Green Card Update: India EB3 Category Sees 1-Month Progress in US August Visa Bulletin

The US August 2025 Visa Bulletin reveals a modest update for Indian applicants, with the EB-3 employment-based green card category advancing by one month. However, other categories, such as EB-1 and EB-2, show no change, while the EB-5 Unreserved category experiences a notable forward movement.

EB3 for India Moves Forward by One Month

According to the US State Department, the Final Action Date for Indian applicants under the EB-3 employment-based category has advanced from April 22, 2013, to May 22, 2013. This marks the only employment-based category for India showing positive movement this month. The EB-2 category holds steady at January 1, 2013, while EB-1 remains frozen at February 15, 2022. This minor advancement reflects growing demand pressures and nearing visa cap limits.

EB5 Unreserved Category Progresses Significantly

India’s EB-5 Unreserved category saw substantial movement, advancing over 6 months to reach November 15, 2019. Meanwhile, the EB-5 Set-Aside subcategories for Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure continue to remain ‘current’—indicating unrestricted application eligibility regardless of filing date.

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Potential Retrogression Alerts from the State Department

The State Department issued a cautionary note, suggesting potential retrogression or unavailability for EB-2 and EB-3 in September 2025 if current demand exceeds availability. This means that if the annual limit is reached, further approvals may be halted temporarily, affecting applicants awaiting final approvals in these categories.

Family-Sponsored Green Card Dates Mostly Static

Family-based preferences for Indian nationals remain mostly unchanged. The F4 category experienced the only movement, shifting to November 1, 2006, from July 8, 2006. All other preference categories, including F1, F2A, F2B, and F3, held steady on both Final Action and Filing Date charts.

Conclusion

The August 2025 Visa Bulletin brings a small reprieve for Indian EB-3 green card hopefuls with a one-month advancement. However, with static dates in other categories and rising demand levels, prospects for swift progress remain uncertain as the fiscal year end draws closer.

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