Checking the monthly updates from the State Department feels a lot like checking a lottery ticket. You're looking for that one specific date, hoping it finally matches your own. Well, the US visa bulletin April 2025 is officially out. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
While some categories are finally seeing some movement, others are hitting a brick wall. If you’ve been stuck in the green card queue, you know that even a few weeks of forward movement can feel like a massive win. But there are also some nasty surprises this month—especially for EB-4 and certain EB-5 applicants.
The Big News for Employment-Based Green Cards
Basically, if you're waiting on an employment-based (EB) green card, USCIS has decided to stick with the Final Action Dates chart for April 2025. This is kinda important. It means you can only file your I-485 if your priority date is actually earlier than the date listed in that specific chart.
EB-1: The "Extraordinary" Wait
For most of the world, EB-1 is still "Current." That’s the dream. However, if you're from India, there's a tiny bit of movement. The date crept forward by two weeks to February 15, 2022. China EB-1 stayed flat at November 8, 2022. It’s not a huge leap, but at least it isn't moving backward.
EB-2 and EB-3: The Winners
This is where the real action happened. China EB-2 saw a massive jump, moving forward nearly five months to October 1, 2020. That is huge for a category that usually moves at a snail's pace.
- India EB-2: Advanced one month to January 1, 2013.
- Worldwide EB-2: Moved up five weeks to June 22, 2023.
- India EB-3: Saw a two-month jump to April 1, 2013.
- China EB-3: Pushed ahead three months to November 1, 2020.
It’s rare to see China and India moving this much at the same time. You’ve probably noticed that India's dates are still stuck over a decade ago. It's frustrating, but these small jumps are the only way the backlog clears.
The EB-4 Disaster and EB-5 Retrogression
We need to talk about the bad news. The State Department dropped a bombshell: the EB-4 category is now "Unavailable" for the rest of the 2025 fiscal year.
If you're a special immigrant or a religious worker, the door has essentially slammed shut until October 1, 2025. They’ve run out of numbers. This doesn't happen often mid-year, but when it does, it's a total freeze. No new visas can be issued, and USCIS won't accept new filings.
Then there’s EB-5. If you’re an investor from China or India in the unreserved category, you might want to sit down. China EB-5 retrogressed significantly, moving back to January 22, 2014. India EB-5 also took a hit, falling back to November 1, 2019. Retrogression is basically the immigration version of "two steps forward, three steps back."
Family-Based Categories: A Different Rulebook
For those looking at family-sponsored green cards, the rules are different this month. USCIS is allowing applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart. This is generally better because those dates are further ahead than the Final Action Dates.
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One of the highlights for April is the F2A category (spouses and children of Green Card holders). The Date for Filing moved to October 15, 2024, for everyone. This is a big deal for keeping families together faster.
Mexico saw some movement in the F1 category (unmarried adult children of US citizens), moving forward six months to April 1, 2006. The Philippines also saw movement in F3 (married children of US citizens), advancing about four months.
Why Do the Dates Jump Around Like This?
You might wonder why China EB-2 jumps five months while India EB-1 only moves two weeks. It comes down to demand and the 7% per-country cap.
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The State Department looks at how many people are "documentarily qualified" at the National Visa Center. If a bunch of people in one category don't show up for interviews or their cases get denied, those "unused" numbers can sometimes roll over or allow the date to move faster.
In April, we’re seeing the results of the mid-year re-evaluation. They realized they had more room in EB-2 China than they thought. But in EB-4, they realized they overshot the limit and had to pull the emergency brake.
Actionable Steps for April 2025
If the US visa bulletin April 2025 finally shows your date as current, don't wait.
- Check your medicals: The I-693 medical exam is a common bottleneck. If your date is current, make sure your exam is ready or recently completed.
- Verify your chart: Double-check whether you should be using Final Action vs. Dates for Filing. For April, it’s Final Action for Employment and Dates for Filing for Family.
- Gather the paperwork: If you’re filing an I-485, you’ll need birth certificates, marriage licenses, and proof of legal status. These take longer to get than you think, especially from overseas.
- Watch the EB-4 freeze: If you are in the EB-4 category, stay in touch with your attorney. You won't be able to file until the new fiscal year begins in October, but you can use this time to perfect your application package.
Keep an eye on the May bulletin. Usually, once we see big jumps in April, the following month is a bit quieter as the government "tests the waters" to see how many new applications flood in.