October Visa Bulletin 2025: Employment-Based Preferences - Kodem Law
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October Visa Bulletin 2025: Employment-Based Preferences

The October 2025 Visa Bulletin released by the U.S. Department of State reflects significant movement from the September 2025 Visa Bulletin in terms of Employment-Sponsored Preferences. The September Visa Bulletin 2025 Employment-Sponsored Preferences has been released by the U.S. Department of State. USCIS has confirmed that the Dates for Filing chart will be used for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status applications in October 2025.

Dates for Filing for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications

Employment-Based Categories

Employment-BasedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA-mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
1stC15-May-2315-Apr-23CC
2nd15-Jul-2401-Dec-2101-Dec-1315-Jul-2415-Jul-24
3rd01-Jul-2301-Jan-2215-Aug-1401-Jul-2301-Jul-23
Other Workers01-Dec-2101-Oct-1815-Aug-1401-Dec-2101-Dec-21
4th15-Feb-2115-Feb-2115-Feb-2115-Feb-2115-Feb-21
Certain Religious WorkersUUUUU
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)C01-Jul-1601-Apr-22CC
5th Set Aside (Rural: NR, RR – 20%)CCCCC
5th Set Aside (High Unemployment: NH, RH – 10%)CCCCC
5th Set Aside (Infrastructure: RI – 2%)CCCCC

Note: “C” denotes “Current”

Dates for Filing - September 2025 and October 2025 Visa Bulletin Comparison

EB1- First Preference Category (Priority Workers)

 
Country/Area
September 2025
October 2025
Change
All ChargeabilityCurrentCurrentNo change
China (Mainland)01-Jan-2315-May-23Advanced by 4 months and 14 days 
India15-Apr-2215-Apr-23Advanced by 1 year
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change

EB2- Second Preference Category (Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability)

Country/Area

September 2025

October 2025

Change

All Chargeability15-Nov-2315-Jul-24Advanced by 8 months 
China (Mainland)01-Jan-2101-Dec-21Advanced by 11 month 
India01-Feb-1301-Dec-13Advanced by 10 months 
Mexico15-Nov-2315-Jul-24Advanced by 8 months 
Philippines15-Nov-2315-Jul-24Advanced by 8 months 

EB3 – Third Preference Category (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)

Country/Area

September 2025 

October 2025Change
All Chargeability Areas01-May-2301-Jul-23Advanced by 2 months
China (Mainland)22-Dec-2001-Jan-22Advanced by 1 year and 10 days 
India08-Jun-1315-Aug-14Advanced by 1 year, 2 months and 7 days 
Mexico01-May-2301-Jul-23Advanced by 2 months
Philippines01-May-2301-Jul-23Advanced by 2 months

EB4 – Fourth Preference Category (Certain Special Immigrants)

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All Chargeability Areas01-Feb-2115-Feb-21Advanced by 14 days 
China (Mainland)01-Feb-2115-Feb-21Advanced by 14 days 
India01-Feb-2115-Feb-21Advanced by 14 days 
Mexico01-Feb-2115-Feb-21Advanced by 14 days 
Philippines01-Feb-2115-Feb-21Advanced by 14 days 

EB5 – Fifth Preference Category (5th) Unreserved: Employment Creation Investors (including C5, T5, I5, R5)

Country/AreaSeptember 2025 October 2025Change
All Chargeability AreasCurrentCurrentNo change
China (Mainland)01-Oct-1601-Jul-16Retrogressed by 3 months
India01-Apr-2201-Apr-22No change
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change

EB5 – Fifth Preference Category Set Aside for Rural Areas (20%)

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All ChargeabilityCurrentCurrentNo change
China (Mainland)CurrentCurrentNo change
IndiaCurrentCurrentNo change
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change

EB5 – Fifth Preference Category Set Aside for High Unemployment Areas (10%):

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All Chargeability AreasCurrentCurrentNo Change
China (Mainland)CurrentCurrentNo Change
IndiaCurrentCurrentNo Change
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo Change
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo Change

EB5 – Fifth Preference Category Set Aside for Infrastructure (2%):

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All Chargeability AreasCurrentCurrentNo change
China (Mainland)CurrentCurrentNo change
IndiaCurrentCurrentNo change
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change

Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications

Employment-BasedAll Chargeability Areas CHINA-mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
1stC22-Dec-2215-Feb-22CC
2nd01-Dec-2301-Apr-2101-Apr-1301-Dec-2301-Dec-23
3rd01-Apr-2301-Mar-2122-Aug-1301-Apr-2301-Apr-23
Other Workers15-Jul-2101-Dec-1722-Aug-1315-Jul-2115-Jul-21
4th

01-Jul-20

01-Jul-2001-Jul-2001-Jul-2001-Jul-20
Certain Religious Workers

U

UUUU
5th Unreserved
(including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU)		C08-Dec-1501-Feb-21CC
5th Set Aside:
Rural (20%, including NR, RR)		CCCCC
5th Set Aside:
High Unemployment (10%, including NH, RH)		CCCCC
5th Set Aside:
Infrastructure (2%, including RI)		CCCCC

Note:

  • “C” denotes “Current”
  • “U” denotes “Unavailable”

Final Action Dates - September 2025 and October 2025 Visa Bulletin Comparison

EB1 – First Preference Category (Priority Workers):

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All ChargeabilityCurrentCurrentNo change
China (Mainland)15-Nov-2222-Dec-22No change
India15-Feb-2215-Feb-22No change
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo change
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo change

EB2 – Second Preference Category (Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability):

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All Chargeability01-Sep-2301-Dec-23Advanced by 3 months
China (Mainland)15-Dec-2001-Ap-21Advanced by 3 months and 17 days 
India01-Jan-1301-Apr-13Advanced by 3 months 
Mexico01-Sep-2301-Dec-23Advanced by 3 months
Philippines01-Sep-2301-Dec-23Advanced by 3 months

EB3 – Third Preference Category (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers):

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All Chargeability01-Apr-2301-Apr-23No change
China (Mainland)01-Dec-2001-Mar-21Advanced by 3 months 
India22-May-1322-Aug-13Advanced by 3 months
Mexico01-Apr-2301-Apr-23No change
Philippines08-Feb-2301-Apr-23Advanced by 1 month and 24 days 

EB4 – Fourth Preference Category (Certain Special Immigrants):

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All Chargeability

U

01-Jul-20U
China (Mainland)U01-Jul-20U
IndiaU01-Jul-20U
MexicoU01-Jul-20U
PhilippinesU01-Jul-20U

EB5 – Fifth Preference Category Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5):

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All ChargeabilityCurrentCurrentNo Change
China (Mainland)08-Dec-1508-Dec-15No Change
India15-Nov-1901-Feb-21Advanced by 1 year, 2 months and 17 days
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo Change
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo Change

EB5 – Fifth Preference Category Set Aside for Rural Areas (20%):

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All ChargeabilityCurrentCurrentNo Change
China (Mainland)CurrentCurrentNo Change
IndiaCurrentCurrentNo Change
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo Change
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo Change

EB5 – Fifth Preference Category Set Aside for High Unemployment Areas (10%):

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All ChargeabilityCurrentCurrentNo Change
China (Mainland)CurrentCurrentNo Change
IndiaCurrentCurrentNo Change
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo Change
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo Change

EB5 – Fifth Preference Category Set Aside for Infrastructure (2%):

Country/AreaSeptember 2025October 2025Change
All ChargeabilityCurrentCurrentNo Change
China (Mainland)CurrentCurrentNo Change
IndiaCurrentCurrentNo Change
MexicoCurrentCurrentNo Change
PhilippinesCurrentCurrentNo Change

At Kodem Law, we handle employment-based adjustment of status with expertise, ensuring a seamless application process. Book an appointment today for all your immigration needs!

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