The US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has released the Visa Bulletin for January 2025, providing crucial updates for green card applicants, with a notable focus on Indian applicants. This bulletin offers insights into the availability of immigrant visa numbers, which are vital for individuals waiting in the green card queue.

The limits for employment-based preference immigrants have been set at 140,000, while family-sponsored category immigrants have a cap of 226,000. As per USCIS, over a million Indians are waiting for green cards, with the backlog in employment-based categories projected to reach 2.19 million by 2030. It is estimated that this backlog will take around 195 years to clear.

Family-Sponsored Visas:

Indians, comprising a large and influential immigrant group in the US, will see progress in several family-sponsored visa categories:

• First Preference (F1): The final action date for Indian applicants advances from October 22, 2015, to November 22, 2015, with the filing date moving to September 1, 2017.
• Second Preference (F2A and F2B): The final action date for F2A (spouses and children of permanent residents) remains at January 1, 2022. For F2B (unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents), it advances to May 22, 2016, from May 1, 2016.
• Third Preference (F3): The final action date advances from April 15, 2010, to July 1, 2010, while the filing date moves to July 22, 2012.
• Fourth Preference (F4): The final action date moves from March 8, 2006, to April 8, 2006, and the filing date moves to August 15, 2006.

Employment-Based Visas:

Indian applicants in employment-based categories also see improvements:

• First Preference (EB-1): The final action date remains February 1, 2022, for priority workers.
• Second Preference (EB-2): The final action date advances from August 1, 2012, to October 1, 2012, for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability.
• Third Preference (EB-3): The final action date is December 1, 2012, up from November 8, 2012.
• Fourth Preference (EB-4): The final action date remains unchanged at January 1, 2021.
• Fifth Preference (EB-5): The final action date remains January 1, 2022.

These updates bring hope to many Indian applicants waiting for their green card approval, offering clearer timelines for both family-sponsored and employment-based categories.