The September 2025 Visa Bulletin from the U.S. Department of State reflects typical year-end tightening as FY 2025 closes on September 30. The Visa Office explicitly notes steady demand growth across the employment categories. It warns that several employment-based (EB) limits are expected to be reached in August–September, meaning some categories could be made “Unavailable (U)” at any point this month if annual numbers are exhausted.
Family-Sponsored Categories (Final Action): Still Slow, Mostly Sideways
- F1: July 15, 2016 (Most areas); Mexico: April 22, 2005; Philippines: July 15, 2012.
- F2A: September 1, 2022 (Most areas); Mexico: February 1, 2022.
- F2B: October 15, 2016 (Most areas); Mexico: April 1, 2007; Philippines: May 1, 2012.
- F3: August 1, 2011 (Most areas); Mexico: February 1, 2001; Philippines: May 1, 2004.
- F4: January 1, 2008 (Most areas); India: November 1, 2006; Mexico: March 15, 2001; Philippines: January 1, 2006.
Dates for Filing (Family): F2A remains far ahead at June 1, 2025, across all chargeability areas, with most other family dates holding steady.
Employment-Based Categories (Final Action): Tight Supply and “U” Risk
- EB-1: China: Nov 15, 2022; India: Feb 15, 2022; All others: Current.
- EB-2: Rest of World/Mexico/Philippines: Sept 1, 2023; China: Dec 15, 2020; India: Jan 1, 2013.
- EB-3: ROW/Mexico: Apr 1, 2023; Philippines: Feb 8, 2023; China: Dec 1, 2020; India: May 22, 2013.
- EB-3 Other Workers: ROW/Mexico/Philippines: Jul 8, 2021; China: May 1, 2017; India: May 22, 2013.
- EB-4 & Certain Religious Workers: Unavailable across all chargeability areas.
- EB-5 Unreserved: China: Dec 8, 2015; India: Nov 15, 2019; All others: Current.
- EB-5 Set-Asides (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure): Current for all countries.
Year-End Warning: The Visa Office expects EB limits to be met before September ends. Any category at its limit will be made “U” immediately.
Diversity Visa (DV-2025): Final Month, Numbers Tight
For September 2025, DV rank cut-offs increased again, but issuance must stop on September 30. Numbers could be exhausted earlier. Examples:
- Africa: 58,500 (Algeria 54,500; Egypt 52,000)
- Asia: 14,500 (Iran 11,000; Nepal 14,450)
- Europe: 23,000 (Russia 22,950; Uzbekistan 15,000)
- Oceania: 1,775
- South America/Caribbean: 2,825
October DV-2026 Start: Rank cut-offs reset for new year (e.g., Africa 17,500; Asia 10,000; Europe 7,750).
FY-2025 Numerical Limits
Family worldwide limit: 226,000. Employment-based: 150,037. Per-country limit: 7% of the combined total; dependent area: 2%.
Key Takeaways & Trends
- EB categories may close without notice if annual limits are reached.
- EB-1 remains Current for ROW but backlogged for India and China.
- EB-2/EB-3 under heavy demand; “U” possible before the month’s end.
- EB-4 stays Unavailable until October.
- EB-5 Set-Asides remain Current; a faster option where eligible.
- Family preferences continue to make slow, incremental progress.
- DV-2025 must finish processing by Sept 30, possibly earlier in some regions.
Projections for October 2025
- Fresh visa numbers may allow modest forward movement in EB-2/EB-3 ROW.
- India/China backlogs in EB-2/EB-3 likely to persist.
- EB-4 may reopen with a cutoff.
- EB-5 Set-Asides expected to remain Current early in FY-2026.
Filing Dates: What They Signal
Filing Dates for family and employment remain ahead of Final Action in many cases. USCIS will confirm which chart applies to AOS filings. This allows queue-building into FY-2026 even if approvals are limited in September.
Conclusion
September 2025 shows classic year-end squeeze: EB categories near limits, “U” a real risk, and family categories still inching forward. EB-5 Set-Asides remain an attractive option, while DV-2025 races the clock. With October’s reset approaching, strategic timing is critical.
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