: Current (C)

How applicants use these dates:

• If USCIS designates the Dates for Filing chart for use in December 2025, applicants with priority dates earlier than these DF dates may file Adjustment of Status applications in the United States, even if their cases are not current under the Final Action chart.

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5. Diversity Immigrant (DV-2026) Category

5.1. DV Annual Limits and Reductions

Under Section 203(c) of the INA, up to 55,000 Diversity Visas (DV) are allocated each year to people from countries with historically low immigration to the U.S.

Two legal provisions reduce that number for DV-2026:

1. NACARA (Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act)
   • Allows up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annual DV numbers to be used for NACARA adjustments.
   • Numbers used in FY 2025 reduce the DV-2026 limit to approximately 54,850.
2. Section 5104 of the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
   • Further reduces the DV-2026 limit due to visas made available under that law.
   • The bulletin states that these combined reductions bring the DV-2026 annual limit down to approximately 52,000.

Key principles:

• DVs are divided among six geographic regions.
• No single country can receive more than 7% of the available DVs in one year.
• DV-2026 eligibility ends on 30 September 2026.
  • No DV-2026 visas can be issued after that date.
  • Spouses and children following to join are also limited to that same date.
  • The bulletin notes that DV numbers could be exhausted before September 30.

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5.2. DV-2026 Rank Cut-Offs for December 2025

For December 2025, a DV-2026 selectee can receive a visa number only if their regional rank number is below the following cut-offs:

AFRICA

• General: 17,500
• Algeria: 17,250
• Egypt: 16,000

ASIA

• General: 10,000
• Nepal: 6,000

EUROPE

• 7,750

NORTH AMERICA (Bahamas)

• 20

OCEANIA

• 1,100

SOUTH AMERICA and the CARIBBEAN

• 1,850

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5.3. DV-2026 Rank Cut-Offs Announced for January 2026

The bulletin also provides advance cut-offs for January 2026:

AFRICA

• General: 35,000
• Algeria: 20,000
• Egypt: 16,000

ASIA

• General: 15,000
• Nepal: 6,000

EUROPE

• 8,500

NORTH AMERICA (Bahamas)

• 20

OCEANIA

• 1,100

SOUTH AMERICA and the CARIBBEAN

• 1,850

What this means for DV-2026 selectees:

• If your rank number is below the December cut-off, you may receive a visa number in December 2025, assuming your case is ready and a number remains available.
• If your number is not current for December but will be below the January cut-off, you may become eligible for a visa number in January 2026.

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6. Special Note on Certain Religious Workers (EB-4 SR)

The bulletin emphasizes the time-limited nature of the Certain Religious Workers (SR) program:

• Law: H.R. 5371, signed 12 November 2025.
• Extension until: 30 January 2026.
• Last date for visa issuance or final action: midnight 29 January 2026.
• Visas issued before that date are valid only until 29 January 2026.
• Beneficiaries must be admitted to the United States no later than 29 January 2026.

For December 2025, SR shares the same Final Action Date as other EB-4 categories: 01 SEP 2020.

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7. U.S. Government Employee SIVs

The bulletin notes that the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (signed 22 December 2023) may affect:

• Certain current and former employees of the U.S. Government abroad, and
• Certain surviving spouses and children of those employees,

who are applying for:

• Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), or
• Adjustment of Status under INA section 101(a)(27)(D).

This does not affect the separate SIV categories for certain Iraqis and Afghans (SQ and SI).

These applicants are instructed to:

• Contact the consular section where they filed Form DS-1884 for more information on how the NDAA provisions affect their individual cases.

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8. What Applicants Should Do Next

While the bulletin itself does not provide case-specific advice, its structure suggests the following general steps for applicants:

1. Identify your category and country of chargeability.
   • Family-based: F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4
   • Employment-based: EB-1 to EB-5 and subcategories
   • DV-2026: Check your region and rank number
2. Locate your priority date.
   • For most applicants, this is the date USCIS or the consulate received your immigrant petition.
3. Compare your priority date to the December 2025 charts.
   • Final Action Dates:
     • If your date is earlier than the FA date, your case can potentially be approved in December (if all processing is complete).
   • Dates for Filing:
     • If your date is earlier than the DF date, you may be able to submit documents or file Adjustment of Status, but you must check whether USCIS has authorized use of the DF chart for December.
4. Check the USCIS website.
   • The bulletin explicitly advises applicants to visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo to see whether USCIS is using the Final Action or Dates for Filing chart for Adjustment of Status filings in December 2025.
5. Follow instructions from NVC or the consulate.
   • If your case is consular-based, wait for or respond to communication from the National Visa Center or your U.S. embassy/consulate.

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9. Conclusion

The December 2025 Visa Bulletin maintains a detailed structure across family-sponsored, employment-based, and Diversity Visa categories, while highlighting specific constraints for oversubscribed countries—China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines—and special programs such as Certain Religious Workers (SR) and U.S. Government employee SIVs.

For many applicants, especially in categories where dates are Current or relatively recent (such as F2A and several EB categories for non-oversubscribed countries, as well as EB-5 set-aside categories), this bulletin represents meaningful progress toward completing the immigration process.

At the same time, applicants from oversubscribed countries and in long-backlogged family categories such as F3 and F4 continue to face older cut-off dates, reflecting substantial demand within fixed statutory limits.

Ultimately, each applicant’s situation depends on their priority date, category, country of chargeability, and case status. The December 2025 Visa Bulletin provides the official framework within which those individual decisions will be made throughout the month.