October 2025 EB-2 India: Final Action Date Advances by Three Months

The October 2025 Visa Bulletin begins a new fiscal year and resets the rhythm of green card availability, especially for EB-2 India applicants who follow every movement of the charts to decide whether they can file, wait, or finally receive approval. In this comprehensive guide, we walk through the entire journey: how the Visa Bulletin works, exactly what changed from September to October 2025, what each change means, and the practical, step-by-step actions you can take based on your priority date.

We also set expectations for what government agencies do at each stage, how long phases typically last in practice (as framed by short-term, medium-term, and long-term horizons), and how to manage the risks of stagnation or retrogression while staying ready to move when your window opens.

At VisaVerge.com, we help you understand each monthly update and translate it into concrete next steps, so you’re never left guessing whether you should act or wait. You can always consult the current Visa Bulletin published by the Department of State and the monthly USCIS filing-chart choice to confirm which chart you can use:
– Review the latest U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin
– Check USCIS’s monthly decision on which chart to use for adjustment filings at USCIS: Adjustment of Status Filing Charts

Understanding the Visa Bulletin and EB-2 India: The Essentials You’ll Use Every Month

The U.S. Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin dictates two crucial milestones that control your path to a green card:

• Final Action Dates (Chart A): This is the gate for approvals and visa issuance. If your priority date is earlier than the posted cutoff, a visa number can be allocated and your case can be approved (either at USCIS for adjustment of status in the United States or by a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad).
• Dates for Filing (Chart B): This is the gate for starting. If USCIS allows use of this chart for the month, you can file your adjustment application early, even when your final action date isn’t yet current. The government uses these filings to pre-adjudicate cases so they’re ready to approve once Chart A catches up.

For EB-2 India (members of the professions holding advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability), the category receives 28.6% of the annual worldwide employment-based total. The law also sets a 7% per-country limit across family- and employment-based visas combined. Because EB-2 India demand significantly exceeds the 7% share, cutoffs tend to be far earlier for India than for the rest of the world, leading to long backlogs.

What Changed in October 2025 Compared to September: The Movement, Explained

October is the first Visa Bulletin of a new fiscal year, and it often brings meaningful movement as new numbers become available.

• EB-2 India Final Action Date (Chart A):
  • September 2025: 01 January 2013
  • October 2025: 01 April 2013
  • Change: Advanced by 3 months
• EB-2 India Dates for Filing (Chart B):
  • September 2025: 01 February 2013
  • October 2025: 01 December 2013
  • Change: Advanced by 10 months

In plain terms, EB-2 India advanced on both charts. Chart A moving forward by three months means some applicants with early 2013 priority dates can now be approved and receive visas. Chart B’s ten-month jump means the government is inviting a broader group—through December 2013 priority dates—to file and get pre-adjudicated, if USCIS confirms Chart B is usable for adjustment filings in October.

Why October Moved: The Mechanics Behind the Advance

Three major forces drive this movement:

• Fiscal year reset: October begins FY 2026, refreshing the annual supply of employment-based visas. With new numbers available, the Department of State has room to move cutoffs forward to start using numbers steadily and responsibly across the fiscal year.
• Possible family-to-employment carryover: If family-based categories did not use all their numbers in FY 2025, the law allows those unused numbers to “fall across” to employment-based in the new fiscal year. This creates additional capacity that can help advance EB-2 India.
• Demand modeling: The Visa Office adjusts cutoffs based on observed filing and readiness. If many older cases have already been adjudicated or some applicants are not yet ready, that space permits forward movement to reach the next cohort of applicants.

Process Map: Your End-to-End Journey Using October 2025 EB-2 India Cutoffs

Keep the terms Final Action Date (FAD) and Dates for Filing (DFF) front and center as you decide what to do.

Step 1 — Identify Your Priority Date and Category

• Confirm your category is EB-2 India.
• Locate your priority date from your PERM filing or I-140 approval notice.
• Keep the October 2025 cutoffs in sight:
  • FAD: 01 April 2013
  • DFF: 01 December 2013

Step 2 — Compare Your Date Against Both Charts

• If your priority date is earlier than 01 April 2013:
  • You are current under Chart A for October. A visa number can be issued, enabling final approval if all else is in order.
• If your date falls from 01 April 2013 through 01 December 2013:
  • You are not current under Chart A, but you may be eligible to file under Chart B if USCIS allows it for October (USCIS announces this monthly at USCIS: Adjustment of Status Filing Charts).
• If your date is after 01 December 2013:
  • You are not current under either chart in October. You cannot file yet based on these cutoffs, but you should prepare so you can move promptly when your date becomes eligible.

Step 3 — Choose Your Filing Pathway Based on Your Location

• Inside the United States (Adjustment of Status):
  • Chart B (DFF) eligibility only helps you file if USCIS adopts the DFF chart for October. When that happens, eligible EB-2 India applicants can submit the I-485 and related materials to start pre-adjudication.
  • Chart A current (FAD) allows final adjudication; if your I-485 is already on file, it can be approved once a number is available.
• Outside the United States (Consular Processing):
  • Chart A current (FAD) allows issuance once the National Visa Center (NVC) has your case and documents in order and a visa number is available.
  • Chart B indicates you can start sending paperwork to the NVC when allowed, helping you be documentarily complete ahead of Chart A catching up.

Step 4 — Act Now Based on Your Situation (Detailed Scenarios)

Situation A: Priority Date Before 01 April 2013 (FAD Current)

• What this means:
  • You have crossed the approval threshold for October 2025. The Department of State can allocate a visa number to your case.
• Actions to take:
  • If in the U.S. with a pending I-485: Ensure all ancillary steps are complete and responsive. Expect your case to be considered for final approval as numbers are available.
  • If you have not filed I-485 and are in the U.S.: File if eligible and if the window remains open. Chart A current means you can be approved as soon as USCIS completes adjudication with numbers on hand.
  • If abroad: Confirm with the NVC that your case is complete and watch for interview scheduling once a slot and number are available.
• What to expect from authorities:
  • Department of State will manage numbers to avoid exceeding annual limits and will sequence interviews and issuances.
  • USCIS will adjudicate pending adjustment cases that are pre-adjudicated and “visa-ready” once a number is available.

Situation B: Priority Date From 01 April 2013 Through 01 December 2013 (DFF Window)

• What this means:
  • You are invited to start if USCIS uses the DFF chart in October. This opens the door to early filing so USCIS can pre-adjudicate your case.
• Actions to take:
  • If USCIS confirms DFF use: Prepare a complete adjustment package. Early filing can lock in many benefits while you wait for Chart A to reach you.
  • If USCIS does not confirm DFF use: Keep your documents ready and keep monitoring; you cannot file adjustment this month, but you are nearer to eligibility than before due to the sizable 10-month jump.
  • If abroad: Begin or continue preparing the documents the NVC requires so you can be ready to proceed quickly once instructed.
• What to expect from authorities:
  • USCIS uses DFF filings to pre-adjudicate, getting cases ready for immediate approval once Chart A advances to your date.
  • Department of State observes demand and may pace future movement to balance usage throughout FY 2026.

Situation C: Priority Date After 01 December 2013 (Neither Chart Current)

• What this means:
  • You cannot file yet in October. However, your timeline may be influenced by how much demand the 2013 cohort generates.
• Actions to take:
  • Organize and maintain your evidence and keep your immigration and personal documentation current, so you can file promptly when eligible.
  • Monitor each monthly Visa Bulletin for signals of continuing advancement, especially given the strong October DFF movement.
• What to expect from authorities:
  • The Department of State will manage advancement carefully. If filings surge, forward movement may slow; if demand is lower than projected, cutoffs can continue to move.

How the October Movement Signals Broader Trends—and Its Limits

• Positive indicators:
  • Movement on both charts breaks stagnation and restores momentum.
  • A 10-month DFF advance suggests authorities want many EB-2 India cases in the pipeline early in FY 2026, anticipating further progress into 2013.
• Remaining constraints:
  • Cutoffs are still anchored in early 2013, leaving 2014-and-later applicants waiting.
  • If demand spikes or visa numbers are used faster than projected, mid-year slowdowns or retrogression can occur.

Time Horizons: Short-Term, Medium-Term, and Long-Term Expectations

• Short-Term (October and the early part of FY 2026):
  • Early-2013 priority dates get approvals (Chart A).
  • If USCIS uses Chart B, filings through 01 December 2013 can be submitted, expanding the pre-adjudicated pool.
• Medium-Term (as FY 2026 progresses):
  • If demand remains manageable, EB-2 India could continue advancing several months at a time in some bulletins, but this depends on actual government demand modeling and observed filings.
  • If the DFF window triggers a surge of filings, expect pacing adjustments.
• Long-Term:
  • EB-2 India has a structural backlog. While October is an encouraging start, durable relief requires either sustained spillovers or policy changes—factors you should not assume will recur consistently each year.

Why the Government Advances, Pauses, or Retrogresses—and How It Affects You

• Resetting annual limits in October gives the Department of State room to advance. This spreads usage across the fiscal year instead of clustering approvals late.
• If family-based usage underperforms, employment-based categories benefit the following year via carryover, potentially aiding EB-2 India.
• Demand modeling is continuous. If too many cases become eligible at once, authorities can slow movement—or retrogress—to stay within the annual quota.

Practical Checklist: Staying Ready in a Moving System

Each month:
– Read the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin, focusing on EB-2 India.
– Verify which chart USCIS authorizes for filing at USCIS: Adjustment of Status Filing Charts.
– Compare both charts to your priority date; note the gap between Chart B and Chart A to forecast your likely approval horizon.

If Chart A is current for you:
– Ensure your case is complete, your address is current, and you respond promptly to any agency requests.

If Chart B is current but Chart A is not yet:
– File early if USCIS permits, enabling pre-adjudication and positioning your case for swift approval once the FAD reaches your date.

If neither chart is current:
– Stay organized and keep monitoring. October’s 10-month DFF leap is a signal that FY 2026 could bring additional movement, but pacing may vary.

Examples to Make It Concrete

• Example 1: Priority date 15 January 2013, in the United States
  • October status: Current under Chart A (01 April 2013).
  • What happens: If your I-485 is pending and otherwise complete, you’re positioned for approval when a number is allocated. If not yet filed, evaluate immediate filing because you meet the FAD.
• Example 2: Priority date 20 November 2013, in the United States
  • October status: Within Chart B (01 December 2013), not current under Chart A.
  • What happens: If USCIS adopts Chart B, you can file I-485 for pre-adjudication. Your case will likely remain pending until Chart A advances to your date.
• Example 3: Priority date 10 March 2014, abroad
  • October status: Not current under either chart.
  • What happens: Continue preparing your NVC documents and monitor future bulletins. The size of October’s DFF movement suggests the government wants to ready more cases early in FY 2026, which may eventually benefit later 2014 cases if movement continues.

Interpreting the October 2025 Data Points with Care

• FAD advanced by 3 months (to 01 April 2013). This is modest but meaningful because it opens immediate approvals for additional early-2013 cases.
• DFF advanced by 10 months (to 01 December 2013). This signals confidence in processing more cases early and suggests potential for Chart A to continue moving deeper into 2013 during FY 2026.
• Treat October 2025 as a reset opportunity at the start of the fiscal year, not a guarantee of continuous acceleration.

What to Expect from the Agencies

• Department of State:
  • Will continue monitoring demand across categories and countries. If demand from other oversubscribed categories remains manageable, EB-2 India can benefit from steady advancement.
  • May adjust cutoffs in response to real-time data to ensure the annual allocation is not exceeded.
• USCIS:
  • Decides monthly whether Chart B can be used for adjustment filings.
  • Pre-adjudicates cases filed under Chart B, enabling swift final approvals once Chart A is current for those applicants.

Core takeaway: EB-2 India advanced in October 2025 compared to September 2025 on both charts.
– Final Action Date: 01 January 2013 → 01 April 2013 (+3 months)
– Dates for Filing: 01 February 2013 → 01 December 2013 (+10 months)
This dual advancement ends a period of slower movement and sets a constructive tone for FY 2026.

How VisaVerge.com Helps You Navigate Each Month with Confidence

• VisaVerge.com provides comprehensive guidance on reading the Visa Bulletin, understanding EB-2 India dynamics, and translating movement into action.
• For month-to-month changes—especially when USCIS’s filing-chart choice affects your ability to file—VisaVerge.com breaks down what changed, why it changed, and what you should do next so you can make informed decisions with confidence. Explore practical, plain-English explanations tailored to your situation at VisaVerge.com immigration guidance.

Summary and Next Steps You Can Take Today

• The October 2025 Visa Bulletin advanced EB-2 India to 01 April 2013 (Final Action) and 01 December 2013 (Dates for Filing). This reflects the fiscal year reset and demand management strategies that often produce forward movement in October.

• If your priority date is before 01 April 2013:
  • Prepare for final action. Ensure your case is complete, responsive, and ready for approval.
• If your date falls through 01 December 2013:
  • Watch USCIS’s monthly chart selection; if Chart B is allowed, file now to secure pre-adjudication.
• If your date is after 01 December 2013:
  • Keep documentation ready and monitor monthly. October’s movement is a constructive sign, but pacing will depend on real demand throughout FY 2026.

Keep your focus on both charts every month, confirm the USCIS filing-chart choice, and position your case to move the moment your window opens. With a measured plan grounded in the October 2025 movement and a clear understanding of how Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing work together, you can navigate EB-2 India’s long timeline with clarity, patience, and readiness.