Outlook Business Desk
The US Visa Bulletin for October 2025 shows significant progress for Indian applicants in the first bulletin of the 2026 fiscal year starting October 1. The Final Action Date for Indian EB-5 (unreserved) applications advances by nearly 15 months, with other employment-based categories also making modest gains.
The US Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin every month. It informs green card applicants when they can proceed with filing applications or have their cases processed.
For Indian EB-5 (unreserved) applicants, the Final Action Date moves forward by almost 15 months, from 15 November 2019 to 1 February 2021. Other employment-based categories also show steady but smaller progress.
You can submit your green card application as soon as your priority date falls before the listed filing date. This step only allows document submission; final approval and card issuance will occur later.
If your priority date is earlier than the final action date, your application can move forward. Applicants in the US can adjust their status, while those overseas must apply for an immigrant visa at a US consulate.
The EB-5 programme, also called the immigrant investor visa, allows investors to get a green card. In October 2025, the EB-5 India Final Action Date moves forward by over a year, showing significant progress in the bulletin.
The bulletin records the following employment-based visa dates for India: EB-1: 15 Feb 2022 (unchanged), EB-2: 1 Jan 2013 (unchanged), EB-3 & Other Workers: 22 Aug 2013 (was 22 May 2013), EB-4: 1 July 2020, EB-5 unreserved: 1 Feb 2021 (was 15 Nov 2019), EB-5 set-aside categories: Current. Filing dates also allow earlier applications, e.g., EB-3 filing date is 15 Aug 2014 (was 8 June 2013).
In family categories, the biggest change is for F2A, covering spouses and children of permanent residents. Its Final Action Date jumps 17 months, from 1 September 2022 to 1 February 2024. Other India dates include F1: 8 Nov 2016, F2B: 22 Nov 2016, F3: 8 Sep 2011, and F4: 1 Nov 2006.
The bulletin also sets Dates for Filing for family categories. F1: 1 Sep 2017; F2A: 22 Sep 2025 (was 1 June 2025); F2B: 1 Jan 2017; F3: 22 Jul 2012; F4: 1 Dec 2006. It also outlines the overall visa limits for the 2026 financial year.
The US sets visa limits for 2026, allotting 226,000 family-sponsored immigrant visas and at least 140,000 employment-based visas. Each country can receive up to 7% of the total visas (25,620), while dependent areas are capped at 2% (7,320 visas).