December 2025 Visa Bulletin: New demand cut-off reshapes dates

(UNITED STATES) The December 2025 Visa Bulletin quietly changes the way the Department of State (DOS) measures demand before setting the monthly immigrant visa cut-offs. The core rule is unchanged, but the date through which DOS counts “documentarily qualified demand” moves from October 1 in the November bulletin to November 3 in the December bulletin. That shift gives DOS one extra month and two days of confirmed cases when setting both the Final Action Dates and the Dates for Filing.

The result is mixed: steady forward motion for many employment-based Final Action Dates, sharp tightening of employment-based Dates for Filing, mostly steady family-based charts with F2A holding its structure, and targeted adjustments in Diversity Visa numbers.

Policy Baseline and What Actually Changed

Both bulletins repeat the same rule in Section A: cases are allocated “in chronological order of reported priority dates, for demand received by [date].” In November, that date is October 1, 2025. In December, it is November 3, 2025.

The legal structure and numerical limits did not change:

• Family-sponsored worldwide limit: 226,000
• Employment-based worldwide limit: at least 140,000
• Per-country cap: 7%

Oversubscribed chargeability areas remain: China–mainland born, India, Mexico, and the Philippines.

Only the snapshot date changed. That later snapshot captured a fuller set of cases ready to move, which in turn adjusted cut-off dates.

How DOS Builds the Visa Bulletin Each Month

Think of DOS taking a monthly snapshot of all cases consulates and USCIS have confirmed as ready—this is the documentarily qualified demand.

• In November, DOS looked at demand through October 1.
• In December, DOS looked through November 3.

That later snapshot captures:

• New approvals (e.g., Form I-130, Form I-140, Form I-526) that became documentarily qualified during October
• Updated estimates of visa use by category and country
• Surges or slowdowns in specific queues (e.g., EB-2 India, EB-3 Worldwide, or Diversity Visa selectees)

The charts then translate that picture into:

• Final Action Dates — who can receive a visa number now
• Dates for Filing — who can submit paperwork now for future action

Step-by-Step: Reading the December 2025 Charts Under the New Snapshot

1. Find your preference category and country.
2. Compare your priority date to the Final Action Dates:
   • If your date is earlier than the posted cut-off, a visa number can be issued now (or an adjustment can be approved if otherwise eligible).
3. Check the Dates for Filing:
   • If your date is earlier than the filing cut-off, you can submit documentation now even if Final Action isn’t current yet.
   • Note: DOS tightened many EB filing cut-offs in December.
4. Track monthly updates:
   • Because the snapshot date moved to November 3, December reflects more demand than November. That explains advancing Final Action Dates in several EB categories but strong filing retrogressions in EB-2 and EB-3.
5. Coordinate your next move:
   • If your petition was approved recently, confirm whether it appears in the documentarily qualified snapshot through your consulate’s case status or USCIS communications.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this time of year prompts many applicants to double-check both charts and reassess timing for filings, especially after DOS tightens filing windows to manage future queues.

Employment-Based Movement Under the Updated Demand Picture

These highlights show how the fuller snapshot affected Final Action Dates across EB categories:

• EB-1 Final Action
  • China advances to 22JAN23
  • India advances to 15MAR22
  • All other areas remain current
• EB-2 Final Action
  • All Chargeability/Mexico/Philippines: advance ~two months to 01FEB24
  • China: advance ~two months to 01JUN21
  • India: moves to 15MAY13 (smaller step forward)
• EB-3 Final Action
  • All Chargeability/Mexico/Philippines: to 15APR23 (~15 days)
  • China: to 01APR21 (one month)
  • India: to 22SEP13 (one month)
  • EB-3 Other Workers: nudges forward (e.g., China to 08DEC17, All Chargeability/Mexico/Philippines to 01AUG21)
• EB-4 Final Action
  • Moves two months forward across all areas: from 01JUL20 to 01SEP20
  • Certain Religious Workers (SR) were unavailable in November but become available in December with a Final Action Date of 01SEP20 after enactment of H.R. 5371 on November 12, 2025, extending SR through January 30, 2026
• EB-5 Unreserved Final Action
  • China: jumps from 08DEC15 to 15JUL16
  • India: moves from 01FEB21 to 01JUL21
  • Other areas remain current; set-aside categories stay current

These moves show that a fuller month of demand can still allow forward motion where the pipeline doesn’t exceed annual and per-country constraints.

Filing Dates: Why December Tightens the Gate

The biggest swing appears in the Dates for Filing. EB-1 Filing Dates mostly stayed the same, but EB-2 and EB-3 Filing Dates pulled back significantly.

• EB-1 Filing Dates
  • China: 15MAY23
  • India: 15APR23
  • All others: current
• EB-2 Filing Dates (retrogressions & changes)
  • All Chargeability/Mexico/Philippines: from Current to 15JUL24
  • China: retrogresses from 15JUL24 to 01DEC21
  • India: retrogresses from 01DEC21 to 01DEC13
• EB-3 Filing Dates
  • All Chargeability/Mexico/Philippines: retrogress from 15JUL24 to 01JUL23
  • China: retrogresses from 01JUL23 to 01JAN22
  • India: retrogresses from 01JAN22 to 15AUG14
• EB-3 Other Workers Filing
  • All Chargeability: 01DEC21
  • China: 01OCT18
  • India: 15AUG14

Why this pattern? When the later snapshot reveals heavy potential inflow, DOS keeps Final Action inching forward for people already waiting, but tightens filing to avoid a future flood of new cases that would create long-term backlogs. The source notes this helps avoid a build-up of pending Form I-485 adjustment cases and consular IV cases that would strain future allocations.

Family-Sponsored Patterns Under the New Snapshot

Family preferences largely keep their long-standing structure. The clearest example is F2A (spouses and children of permanent residents):

• F2A numbers exempt from the per-country limit are available to all countries for priority dates earlier than 01FEB23.
• F2A numbers subject to the per-country limit are available for all countries except Mexico for priority dates from 01FEB23 up to, but not including, 01FEB24.
• All F2A numbers for Mexico are exempt from the per-country limit.

December’s Final Action shows:

• F2A All Chargeability/China/India/Philippines: 01FEB24
• F2A Mexico: 01FEB23

Despite the extra month of demand in the December snapshot, DOS keeps F2A tight but stable—indicating existing demand already fills the category’s space.

For F1, F3, and F4, the November table in the source text is corrupted, but December continues to show deep backlogs with no signs of sudden forward leaps tied to the November 3 snapshot.

Diversity Visa (DV) Adjustments Reflecting the New Demand View

DV-2026 cut-offs show targeted changes between November and December:

• November snapshot (examples)
  • AFRICA: 17,500 (Algeria capped at 14,500)
  • ASIA: 10,000 (Nepal capped at 6,000)
  • EUROPE: 7,750
  • Bahamas: 20
  • OCEANIA: 1,100
  • SOUTH AMERICA and the Caribbean: 1,850
• December snapshot adjustments
  • AFRICA remains 17,500, but:
  • Algeria cap increases to 17,250
  • Egypt introduced with cap 16,000
  • Other regions remain the same

Forward-looking DV numbers for the next month rise notably in December (e.g., AFRICA moving to 35,000 for January). The later snapshot helps DOS plan month-by-month usage while fine-tuning country caps to reflect actual case movement.

Practical Scenarios and Expected Outcomes

• EB-2 India with a 2014 priority date:
  • Final Action at 15MAY13 — a 2014 date is still outside, but the trend shows small forward steps.
  • Filing retrogressed to 01DEC13, blocking newer filings for now.
• EB-3 Worldwide with a mid-2023 date:
  • Final Action at 15APR23 suggests near-term movement if your date is earlier.
  • Filing at 01JUL23 means those just before that line can file; those after must wait.
• F2A Mexico with a 2023 date:
  • Final Action at 01FEB23 for Mexico points to a narrower window; structure unchanged, signaling steady demand without a push to advance.
• EB-5 India (Unreserved) with a mid-2021 date:
  • Final Action moved to 01JUL21, which may help applicants with priority dates just before or on that cut-off.

In each case, the December outcomes align with expectations after DOS took a later snapshot of documentarily qualified demand.

What to Expect From Authorities This Cycle Versus Next

• Final Action Dates:
  • Expect measured steps forward where the pipeline allows (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, EB-5 Unreserved). DOS is cautious about avoiding later retrogression.
• Dates for Filing:
  • Expect tight controls in EB-2 and EB-3—especially for India and China—to prevent unmanageable queues. DOS will continue using monthly snapshots to adjust.
• Family categories:
  • Expect continued stability with limited motion, due to entrenched backlogs and steady demand.
• DV:
  • Expect targeted regional and country caps, updated monthly as DOS tracks selectee movement.

Action Checklist and Timeframes

• Check both charts every month:
  • Compare your priority date to the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing.
• If filing is open for you:
  • Prepare to submit the correct petition or application quickly. Common forms include:
  • Form I-130 (family) USCIS I-130
  • Form I-140 (employment) USCIS I-140
  • Form I-526 (EB-5) USCIS I-526
  • For adjustment of status: Form I-485 USCIS I-485
• Track consular readiness:
  • Ensure your case is truly documentarily qualified so it appears in DOS’s next snapshot.
• Expect monthly shifts:
  • December’s later snapshot already changed the December charts; January can change again based on new data.

Where to Confirm Official Cut-Offs and Forms

• Department of State Visa Bulletin page (monthly charts and notes):
  • U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin
• USCIS forms and guidance (use the direct pages above to avoid delays or outdated versions).

Why Some Categories Advance, Retrogress, or Hold

• Advance:
  • When the later snapshot (through November 3) shows space under annual and per-country limits, DOS pushes Final Action Dates forward (examples: EB-1 China/India, EB-2 advances, EB-3 small steps, EB-4 two months, EB-5 Unreserved).
• Retrogress:
  • When the snapshot reveals heavy latent demand, DOS pulls back the Dates for Filing to slow inflow and avoid heavy future queues. December’s EB-2 and EB-3 Filing charts show this clearly, especially for India and China.
• Hold:
  • Where demand is steady and high, with no new room, DOS keeps dates stable (e.g., F2A and generally backlogged family categories in December).

In short: moving the snapshot from October 1 to November 3 didn’t change the rules—it changed the picture DOS uses to manage the year’s visa numbers. More data led to careful Final Action advances and tighter Filing gates, while family categories stayed steady and DV numbers were fine-tuned by region and country to reflect actual case movement.