The Visa Bulletin is a crucial monthly update from the U.S. Department of State, dictating the availability of immigrant visa numbers for both family-sponsored and employment-based categories. The March 2025 Visa Bulletin introduces several changes compared to February 2025, impacting applicants in different visa categories. This article highlights the key differences, providing detailed comparisons, data tables, and an analysis of trends.
Key Differences Between February and March 2025 Visa Bulletins
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Visa Bulletin Analysis Tool – March 2025
| Category | Country | February 2025 | March 2025 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | All Other | C | C | No Change |
| EB-1 | China | 08 NOV 22 | 08 NOV 22 | No Change |
| EB-1 | India | 01 FEB 22 | 01 FEB 22 | No Change |
| EB-2 | All Other | 01 APR 23 | 15 MAY 23 | +1.5 months |
| EB-2 | China | 22 APR 20 | 08 MAY 20 | +0.5 months |
| EB-2 | India | 15 OCT 12 | 01 DEC 12 | +1.5 months |
| EB-3 | All Other | 01 DEC 22 | 01 DEC 22 | No Change |
| EB-3 | China | 01 JUL 20 | 01 AUG 20 | +1 month |
| EB-3 | India | 15 DEC 12 | 01 FEB 13 | +1.5 months |
| EB-4 | All Countries | 01 JAN 21 | 01 AUG 19 | -17 months |
| EB-5 | All Other | C | C | No Change |
| EB-5 | China | 15 JUL 16 | 15 JUL 16 | No Change |
| EB-5 | India | 01 JAN 22 | 01 JAN 22 | No Change |
| Category | Country | February 2025 | March 2025 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | All Other | C | C | No Change |
| EB-1 | China | 01 JAN 23 | 01 JAN 23 | No Change |
| EB-1 | India | 15 APR 22 | 15 APR 22 | No Change |
| EB-2 | All Other | 01 AUG 23 | 01 AUG 23 | No Change |
| EB-2 | China | 01 OCT 20 | 01 OCT 20 | No Change |
| EB-2 | India | 01 JAN 13 | 01 JAN 13 | No Change |
| EB-3 | All Other | 01 MAR 23 | 01 MAR 23 | No Change |
| EB-3 | China | 15 NOV 20 | 15 NOV 20 | No Change |
| EB-3 | India | 08 JUN 13 | 08 JUN 13 | No Change |
| EB-3 Other Workers | All Other | 22 MAY 21 | 22 MAY 21 | No Change |
| EB-3 Other Workers | China | 01 JAN 18 | 01 JAN 18 | No Change |
| EB-3 Other Workers | India | 08 JUN 13 | 08 JUN 13 | No Change |
| EB-5 | All Other | C | C | No Change |
| EB-5 | China | 01 OCT 16 | 01 OCT 16 | No Change |
| EB-5 | India | 01 APR 22 | 01 APR 22 | No Change |
| Category | Country | February 2025 | March 2025 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | All Other | 22 NOV 15 | 22 NOV 15 | No Change |
| F1 | Mexico | 22 NOV 04 | 22 NOV 04 | No Change |
| F1 | Philippines | 08 MAR 12 | 08 MAR 12 | No Change |
| F2A | All Other | 01 JAN 22 | 01 JAN 22 | No Change |
| F2A | Mexico | 15 MAY 21 | 15 MAY 21 | No Change |
| F2B | All Other | 22 MAY 16 | 22 MAY 16 | No Change |
| F2B | Mexico | 01 JUL 05 | 01 JUL 05 | No Change |
| F2B | Philippines | 22 OCT 11 | 22 OCT 11 | No Change |
| F3 | All Other | 01 JUL 10 | 01 JUL 10 | No Change |
| F3 | Mexico | 22 NOV 00 | 22 NOV 00 | No Change |
| F3 | Philippines | 08 NOV 02 | 22 JAN 03 | +2.5 months |
| F4 | All Other | 01 AUG 07 | 01 AUG 07 | No Change |
| F4 | India | 08 APR 06 | 08 APR 06 | No Change |
| F4 | Mexico | 01 MAR 01 | 01 MAR 01 | No Change |
| F4 | Philippines | 01 MAY 04 | 15 OCT 04 | +5.5 months |
Latest Update: Visa Bulletin for March 2025
Next Update: Expected by early March 2025
Color indicators: Forward Movement Retrogression No Change
The differences between the two bulletins can be categorized into:
- Family-Sponsored Immigrant Visas – Changes in Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications.
- Employment-Based Immigrant Visas – Movement in Final Action Dates and Filing Dates.
- Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery – Availability shifts.
- Special Visa Categories – Retrogression and policy extensions.
Below, we analyze each of these areas in depth.
Family-Sponsored Immigrant Visas
Family-sponsored visa applicants are affected by changes in priority dates, which determine when applicants can proceed with their cases.
Final Action Dates: Family-Sponsored Categories
| Family-Sponsored Category | All Chargeability Areas | China (Mainland) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (Unmarried Sons & Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | No Change (22NOV15) | No Change (22NOV15) | No Change (22NOV15) | No Change (22NOV04) | No Change (08MAR12) |
| F2A (Spouses & Children of Permanent Residents) | No Change (01JAN22) | No Change (01JAN22) | No Change (01JAN22) | No Change (15MAY21) | No Change (01JAN22) |
| F2B (Unmarried Sons & Daughters of Permanent Residents) | No Change (22MAY16) | No Change (22MAY16) | No Change (22MAY16) | No Change (01JUL05) | No Change (22OCT11) |
| F3 (Married Sons & Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | No Change (01JUL10) | No Change (01JUL10) | No Change (01JUL10) | No Change (22NOV00) | Forward Movement (08NOV02 → 22JAN03) |
| F4 (Brothers & Sisters of U.S. Citizens) | No Change (01AUG07) | No Change (01AUG07) | No Change (08APR06) | No Change (01MAR01) | Forward Movement (01MAY04 → 15OCT04) |
Summary of Family-Sponsored Category Changes:
- No changes for most categories except minor forward movements for the Philippines (F3 and F4).
Employment-Based Immigrant Visas
Employment-based categories often see more dynamic shifts due to demand and visa availability.
Final Action Dates: Employment-Based Categories
| Employment-Based Category | All Chargeability Areas | China (Mainland) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (Priority Workers) | No Change (C) | No Change (08NOV22) | No Change (01FEB22) | No Change (C) | No Change (C) |
| EB-2 (Advanced Degree/Exceptional Ability) | Forward Movement (01APR23 → 15MAY23) | Forward Movement (22APR20 → 08MAY20) | Forward Movement (15OCT12 → 01DEC12) | Forward Movement (01APR23 → 15MAY23) | Forward Movement (01APR23 → 15MAY23) |
| EB-3 (Skilled Workers & Professionals) | No Change (01DEC22) | Forward Movement (01JUL20 → 01AUG20) | Forward Movement (15DEC12 → 01FEB13) | No Change (01DEC22) | No Change (01DEC22) |
| EB-4 (Special Immigrants) | Retrogression (01JAN21 → 01AUG19) | Retrogression (01JAN21 → 01AUG19) | Retrogression (01JAN21 → 01AUG19) | Retrogression (01JAN21 → 01AUG19) | Retrogression (01JAN21 → 01AUG19) |
| EB-5 (Investor Visas) | No Change (C) | No Change (15JUL16) | No Change | No Change (C) | No Change (C) |
Summary of Employment-Based Category Changes:
- EB-2 forward movement for most applicants except India, which retrogressed.
- EB-3 saw some movement for China but retrogression for India.
- EB-4 experienced a retrogression across all chargeability areas due to high demand.
- EB-5 saw forward movement for India, no changes elsewhere.
Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery
| Region | February 2025 Cutoff | March 2025 Cutoff | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 22,500 | 25,000 | +2,500 |
| Asia | 5,500 | 6,000 | +500 |
| Europe | 12,000 | 13,000 | +1,000 |
| Oceania | 1,100 | 1,125 | +25 |
| South America/Caribbean | 1,750 | 1,800 | +50 |
Summary of Diversity Visa Changes:
- Increased DV availability for all regions, meaning more applicants can proceed with their cases.
Special Visa Categories: Retrogressions & Expirations
- EB-4 religious worker visas (SR category) expired on March 13, 2025, unless extended by legislation.
- Potential unavailability for EB-4 in April due to continued high demand.
Conclusion
The March 2025 Visa Bulletin introduced positive movements in employment-based and diversity visa categories but also saw retrogressions in EB-4 and India’s EB-2 and EB-3 categories. These changes reflect demand fluctuations and policy adjustments. Applicants should plan their immigration strategies accordingly, keeping an eye on future visa bulletins for further shifts.
