The June 2025 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State, brings little cheer for Indian nationals eagerly awaiting their green cards. The bulletin reveals that the significant delays and backlogs that have plagued Indian applicants in both family-sponsored and employment-based categories are set to continue. This is primarily due to the oversubscription in these categories, with demand far exceeding the limited number of visas available.
For employment-based green cards, which are highly sought after by Indian professionals, the bulletin shows minimal movement in priority dates for key categories such as EB-2 (Advanced Degrees) and EB-3 (Skilled Workers). Specifically, the EB-2 category remains stuck at January 1, 2013, unchanged from the previous month. This means that Indian professionals with approved EB-2 petitions and a priority date on or before January 1, 2013, are eligible to proceed with the final steps of their green card application. However, for the vast majority of Indian applicants in this category, the wait continues to be agonizingly long, potentially stretching to over a decade. The "Dates for Filing" for EB-2 is slightly ahead at February 1, 2013, allowing those with earlier priority dates to submit their paperwork.
The EB-3 category sees a slight advancement to April 15, 2013, from March 2013, offering a glimmer of hope, albeit a small one. While any forward movement is welcome, the backlogs in this category also remain substantial. The filing date for EB-3 is June 8, 2013.
Even the EB-1 category (Priority Workers), which includes individuals with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives and managers, is experiencing significant delays for Indian applicants. The cutoff date for India remains at February 15, 2022, indicating that even those with exceptional qualifications are facing extended waiting times. The rise in EB1C approvals, targeting multinational executives and managers, has further affected the EB1 pool, impacting all subcategories (EB1A, EB1B, and EB1C) due to the shared visa cap.
In the family-sponsored categories, the situation is similarly challenging. In the F4 category (brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens), the final action date for India is June 15, 2006. In the F1 category (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens), the date stands at June 8, 2016.
Several factors contribute to these persistent delays. A primary driver is the 7% per-country cap on green cards, mandated by the Immigration and Nationality Act. This rule allocates the same number of visas to each country, regardless of its population or the demand for visas from its citizens. For India, with its massive population and a large number of skilled workers seeking permanent residency in the U.S., this per-country limit creates a significant bottleneck. With over a million Indian applicants in the green card queue, mainly in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories, the annual limit of approximately 140,000 employment-based visas is simply insufficient to meet the demand.
The complexities of visa processing, backlogs from previous years, and the overall volume of applications further exacerbate the problem. Changes in immigration policies and processing speeds at USCIS also play a role in the delays.
For Indian green card aspirants, the June 2025 Visa Bulletin underscores the need for patience and careful planning. Staying informed about visa bulletin updates, ensuring that all documents are up to date, and exploring options such as cross-chargeability (if eligible) are crucial steps. While the waiting times are undoubtedly frustrating, remaining vigilant and proactive can help navigate the complexities of the U.S. immigration system. Experts suggest that significant movement in the dates is unlikely until October 2025, when the new fiscal year begins and a new set of visas becomes available.
