USCIS Releases Q4 FY2025 Approval Data: EB-1A and EB-2 NIW Rates Drop Sharply

USCIS has released the long-awaited fourth quarter approval data for Fiscal Year 2025, completing the full-year picture after months of delay since January. The data reveals a notable downward trend in approval rates for several employment-based immigration categories across the fiscal year. For Q4 FY2025 specifically, the EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) approval rate dropped to 53.4%, while the EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) rate fell sharply to 35.7%. The O-1 visa category remained relatively stable at 92.7% for the quarter. These Q4 figures represent the lowest approval rates recorded across all four quarters of FY2025. Looking at the full fiscal year 2025 averages, the O-1 maintained a strong 93.9% approval rate, while EB-1A finished at 66.9% and EB-2 NIW at 55.2%. The quarterly breakdown shows a consistent decline from Q1 through Q4 for both EB-1A and EB-2 NIW categories, suggesting increasing adjudicatory scrutiny over the course of the year. While this data does not directly cover EB-3 petitions, the tightening standards observed in EB-1A and EB-2 NIW categories may signal a broader shift in USCIS adjudication posture that could affect employment-based immigration across preference categories. EB-3 applicants and their employers should be aware of this trend when preparing petitions and gathering supporting evidence.