EB-1 India Stagnation in Oct-Nov 2025: No Movement on FAD or DFF

EB-1 India shows no change from October 2025 to November 2025 on either chart. The Final Action Date (FAD) stays at February 15, 2022, and the Date for Filing (DFF) stays at April 15, 2023. If your EB-1 India priority date is earlier than February 15, 2022, you remain eligible for final approval. If it falls between February 15, 2022 and April 15, 2023, you’re within the filing window only—if and when USCIS authorizes the DFF chart for employment-based filings that month. If your date is later than April 15, 2023, you remain outside both windows.

For families in Delhi, India weighing plans and timing, “no movement” may feel frustrating. It also gives clarity: the rules and order of action don’t change from October to November, so your planning remains steady for another month.

Find Your Place in the Line: Three Cohorts and Immediate Actions

Use your EB-1 India priority date to identify your position and match it to a clear action plan.

• PD earlier than February 15, 2022 (pre‑FAD)
  • Status: You’re current for final action in both months.
  • Your move: Keep your case fully ready—respond to RFEs, complete medicals when requested, and confirm all documents are uploaded and valid. If you chose consular processing, stay documentarily qualified so the post can schedule you. No forward movement this month doesn’t harm you; you’re already within approval reach.
• PD between February 15, 2022 and April 15, 2023 (between FAD and DFF)
  • Status: Not current for final action, but eligible to file if USCIS allows the DFF chart for the month.
  • Your move: Watch for USCIS’s monthly “chart usage” announcement. If DFF is authorized, file your Form I-485 to enter the queue and unlock pending‑AOS benefits (EAD/AP and, after the statutory period, AC21 job mobility). Filing doesn’t mean approval—final approval must wait until the FAD passes your priority date.
• PD after April 15, 2023 (post‑DFF)
  • Status: Outside both windows.
  • Your move: Keep your immigrant petition strategy tight so you can act fast if DFF advances. Build a clean record now to avoid delays later.

Month-by-Month Mechanics: How the Charts Actually Work

The October and November 2025 Visa Bulletins publish the same EB‑1 India cutoffs: FAD = February 15, 2022 and DFF = April 15, 2023. That sameness reflects how the Department of State (DOS) manages demand under statutory limits.

Key mechanics:
– Per‑country limit under INA §202: The bulletins restate the 7% per‑country cap. For FY‑2026, that equals 25,620 when family‑ and employment‑based totals are combined. This ceiling is fixed and applies across preference categories.
– Chronological allocation under INA §203(e): Numbers are issued strictly by priority date order. When a category is oversubscribed—EB‑1 India is—the bulletin sets a cutoff so total issuances stay within annual and per‑country limits.
– Oversubscription and “no movement”: If there’s enough documentarily qualified demand at or earlier than the current cutoff to use up this month’s allocation, DOS holds the line and doesn’t advance the date.
– Filing vs. final approval: The DFF lets applicants submit adjustment packages earlier so cases enter the pipeline. But the FAD controls approvals and visa issuance. You can file when DFF is usable, yet you can’t be approved until your priority date is earlier than the FAD.

The October bulletin says allocations are made in chronological order “for demand received by September 3rd.” November mirrors that structure with demand “received by October 1st.” This illustrates how DOS reviews the pipeline monthly and decides whether it can advance dates without breaching caps.

Step-by-Step Journey Through Each Stage

Follow the path that matches your cohort. Each step explains what you do, what the government does, and how the November 2025 “no movement” affects your timing.

1) Pre‑FAD (PD earlier than February 15, 2022)
– Your actions:
– Keep your case “decision‑ready.” Respond promptly to RFEs and complete medicals if requested.
– If adjusting status, ensure your Form I-485 package is complete and updated. If consular processing, keep your NVC record current so you remain documentarily qualified for interview scheduling.
– What to expect from authorities:
– Your case can be approved in either month since you’re within the FAD. Visa numbers can be allocated to you without further advancement of dates.
– Time expectations:
– Approvals depend on case readiness and monthly allocation flow. With no movement needed for you, focus on clearing last‑mile tasks.

2) Between FAD and DFF (PD between February 15, 2022 and April 15, 2023)
– Your actions:
– Check each month whether USCIS allows employment‑based applicants to use the DFF chart. USCIS posts this determination monthly; see the agency’s Adjustment of Status Filing Charts page for the current choice.
– If DFF is authorized, submit Form I-485 to lock in adjustment status benefits while you wait for the FAD to advance.
– What to expect from authorities:
– DOS keeps the FAD static in November, so no final approval yet. USCIS may accept your filing if DFF is in use, then hold your case until the FAD reaches your date.
– Time expectations:
– You’re in a file‑and‑wait mode. The bulletin doesn’t forecast when EB‑1 India will move; stability across October and November means there wasn’t space to advance early in the fiscal year.

3) Post‑DFF (PD after April 15, 2023)
– Your actions:
– You can’t file or be approved yet. Use this time to finalize the EB‑1 petition strategy with your employer and gather clean evidence for a fast start later.
– Maintain a ready‑to‑file Form I-140 package so you can move quickly when DFF advances.
– What to expect from authorities:
– The bulletin shows no change in November; your status remains pre‑filing.
– Time expectations:
– Month‑to‑month watchfulness is key. The bulletin structure allows forward movement later in the fiscal year, but it doesn’t predict timing.

The Forms You’ll Actually Touch

• Adjustment of Status: When eligible to file, submit Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Filing is possible only if USCIS designates the Dates for Filing chart for employment‑based cases that month.
• Immigrant Petition: Employers file Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers to classify the worker in EB‑1. Approval of the underlying petition is the foundation for both filing and final action.

These links are official USCIS pages. Keep copies of every submission and notice you receive, since quick responses to any RFE help you stay on track.

What “No Movement” Means in Real Life

• If you’re pre‑FAD: You remain approval‑eligible. Keep logistics tight—this is where a missing medical or slow RFE reply can push you into another month’s allocation cycle.
• If you’re between FAD and DFF: Filing (when allowed) gives you pending‑AOS benefits like EAD/AP and, after the statutory period, AC21 job portability. But approval depends entirely on the FAD advancing beyond your date.
• If you’re post‑DFF: November brings no path to file or approve. Use the time to assemble complete evidence so you don’t lose momentum when the filing gate opens.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, many applicants benefit from a monthly routine: verify the chart USCIS chose, confirm your cohort status, and prepare needed steps without delay so you’re ready the moment a window opens.

Snapshot Comparisons: EB‑1 India vs. Others

For EB‑1 in both October and November 2025:
– Rest of World (including Mexico and the Philippines): Current on both FAD and DFF.
– China‑mainland born: FAD = December 22, 2022; DFF = May 15, 2023.
– India: FAD = February 15, 2022; DFF = April 15, 2023.

This comparison shows EB‑1 India is more backlogged than China and far more restricted than the Rest of World, which remains Current. That gap signals heavier Indian demand within EB‑1.

Outside EB‑1 (context for planning only):
– EB‑2 India: FAD = April 1, 2013; DFF = December 1, 2013 (both months).
– EB‑3 India: FAD = August 22, 2013; DFF = January 1, 2022 (both months).
– EB‑5: Unreserved is Current for India; China’s unreserved shows earlier cutoffs; set‑asides remain Current across chargeability areas.

Even though EB‑1 India is static month‑over‑month, it remains far less retrogressed than EB‑2 and EB‑3 for India, which matters for family planning and employer strategy.

Why EB‑1 India Didn’t Move: The Mechanics You Can See

The bulletins explain the logic: EB‑1 India is oversubscribed. The per‑country 7% limit (25,620 in FY‑2026) and the worldwide EB minimum of 140,000 together form a hard ceiling. DOS must issue numbers strictly by priority date. If qualified demand at or earlier than the FAD already fills expected usage, DOS cannot advance the date without risking a breach of the cap.

The bulletins also note retrogression is possible if necessary during monthly allocation. There was no retrogression from October to November 2025 for EB‑1 India, which is a form of stability—but not a guarantee for future months.

Practical Playbook for Applicants and Employers in Delhi, India

• Pre‑FAD applicants
  • Keep your case clean: updated records, fast RFE responses, and ready medicals when requested.
  • If consular, ensure you’re documentarily qualified so the embassy can schedule you when a slot opens.
• Between FAD and DFF
  • File your Form I-485 when USCIS authorizes the DFF chart. While you wait, plan for EAD/AP to manage travel and work continuity, and consider AC21 job mobility once you reach the statutory threshold.
  • Stay in close contact with counsel so your address, employer data, and dependents’ paperwork stay current.
• Post‑DFF
  • Tighten your I‑140 evidence so approval is straightforward.
  • Organize civil documents and employer letters now to avoid scrambling later.
• Employers
  • Continue workforce planning with realistic timelines. EB‑1 India’s “no movement” from October to November 2025 indicates sustained demand pressure.
  • Consider cross‑category strategies to support long‑term retention if your team includes beneficiaries with EB‑2 or EB‑3 histories.

Your Monthly Monitoring Routine

1. Check where the EB‑1 India cutoffs stand: FAD = February 15, 2022; DFF = April 15, 2023 (unchanged across these two months).
2. Confirm whether USCIS allows use of the Dates for Filing chart this month. The agency posts its selection on the Adjustment of Status Filing Charts page.
3. Match your PD to the correct cohort and act.
4. Keep your employer and dependents aligned so any needed signatures or records don’t slow you down.

This routine reduces guesswork and keeps your case ready even when the charts don’t move.

What to Expect From Authorities at Each Stage

• When you’re current for final action: DOS can allocate a number to you, and USCIS or the consulate can approve your case once all steps are complete.
• When you’re filing under DFF: USCIS accepts your Form I-485 if DFF is authorized for that month, then holds final adjudication until the FAD reaches your date. You may receive RFEs, requests for medicals, and—when eligible—work/travel benefits tied to a pending adjustment.
• When you’re outside both windows: No filing or approval is available. DOS continues to model demand each month; movement can come later in the fiscal year, but the bulletins don’t forecast it.

Managing Risk and Expectations

• Don’t mistake filing eligibility for approval eligibility. The FAD, not the DFF, unlocks final action.
• Be ready for steady months. “No movement” in November simply means the same rules from October apply for another cycle.
• Understand retrogression risk. While there’s no retrogression here, DOS can pull dates back if necessary to stay within limits.
• Keep family cases aligned. Dependents must track the principal’s status; coordinated filings help avoid gaps.

The Bottom Line for EB‑1 India in November 2025

• Final Action Date: February 15, 2022 (unchanged)
• Date for Filing: April 15, 2023 (unchanged)
• ROW remains Current; China‑mainland born holds later cutoffs than India; EB‑2 and EB‑3 India remain far more retrogressed.

If you’re pre‑FAD, you remain approval‑eligible. If you’re between FAD and DFF, you’re file‑eligible only if USCIS authorizes the DFF chart and must wait for the FAD to advance. If you’re post‑DFF, you’re still pre‑filing.

Stay disciplined in monthly checks, keep your case ready, and act the moment the rules allow. For families and employers in Delhi and across the United States 🇺🇸, that steady routine is the surest way to make progress while EB‑1 India holds its line.