February 2025 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 and EB-3 Advancements for Indians, Green Card Delays Persist

The U.S. Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for February 2025, which provides updates on the availability of green cards for various employment-based categories. This bulletin is particularly important for Indian nationals seeking permanent residency in the United States, as it outlines the progression of priority dates that determine eligibility for green card issuance.

Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1):

The EB-1 category is designated for individuals with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors or researchers, and certain multinational executives or managers. For Indian applicants, the priority date remains unchanged at February 1, 2022. 

This means that only those Indian nationals with a priority date earlier than February 1, 2022, are eligible for final processing in this category.

Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2):

The EB-2 category includes professionals holding advanced degrees or individuals with exceptional ability. For Indian applicants, there is a slight advancement in the priority date to October 15, 2012. This indicates a modest progression, allowing applicants with priority dates earlier than October 15, 2012, to move forward in the green card process.

Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3):

The EB-3 category covers skilled workers, professionals, and other workers. For Indian nationals, the priority date has advanced to December 15, 2012. This two-week progression offers a small but positive movement for applicants in this category, enabling those with priority dates before December 15, 2012, to proceed with their applications.

Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5):

The EB-5 category is for immigrant investors who invest substantial capital in a new commercial enterprise in the United States, creating jobs for U.S. workers. For Indian applicants, the priority date remains at January 1, 2022, with no advancement noted in this bulletin. However, certain set-aside categories within EB-5, such as Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure projects, remain current, allowing eligible Indian investors in these subcategories to proceed without delays.

Understanding Priority Dates and the Visa Bulletin:

A priority date is generally the date when an applicant's employer files a labor certification application on their behalf or, in certain cases, when the immigrant petition is filed. The Visa Bulletin, published monthly by the U.S. Department of State, indicates which priority dates have become current, meaning those applicants are now eligible to apply for adjustment of status or immigrant visas.

The slight advancements in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories for Indian nationals, as reported in the February 2025 Visa Bulletin, provide a glimmer of hope for applicants amidst ongoing backlogs. However, the persistent delays, particularly in high-demand categories like EB-1 and EB-5, underscore the challenges faced by many in the pursuit of permanent residency in the United States.

Applicants are advised to regularly check the U.S. Department of State's official website for the most current information and to consult with immigration professionals to understand how these updates may impact their individual cases.