Every month, the U.S. Department of State releases the Visa Bulletin, a publication that determines when individuals waiting for permanent residence (green cards) can move forward in their immigration process. For many of our clients, the Visa Bulletin can feel confusing, technical, and even emotional. It represents hope, frustration, progress, and sometimes long periods of waiting.

At Garvish Immigration Law Group, our goal is to act as your trusted guide through this process. Below is a simple explanation of how to read the Visa Bulletin, what’s new in the December 2025 edition, and what these changes may mean for you.

How to Read the Visa Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin contains two important charts for both family-based and employment-based green card categories:

  1. Final Action Dates (Chart A)

This chart tells you when a green card can actually be approved.
 If your priority date (the date your petition was filed) is earlier than the listed date, your case may move to final approval.

  1. Dates for Filing (Chart B)

This chart tells you when you are allowed to file your case in the U.S. (Adjustment of Status), even if a green card number is not yet available.


 Each month, USCIS announces which chart (Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing) we must use as we prepare to finalize cases for our clients. This information is listed here.

Why Priority Dates Matter

Your priority date is your “place in line.” The Visa Bulletin tells you how quickly that line is moving for your category and country of birth.

Country of Chargeability

Some countries—like India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines—have higher demand and face longer waiting times. The Bulletin lists separate dates for these countries.

December 2025: What’s New?

There is a mix of good news, modest progress, and continued long waits depending on your country and category. Here’s what stands out:

Employment-Based (EB) Green Cards

Overall, we see forward movement, especially in the Final Action Dates, with no major retrogressions. This is positive news for employment-based immigrants.

  • EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors/Researchers, Multinational Managers)
    • India advances to March 15, 2022
       
    • China advances to January 22, 2023
       
    • All other countries remain current

What this means: If you are an EB-1 candidate from India or China, we are seeing slow but steady advancement.

  • EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals, National Interest Waivers)
    • India: moves to May 15, 2013
       
    • China: now at June 1, 2021
       
    • All other countries: at February 1, 2024

What this means: Backlogs remain significant for India and China, but forward movement is encouraging.

  • EB-3 (Professionals & Skilled Workers)
    • India: September 22, 2013
       
    • China: April 1, 2021
       
    • All other countries: April 15, 2023

What this means: EB-3 continues to move, but India and China remain backlogged.

  • EB-5 (Investors – Unreserved Categories)
    • India: advances to July 1, 2021
       
    • China: moves to July 15, 2016
       
    • All other countries: remain current

Dates for Filing: Mostly unchanged from November, except EB-5 China, which advanced slightly.

Family-Sponsored Green Cards

Family categories see smaller, incremental changes. For many families—especially from Mexico and the Philippines—wait times remain painfully long.

Some movements include:

  • F-1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens):
     

    • Mexico moves forward to March 1, 2006
       
  • F-2B (Unmarried adult children of permanent residents):
     

    • Mexico moves to May 15, 2008
       
    • Philippines moves to October 8, 2012
       
  • F-3 (Married adult children of U.S. citizens):
     

    • Philippines advances to November 1, 2004
       
  • Dates for Filing:
     

    • F-2A (spouses and young children of permanent residents) moves forward by one month 

What this means: Progress is modest. Families from oversubscribed countries continue to experience long backlogs.

What to Expect Moving Forward

As we close out 2025 and move into the next fiscal cycle, here’s what we are watching:

  • Employment categories for most countries may continue to advance if visa numbers remain available. 
  • Oversubscribed countries (India, China, Mexico, Philippines) are likely to continue seeing slow progress. 
  • No major retrogressions this month, which is encouraging. 
  • USCIS is honoring the Dates for Filing chart for December, keeping some filing windows open. 

We anticipate continued gradual forward movement in early 2026 unless demand spikes unexpectedly.

Our Guidance to Clients

  • Check your priority date against both charts. You may be eligible to file even if you are not yet eligible for approval.
     
  • Move quickly if your category becomes current because these windows can shift. 
  • Stay connected with our team. We monitor the Visa Bulletin monthly and will guide you if your date moves forward. 

Don’t lose hope. Many of our clients wait years, but movement is happening. We’re here to walk that journey with you.