The U.S. Department of State has released the September 2025 Visa Bulletin, and it comes with both good news and some tough reality checks for immigrants waiting on their green card process. As the final month of the fiscal year, September often brings stalled movement or even “retrogression” (a step backwards in availability). Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Visa Bulletin?
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication from the Department of State that tells us when certain green card applications can move forward. It sets two critical timelines:
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Dates for Filing – when applicants can submit documents to USCIS.
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Final Action Dates – when visas can actually be approved and green cards issued.
Because the demand for green cards is far higher than the annual supply, each category and country of chargeability (such as India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines) moves at a different pace.
September 2025 Highlights
Employment-Based Green Cards
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EB-5 (Investor Visa): August brought major progress — India moved forward by 6 months, and China advanced by nearly 2 years. But in September, the category is expected to stall or freeze as the fiscal year closes.
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EB-3 (Skilled Workers/Professionals): Indian applicants saw a one-month advancement in August, but the September Bulletin warns of little to no movement.
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Other Employment Categories (EB-1, EB-2): Most remain stagnant, with some at risk of becoming temporarily unavailable if annual visa limits are hit before October.
Family-Based Green Cards
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F2A (Spouses and Children of Green Card Holders): This category remains open for filing — meaning green card holders can still move forward with petitions for their spouse or unmarried children under 21.
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Other Family Categories (F1, F3, F4): No meaningful movement. Applicants in these categories, especially from India, Mexico, and the Philippines, continue to face long backlogs.
Recent Trends to Keep in Mind
Looking back at the last few months gives context to September’s numbers:
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June 2025: Almost no progress across the board.
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August 2025: A rare bright spot — EB-5 surged ahead, and EB-3 (India) crept forward.
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September 2025: A fiscal year-end slowdown, especially for employment-based cases.
What This Means for You
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If you’re in EB-5 or EB-3 and saw movement in August: Don’t waste time. Get your paperwork ready now, because September could be the last chance to file before categories freeze.
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If you qualify under F2A: File as soon as possible while the category is open. Green card holders sponsoring spouses and children often face shorter waits compared to other family categories.
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For everyone else: Expect little movement until the new fiscal year begins in October 2025, when fresh visa numbers are released. That’s usually when we see new momentum — or, unfortunately, more retrogression.
Bottom Line
The Visa Bulletin is unpredictable — some months bring long-awaited progress, and others stall out. Right now, family-based F2A applicants have the best opportunity to move forward, while employment-based applicants should prepare for delays.
If you think your case might be eligible to file, now is the time to double-check your priority date and take action. Waiting even a month could mean falling back into a longer backlog.