Indian Green Card Waits Shorten? October 2025 Visa Bulletin Explained

Indian applicants seeking employment- and family-based green cards are seeing significant movement in the US visa bulletin for October 2025, marking the start of the 2026 financial year. The Department of State’s monthly bulletin shows notable advances in priority dates, particularly for the EB-5 category and family-sponsored visas.

The Final Action Date for EB-5 (unreserved) applicants from India moves ahead by nearly 15 months, advancing from November 15, 2019, to February 1, 2021. This category, which grants permanent residency to immigrant investors, shows the largest forward shift among employment-based green cards this month. Other employment-based categories have experienced modest gains.

* EB-1 India: February 15, 2022 (unchanged)

* EB-2 India: January 1, 2013 (unchanged)

* EB-3 India: August 22, 2013 (previously May 22, 2013)

* Other Workers India: August 22, 2013 (previously May 22, 2013)

* EB-4 India: July 1, 2020

* EB-5 unreserved India: February 1, 2021 (previously November 15, 2019)

* EB-5 set-aside categories: Current

The bulletin also establishes Dates for Filing, which allow applicants to submit adjustment of status applications before their Final Action Date. For instance, EB-3 India’s filing date now stands at August 15, 2014, up from June 8, 2013.

Family-sponsored green card applicants from India benefit from strong forward movement in F2A, the category for spouses and children of permanent residents. The Final Action Date for F2A has jumped 17 months to February 1, 2024, from September 1, 2022. Other family-based dates are as follows:

* F1 (unmarried sons/daughters of US citizens): November 8, 2016 (was July 15, 2016)

* F2A: February 1, 2024 (was September 1, 2022)

* F2B (unmarried adult sons/daughters of permanent residents): November 22, 2016 (was October 15, 2016)

* F3 (married sons/daughters of US citizens): September 8, 2011 (was August 1, 2011)

* F4 (siblings of US citizens): November 1, 2006 (unchanged)

Dates for Filing for family-based visas have also been updated. F2A applicants can now submit paperwork starting September 22, 2025, up from June 1, 2025. Other categories remain largely stable.

The Visa Bulletin, released monthly by the US Department of State, provides guidance on when applicants can advance in the green card process.

* Dates for Filing: If your priority date is earlier than this, you may submit your green card application, though approval is not yet possible.

* Final Action Dates: When your priority date is before this date, the application can be processed for approval.

Applicants residing in the US may submit an adjustment of status application when their priority date is current. Those outside the US must apply through a US consulate for an immigrant visa.

The October bulletin confirms statutory limits for FY 2026:

* Family-sponsored visas: 226,000

* Employment-based visas: Minimum of 140,000

* Per-country cap: 7 per cent of combined annual limit, i.e., 25,620 visas

* Dependent area cap: 2 per cent, or 7,320 visas

The allocation rules influence how quickly applicants from highly oversubscribed countries like India can obtain green cards.