USCIS FY2025 Q4 Approval Rates Drop Sharply for EB-1A and EB-2 NIW

USCIS has released its fourth quarter approval rate data for Fiscal Year 2025, revealing a notable decline in approval rates for several employment-based immigration categories. The data, which had been anticipated since January, shows a continuing downward trend across Q3 and Q4 for both the EB-1A Extraordinary Ability and EB-2 National Interest Waiver categories. For the full fiscal year 2025, the EB-1A category held an overall approval rate of 66.9%, while the EB-2 NIW came in at 55.2%. The O-1 nonimmigrant visa remained relatively stable at 93.9% for the year. However, Q4 figures paint a more concerning picture: EB-1A approvals fell to 53.4% and EB-2 NIW dropped to just 35.7% — the lowest quarterly figures recorded in the dataset. The quarterly breakdown shows a consistent decline beginning in Q3. EB-1A approval rates fell from 74.8% in Q1 to 53.4% by Q4, while EB-2 NIW dropped from 62.7% in Q1 to 35.7% in Q4. The O-1 category showed greater stability, declining only marginally from 94.4% to 92.7% over the same period. While this data covers EB-1A and EB-2 NIW rather than EB-3 directly, the broader trend of tightening USCIS adjudication standards may have implications across employment-based categories. Applicants and their attorneys should monitor for similar trends in EB-3 processing and prepare petitions with comprehensive documentation. This data was shared by Manifest Law as general information and does not constitute legal advice.