The U.S. Department of State has released the December 2025 Visa Bulletin, the latest update to the green card waiting list. This monthly bulletin visa USA helps green card applicants to understand how long they may need to wait to apply and receive approval.
In the U.S. Visa Bulletin, two key terms determine your next steps in the green card process:
- Final Action Date: The date when USCIS or the National Visa Center can approve your visa application and issue a green card.
- Dates for Filing: The date when you’re allowed to submit your application to USCIS or the National Visa Center for further processing.
The time gap between these two dates usually reflects the processing timeline by USCIS for each visa category.
If you’re waiting for a green card, the December 2025 update helps you track your progress and know how much longer you may need to wait before you can move forward.
December 2025 Visa Bulletin: Key Updates
The table below highlights date movements in Table B (Dates for Filing) in the December 2025 Visa Bulletin compared to last month.
Only categories with updates are shown — unchanged dates remain the same as in the November 2025 bulletin.
Review these updates to see if your priority date has moved forward and find out whether you’re now eligible to file your green card application.
Family-Based Green Card Updates
| Category | Region | Movement (Dec 2025) | Change Since Nov 2025 |
| F1 – Unmarried Children (21+) of U.S. Citizens | Mexico | Advanced | 144 Days |
| F2A – Spouses & Children (<21) of Green Card Holders | All | Advanced | 30 Days |
Employment-Based Green Card Updates
| Category | Region | Movement (Dec 2025) | Change Since Nov 2025 |
| EB-1 | Mainland China | Advanced | 5 Months |
| India | Advanced | 14 Months | |
| EB-2 | Mainland China | Advanced | 8 Months |
| India | Advanced | 8 Months | |
| Mexico | Advanced | 7 Months | |
| Philippines | Advanced | 7 Months | |
| Rest of the World | Advanced | 7 Months | |
| EB-3 | Mainland China | Advanced | 12 Months |
| India | Advanced | 12 Months | |
| Mexico | Advanced | 3 Months | |
| Rest of the World | Advanced | 3 Months |
A detailed chart with all category-specific dates is provided below for your reference.
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When to File an Adjustment of Status Application
If you want to become a U.S. permanent resident through a family-based or employment-based visa, an immigrant visa petition must first be filed on your behalf by a relative or employer. If no petition has been submitted for you yet, learn more about the Adjustment of Status process.
If a petition has already been filed or approved, you may need to wait until a visa becomes available in your category before applying with Form I-485. The table below will help you determine when to file your application based on your visa category.
Wondering how long it takes after your date becomes current? See our full guide to green card timelines in 2025.
USCIS decides which chart applicants should follow when submitting their applications. For December 2025, use the “Dates for Filing” chart for both family-sponsored green cards and employment-sponsored green cards.
If you find
- “C” on the chart is the current date and the numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants.
- “U” means unauthorized, the numbers mentioned are not authorized for issuance.
Are you new to “US Immigration Visa Bulletin” or “Final Action Date”? No worries. Immigration Direct prepared the guide on “How to Read the Visa Bulletin” for you. Learn today!
If you want to check the archive of the complete U.S. immigration visa bulletin, you can check by using Travel.State.Gov.
Family-Sponsored Preferences
Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Applications (December 2025)
| Family-Sponsored Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 08NOV16 | 08NOV16 | 08NOV16 | 01MAR06 | 22JAN13 |
| F2A | 01FEB24 | 01FEB24 | 01FEB24 | 01FEB23 | 01FEB24 |
| F2B | 01DEC16 | 01DEC16 | 01DEC16 | 15MAY08 | 08OCT12 |
| F3 | 08SEP11 | 08SEP11 | 08SEP11 | 01MAY01 | 01NOV04 |
| F4 | 08JAN08 | 08JAN08 | 01NOV06 | 08APR01 | 15JUL06 |
Dates For Filing Family-Sponsored Applications (December 2025)
| Family-Sponsored Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01MAR07 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | 22NOV25 | 22NOV25 | 22NOV25 | 22NOV25 | 22NOV25 |
| F2B | 08MAR17 | 08MAR17 | 08MAR17 | 15MAY09 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 01JUL01 | 01NOV05 |
| F4 | 01MAR09 | 01MAR09 | 15DEC06 | 30APR01 | 01JAN08 |
Employment-Based Preferences
Final Action Dates For Employment-Based Applications
(December 2025)
| Employment-Based Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 22JAN23 | 15MAR22 | C | C |
| 2nd | 01FEB24 | 01JUN21 | 15MAY13 | 01FEB24 | 01FEB24 |
| 3rd | 15APR23 | 01APR21 | 22SEP13 | 15APR23 | 15APR23 |
| Other Workers | 01AUG21 | 08DEC17 | 22SEP13 | 01AUG21 | 01AUG21 |
| 4th | 01SEP20 | 01SEP20 | 01SEP20 | 01SEP20 | 01SEP20 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01SEP20 | 01SEP20 | 01SEP20 | 01SEP20 | 01SEP20 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 15JUL16 | 01JUL21 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Dates for Filing Employment-Based Applications (December 2025)
| Employment-Based Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 15MAY23 | 15APR23 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15JUL24 | 01DEC21 | 01DEC13 | 15JUL24 | 15JUL24 |
| 3rd | 01JUL23 | 01JAN22 | 15AUG14 | 01JUL23 | 01JUL23 |
| Other Workers | 01DEC21 | 01OCT18 | 15AUG14 | 01DEC21 | 01DEC21 |
| 4th | 15FEB21 | 15FEB21 | 15FEB21 | 15FEB21 | 15FEB21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15FEB21 | 15FEB21 | 15FEB21 | 15FEB21 | 15FEB21 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 22JUL16 | 01APR22 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Diversity Immigrant (DV) Category
Every year Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) permits 55,000 immigrant visas annually through the Diversity Visa program. This number of visas from countries with low admissions over the past five years. 5,000 visas are reserved annually for the NACARA program, reducing the DV-2025 limit to roughly 54,850. These DV visas are distributed across six regions, with a cap of seven percent per country each year. Check more details about Diversity Visa lottery from our comprehensive guide.
December 2025 Immigrant Numbers in the DV Category
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
| AFRICA | 17,500 | Except: 1. Algeria: 17,250 2. Egypt: 16,000 |
| ASIA | 10,000 | Except: 1. Nepal: 6,000 |
| EUROPE | 7,750 | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 20 | |
| OCEANIA | 1,100 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 1,850 |
The Diversity (DV) Immigrant Category Rank Cut-offs (JANUARY 2026)
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
| AFRICA | 35,000 | Except: 1. Algeria: 20,000 2. Egypt: 16,000 |
| ASIA | 15,000 | Except: 1. Nepal: 6,000 |
| EUROPE | 8,500 | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 20 | |
| OCEANIA | 1,100 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 1,850 |
Why the Visa Bulletin Matters
Understanding the Visa Bulletin is essential if you’re applying for a green card. It helps you:
- Know when you can file your green card application
- Estimate how long you’ll need to wait
- Avoid premature filings that USCIS may reject
- Plan for travel, work authorization, and family transitions
When and How to Check the Visa Bulletin
Because the Visa Bulletin changes every month, it’s important to check it regularly to see if an immigrant visa is available in your category. The U.S. government limits the number of green cards each year, and wait times can be long due to high demand and country caps.
By reviewing the bulletin each month, you’ll know when your priority date becomes current, so you can file on time, avoid delays, and stay on track in your green card process.
Staying informed through the Visa Bulletin is one of the simplest ways to take control of your immigration journey.
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