Visa Bulletin for May 2025: Employment-Based Preference Dates and Filing Guidance

The Department of State released the May 2025 Visa Bulletin, providing updated Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications for all numerically limited immigrant visa categories, including EB-3 employment-based visas for skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers. For the current fiscal year, the worldwide employment-based preference immigrant limit is set at a minimum of 140,000 visas. The per-country annual cap remains at 7% of the combined family-sponsored and employment-based limits, equating to 25,620 visas per country. This cap continues to create significant backlogs for applicants born in high-demand countries. Four chargeability areas remain oversubscribed as of May 2025: China (mainland born), India, Mexico, and the Philippines. Applicants born in these countries face longer waits due to per-country limits and high demand relative to available visa numbers. Applicants from all other countries are subject to worldwide dates, which are generally more current. Priority date allocations in this bulletin were based on documented demand received by April 3rd. Applicants are reminded to check the USCIS website at uscis.gov/visabulletininfo to confirm whether they may use the more favorable Dates for Filing charts or must rely on the Final Action Dates when filing adjustment of status applications. EB-3 applicants should review the specific cutoff dates for their country of birth and preference category in the full bulletin to determine current filing eligibility and monitor for any retrogression or advancement in upcoming months.