Visa Bulletin For February 2025: EB-3 Allocation Dates and Country Limits

The Department of State has released the February 2025 Visa Bulletin (Number 98, Volume X), which governs the availability of numerically limited immigrant visas for the month. The bulletin establishes both 'Final Action Dates' and 'Dates for Filing Applications,' which determine when applicants can submit documentation to the National Visa Center or file for adjustment of status with USCIS. For the fiscal year 2025, the worldwide employment-based preference immigrant limit is set at a minimum of 140,000 visas. The per-country cap, as prescribed under INA Section 202, is fixed at 7% of the combined family-sponsored and employment-based totals, equating to 25,620 visas per country annually. Four countries continue to be designated as oversubscribed chargeability areas: China (mainland born), India, Mexico, and the Philippines. Applicants chargeable to these countries face longer wait times due to high demand relative to available visa numbers, and their final action dates advance more slowly than for other countries. EB-3 applicants should consult the USCIS website at uscis.gov/visabulletininfo to confirm whether the 'Dates for Filing' chart is authorized for use in a given month. When USCIS determines that supply exceeds known demand, it may allow applicants to file earlier using the less restrictive filing chart. Priority date allocations in this bulletin were based on demand received by January 6, 2025. Applicants whose priority dates fall within the current final action dates should work with their attorneys to ensure documentation is complete and timely submitted to avoid missing their window.