EB-2 India Shows Major October 2025 Jump in Visa Bulletin

October is when the U.S. immigration fiscal year resets, and that reset has meaningful, practical consequences for anyone pursuing employment-based green cards. Each October, new annual visa numbers become available, per‑country limits refresh, and any unused family-based numbers from the prior year can spill over into the employment-based pool.

In October 2025—the start of FY 2026—these mechanics combined to create a decisive shift: a notable EB‑2 India jump in both Final Action and Dates for Filing. Understanding what moved, why it moved, and what to do next can make the difference between simply watching the October 2025 Visa Bulletin and actively moving your case forward. At VisaVerge.com, we help you understand not only the “what” but also the “how,” so you can act confidently when windows of opportunity open.

Understanding the EB‑2 Category and Why October Matters

• EB‑2 stands for Employment‑Based, Second Preference. It covers:
  • Members of the professions holding advanced degrees (master’s or higher).
  • Individuals with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.
• Each fiscal year, EB‑2 receives 28.6% of the worldwide employment‑based visa quota plus any numbers not used by EB‑1. This percentage establishes the baseline number of visas available to EB‑2 before spillover or roll‑down effects.

• Per‑country limits apply. Under INA § 202(a)(2), no country can receive more than 7% of the combined family and employment visas in a fiscal year. For FY 2026, that is roughly 25,620 visas per country. This cap creates priority date cutoffs for high‑demand countries—especially India and China.

• Why October matters: October opens the new fiscal year (FY 2026). That reset:

  • Releases a fresh supply of employment-based green cards.
  • Resets per‑country caps.
  • Allows the Department of State (DOS) to advance cutoff dates to “build demand” early in the year.
  • If the prior year ended near exhaustion, October is often when forward movement is most visible.

What Changed in the October 2025 Visa Bulletin — Key Moves

• The October 2025 Visa Bulletin (Number 7, Volume XI) shows a sharp advancement for EB‑2 India compared to September 2025.
  • Final Action Date for EB‑2 India advanced three months: Jan 1, 2013 → Apr 1, 2013.
  • Dates for Filing for EB‑2 India advanced ten months: Feb 1, 2013 → Dec 1, 2013.
• These moves are unusually large for a heavily backlogged category and indicate an intent to accept more I‑485 filings and build a pipeline of cases.

• Other notable movements:

  • All Chargeability, Mexico, Philippines (Final Action): Sep 1, 2023 → Dec 1, 2023.
  • China (Final Action): Dec 15, 2020 → Apr 1, 2021.
• The magnitude of the EB‑2 India jump contrasts with smaller movements elsewhere and highlights a targeted effort to relieve India’s backlog.

Why Did EB‑2 India Jump in October 2025? Four Key Drivers

1) New Fiscal Year Visa Allocation
– October opens the annual allocation for employment‑based green cards.
– Worldwide employment‑based allocation starts at ~140,000, with EB‑2 receiving about 28.6% (~40,000) before spillover.
– By end of FY 2025, worldwide employment‑based usage reached 150,037, causing late‑FY slowdowns. The October reset let DOS accelerate cutoffs safely.

2) Unused Family‑Based Visa Spillover
– Unused family‑based visas from the prior year can spill over into the employment‑based pool, increasing the total available.
– Even moderate spillover can justify aggressive early‑year cutoff movements. October’s EB‑2 India push suggests DOS anticipated sufficient spillover.

3) Recapture of Demand After Year‑End Retrogression
– DOS often slows movement late in the fiscal year to avoid hitting caps. Once the year resets, those restraints lift.
– The movement to Apr 1, 2013 in October restarts the pipeline — a classic October dynamic.

4) Lower EB‑1 and EB‑3 Demand Freeing Up Numbers
– Unused EB‑1 numbers can roll down to EB‑2; unused EB‑3 numbers can roll up to EB‑2.
– In October 2025, EB‑1 India stayed around Feb 15, 2022; EB‑3 India was Aug 22, 2013. These positions imply EB‑2 likely benefited from cross‑category surplus.

What These Changes Mean for You: Three Applicant Paths

Path 1: Priority Date Before Apr 1, 2013 (Final Action Eligible)
– Meaning: You are within the EB‑2 India Final Action Date for October 2025. A visa number can be allocated this month.
– Action: If your I‑485 is pending, monitor for adjudication or approval. If consular processing, watch for interview scheduling.
– Expectation: USCIS/DOS can finalize cases when the case is otherwise ready.

Path 2: Priority Date Between Apr 1, 2013 and Dec 1, 2013 (Filing Eligible)
– Meaning: You may be able to file I‑485 if USCIS uses the Dates for Filing chart.
– Why file: Filing can unlock EAD, Advance Parole, and CSPA protections for dependent children.
– Expectation: Filing waves often create heavy EAD/Advance Parole workloads; expect processing delays.

Path 3: Priority Date After Dec 1, 2013 (Monitor and Prepare)
– Meaning: You are outside both cutoffs for October 2025 and cannot file yet.
– Positives: The 10‑month filing‑date jump signals DOS expects to allocate more EB‑2 India numbers in FY 2026.
– Action: Track monthly bulletins and prepare your case so you can file immediately when eligible.

Step‑by‑Step: How to Navigate October’s Window

1) Identify Your Priority Date and Category
– Confirm you are EB‑2 and note your priority date relative to:
– Final Action: Apr 1, 2013
– Dates for Filing: Dec 1, 2013

2) Check Which Chart USCIS Is Using
– USCIS picks monthly whether to use Chart A (Final Action Dates) or Chart B (Dates for Filing) for I‑485 filings.

3) Decide Whether You Can File Now
– If Chart B is in effect and your date is before Dec 1, 2013, consider filing for EAD/AP and CSPA protections.
– If your date is before Apr 1, 2013, your case may be immediately approvable if it’s ready.

4) Prepare for Post‑Filing Workflows
– Expect EAD and Advance Parole filings to rise; plan for longer processing times and manage expectations.

5) Monitor Subsequent Bulletins
– DOS may slow movement mid‑year if demand spikes. Continue monitoring monthly to adjust strategy.

What October’s Numbers Say About Strategy and Expectations

• EB‑2 Final Action Dates: India → Apr 1, 2013; China → Apr 1, 2021; All/Mexico/Philippines → Dec 1, 2023.
• EB‑2 Dates for Filing: India → Dec 1, 2013; China → Dec 1, 2021; All/Mexico/Philippines → Jul 15, 2024.
• The standout is India, reflecting DOS’s focus on reducing the oldest inventory while aligning supply with demand.

The Role of Cross‑Category Dynamics (EB‑1 and EB‑3)

• EB‑1 and EB‑3 usage affects EB‑2 availability through roll‑down/roll‑up.
• Practical takeaway: Monitor adjacent categories since their usage patterns can change EB‑2 movement mid‑year.
• October’s strength likely reflects both the new‑year reset and beneficial inter‑category shifts.

CSPA, EAD, and Advance Parole: Why Filing Early Can Be Protective

• CSPA protection: Filing can freeze a child’s age for immigration purposes, important for dependents near the age limit.
• EAD and Advance Parole: Filing I‑485 enables work and travel documents that provide stability while awaiting Final Action.
• Warning: Large filing waves strain USCIS processing capacity; expect delays similar to FY 2021–2022.

Important: Filing earlier can secure immediate practical protections (work/travel, CSPA) even if the green card itself isn’t yet available.

A Month‑by‑Month Mindset for FY 2026

• Early‑year acceleration: DOS often builds demand in October to avoid wasted visas.
• Mid‑year pacing: If filings surge, DOS may slow movements to manage the annual cap. EB‑1 changes can also affect EB‑2 supply.
• Year‑end considerations: Slower movement late in the fiscal year usually reflects cap management rather than abandonment of relief efforts.

Practical Scenarios and What to Do

• Pre‑April 1, 2013: Your case may be adjudicated now—remain responsive to agency requests.
• Apr 1–Dec 1, 2013: If USCIS uses the filing chart, file to obtain EAD/AP and CSPA protections. Prepare for EAD/AP backlogs.
• Post‑Dec 1, 2013: Keep documents ready and monitor monthly bulletins to file as soon as eligible.
• Comparing EB‑2 vs EB‑3: October favored EB‑2 India; EB‑3 India’s Final Action is Aug 22, 2013. Keep tracking both.

What Could Happen Next—and How to Prepare

• If demand spikes: DOS may slow or pause forward movement to avoid exhausting numbers too early.
• If EB‑1 demand rises: Less roll‑down to EB‑2 could slow EB‑2 India movement mid‑year.
• Structural caps: The per‑country cap remains a long‑term constraint; meaningful long‑term relief requires policy changes.
• Preparation: Stay filing‑ready, use October to lock in protections where possible, and align expectations to a paced, data‑driven year.

High‑Value Takeaway for EB‑2 India Applicants

• October 2025 produced the largest monthly forward movement in years for EB‑2 India: +3 months (Final Action) and +10 months (Dates for Filing).
• Drivers: New‑year reset, family‑based spillover, end of late‑FY slowdowns, and cross‑category dynamics.
• Immediate actions by priority date:
  • Pre‑Apr 1, 2013: possible approval now.
  • Apr 1–Dec 1, 2013: consider filing to access EAD/AP and CSPA protections.
  • Post‑Dec 1, 2013: monitor and prepare.
• Manage expectations: October is powerful but later months may be more measured.

How VisaVerge.com Supports Your Next Steps

• At VisaVerge.com, we explain complex Visa Bulletin movements and help you:
  • Determine which chart applies.
  • Read your priority date against current cutoffs.
  • Translate policy shifts into step‑by‑step actions (whether to file, how to use EAD/AP and CSPA protections, and how to prepare for mid‑year pacing).
• For ongoing FY 2026 tracking, rely on VisaVerge.com to compare monthly cutoffs, understand spillover and roll‑down effects, and align your filing strategy with how DOS and USCIS manage demand.

Summary Action Plan You Can Use Today

1. Compare your priority date to October’s EB‑2 India cutoffs:

   • Final Action: Apr 1, 2013
   • Dates for Filing: Dec 1, 2013
2. Confirm whether USCIS is using Chart A or Chart B for I‑485 filings this month.

3. If you’re pre‑Apr 1, 2013, watch for approval progress—your visa number can be allocated.

4. If you’re Apr 1–Dec 1, 2013, consider filing I‑485 to obtain EAD/AP and secure CSPA protections; expect surge‑related delays.

5. If you’re post‑Dec 1, 2013, monitor monthly bulletins and stay filing‑ready.

Bottom line: The October 2025 EB‑2 India jump is the product of predictable fiscal‑year mechanics and category‑specific dynamics aligning in your favor. It provides a concrete, near‑term path forward for many long‑waiting applicants—especially those with priority dates before Dec 1, 2013. Use this moment to act decisively, set realistic expectations for FY 2026, and keep your strategy aligned with how DOS and USCIS manage employment‑based green cards throughout the year.