USA Visa Updates Released for July 2025 for New and Existing Applicants
If you’re applying for a U.S. immigrant visa — or waiting for your priority date to become current — the June 2025 Visa Bulletin brings both optimism and caution. Released by the U.S. Department of State, this monthly bulletin outlines when immigrant visa numbers are available under family-based, employment-based, and diversity visa categories.
Here’s your comprehensive, easy-to-digest guide to what matters this month for new and existing visa applicants.
Understanding the Visa Bulletin
The Visa Bulletin provides two key dates:
- Final Action Dates – When a visa may be issued or adjustment of status may be approved.
- Dates for Filing – When applicants can begin submitting their paperwork to the National Visa Center or USCIS.
Let’s dive into the major updates for June 2025.
Family-Based Visa Highlights
Category to Watch: F2A (Spouses & Children of Permanent Residents)
- Final Action Date: 01 January 2022 for most countries (Mexico: 15 May 2021)
- Filing Date: 01 February 2025 (all countries)
This is good news! The F2A category continues to be one of the most favorable, allowing many applicants to move forward with their green card process.
Other Family Categories continue to face heavy backlogs, particularly for:
1# F1 (Unmarried Adult Children of U.S. Citizens)
-
- India, China, and general: 08 June 2016
- Mexico: 22 April 2005
2# F3 (Married Children of U.S. Citizens)
-
- India and China: 22 June 2011
- Mexico: 15 January 2001
3# F4 (Siblings of U.S. Citizens)
-
- India: 15 June 2006
- Mexico: 15 March 2001
Key Tip: If you’re in the F2A category — act fast. If you’re in other family categories, be prepared for extended waits.
Employment-Based Visa Updates
The employment-based visa categories in the June 2025 Visa Bulletin reveal a mixed picture, with some categories progressing steadily while others remain significantly backlogged—particularly for Indian and Chinese nationals.
| Category | Country | Final Action Date | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (Priority Workers) | India | 15 February 2022 | Backlogged |
| China | 08 November 2022 | Backlogged | |
| All Others | Current | Can proceed immediately | |
| EB-2 (Advanced Degree Holders / Exceptional Ability) | India | 01 January 2013 | Significant backlog |
| China | 01 December 2020 | Moderate backlog | |
| Rest of World | 15 October 2023 | Favorable | |
| EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals) | India | 15 April 2013 | Severe backlog |
| China | 22 November 2020 | Backlogged | |
| Rest of World | 08 February 2023 | Favorable | |
| EB-4 (Certain Special Immigrants) | All Countries | Unavailable | Visa numbers exhausted for FY 2025 |
| EB-5 (Investor Visas – Unreserved Category) | India | 01 May 2019 | Delayed |
| China | 22 January 2014 | Heavily backlogged | |
| All Others | Current | Can proceed | |
| EB-5 (Set-aside: Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure) | All Countries | Current | Fastest route for investor green cards |
US Diversity Visa 2026: The Clock Is Ticking
In the June 2025 Visa Bulletin, the U.S. Department of State has published the latest regional cut-off numbers for the Diversity Visa (DV) 2025 program, and time is quickly running out for selected applicants. As of June, the maximum rank number cutoffs stand at 42,500 for Africa, though some countries like Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco have slightly lower caps.
In the Asia region, the cutoff is 8,250, with Iran and Nepal capped at 8,000. Europe’s cutoff is listed at 17,500, with Uzbekistan restricted to 10,250. For the South America and Caribbean region, the limit is 2,300, while Oceania has a cap of 1,550.
Looking ahead, July brings a modest increase across the board. The Africa region’s cutoff will rise to 45,000, Asia to 9,000, and Europe to 19,000, giving more DV selectees a chance to proceed with visa interviews and issuance. However, this comes with an urgent reminder: all DV-2025 visas must be issued by September 30, 2025.
After this deadline, any unused slots are permanently lost—even for those who were selected but did not complete processing in time. Given that demand typically surges toward the end of the fiscal year, applicants are strongly encouraged to act quickly, schedule their interviews, and ensure all documents are ready to avoid missing their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Other Key Notes for Applicants
- Per-Country Cap: 7% limit still applies, affecting India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines the most.
- Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs): New changes under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA 2024) may affect U.S. Government employees abroad — contact your embassy if relevant.
- Backlogs for India & China: Across almost every employment-based category, applicants from India and China face some of the longest delays.
Priority Filing Tips
Always check USCIS’s Visa Bulletin Info Page to confirm whether Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing apply to your case. This determines when you can apply for Adjustment of Status within the U.S.
✅ Summary for Applicants
| Visa Category | Current Status | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| F2A Family Visas | Favorable | Apply ASAP |
| EB-1 (non-India/China) | Current | Proceed to application |
| EB-2 / EB-3 (India) | Severe backlog (10+ years) | Expect long delays |
| EB-4 | Unavailable | Wait for update or change category |
| EB-5 (Reserved) | Wide open across all countries | Consider if eligible |
| DV-2025 Lottery | Processing rapidly | Secure your interview before Sept 30 |