Understanding the Latest Immigration Updates and What They Mean for Your Application
The U.S. Department of State has released the December 2025 Visa Bulletin, bringing crucial updates for thousands of green card applicants. Whether you’re applying through family sponsorship or employment, understanding these changes could significantly impact your immigration timeline.
What Filing Charts Should You Use This Month?
USCIS has announced that both family-based and employment-based applicants must use the “Dates for Filing” charts for their adjustment of status applications in December 2025. This determination affects when eligible applicants can submit their applications.
Key Highlights: December 2025 Visa Bulletin
This month’s bulletin shows encouraging movement across multiple categories:
Family-Based Categories:
- Mexico’s F1 category advanced by 3 months
- Philippines F4 moved forward by 4 months
- Several other categories showed modest but positive movement
Employment-Based Categories:
- Strong EB-2 advancement across all countries
- EB-5 investor visas saw the largest gains:
- China advanced 7 months
- India advanced 5 months
- Consistent progress in EB-3 categories
Understanding Your Priority Date
Your priority date is the cornerstone of the green card process. This date typically corresponds to when your initial petition was filed with USCIS. If you’re uncertain about your priority date, review your Form I-797 Notice of Action or consult with an immigration attorney.
How Country Backlogs Affect Wait Times
Immigration demand varies significantly by country, creating backlogs that affect processing times. Countries with high application volumes—particularly China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines—often experience slower priority date movement. In some cases, dates may even move backward, a phenomenon called retrogression.
Family-Based Green Card Categories: December 2025 Updates
F-1: Unmarried Adult Children of U.S. Citizens (21+)
| Country | Current Cut-Off Date | Previous Date | Change |
| All Other Areas | November 8, 2016 | November 8, 2016 | No Change |
| China | November 8, 2016 | November 8, 2016 | No Change |
| India | November 8, 2016 | November 8, 2016 | No Change |
| Mexico | March 1, 2006 | November 22, 2005 | +3 Months |
| Philippines | January 22, 2013 | January 22, 2013 | No Change |
F-2A: Spouses and Minor Children of Green Card Holders
| Country | Current Cut-Off Date | Previous Date | Change |
| All Countries | February 1, 2024 | February 1, 2024 | No Change |
This category remains current across all countries with no movement from the previous month.
F-2B: Unmarried Adult Children of Green Card Holders (21+)
| Country | Current Cut-Off Date | Previous Date | Change |
| All Other Areas | December 1, 2016 | December 1, 2016 | No Change |
| Mexico | May 15, 2008 | December 15, 2007 | +5 Months |
| Philippines | October 8, 2012 | October 1, 2013 | +1 Week |
F-3: Married Children of U.S. Citizens
| Country | Current Cut-Off Date | Previous Date | Change |
| All Other Areas | September 8, 2011 | September 8, 2011 | No Change |
| Philippines | November 1, 2004 | September 22, 2004 | +1 Month |
F-4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens
| Country | Current Cut-Off Date | Previous Date | Change |
| All Other Areas | January 8, 2008 | January 8, 2008 | No Change |
| India | November 1, 2006 | November 1, 2006 | No Change |
Employment-Based Green Card Categories: December 2025 Updates
EB-1: Priority Workers
This category includes extraordinary ability individuals, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives.
| Country | Current Cut-Off Date | Previous Date | Change |
| All Other Areas | Current | Current | No Change |
| China | January 22, 2023 | December 22, 2022 | +1 Month |
| India | March 15, 2022 | February 15, 2022 | +1 Month |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No Change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No Change |
EB-2: Advanced Degree Professionals
Strong movement across all countries marks this category’s December update:
| Country | Current Cut-Off Date | Previous Date | Change |
| All Other Areas | February 1, 2024 | December 1, 2023 | +2 Months |
| China | June 1, 2021 | April 1, 2021 | +2 Months |
| India | May 15, 2013 | April 1, 2013 | +1.5 Months |
| Mexico | February 1, 2024 | December 1, 2023 | +2 Months |
| Philippines | February 1, 2024 | December 1, 2023 | +2 Months |
EB-3: Skilled Workers and Professionals
| Country | Current Cut-Off Date | Previous Date | Change |
| All Other Areas | April 15, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | +2 Weeks |
| China | April 1, 2021 | March 1, 2021 | +1 Month |
| India | September 22, 2013 | August 22, 2013 | +1 Month |
EB-4: Special Immigrants
All countries advanced uniformly by 2 months:
| All Countries | September 1, 2020 | July 1, 2020 | +2 Months |
EB-5: Immigrant Investors
The investor category showed the most significant advancement this month:
| Country | Current Cut-Off Date | Previous Date | Change |
| All Other Areas | Current | Current | No Change |
| China | July 15, 2016 | December 8, 2015 | +7 Months |
| India | July 1, 2021 | February 1, 2021 | +5 Months |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No Change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No Change |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Visa Bulletin
How accurate are wait time predictions? The Visa Bulletin cannot provide exact wait times. Processing speeds depend on your category, country of chargeability, and annual visa allocation. Tracking your category’s movement over several months helps establish realistic expectations.
What causes retrogression? When demand exceeds the annual visa supply for a particular category and country, priority dates may move backward. This typically happens when USCIS receives more applications than anticipated.
Can I check my case status? Yes, use your receipt number to check your case status on the USCIS website. For detailed information about your priority date, review your I-797 approval notice.
Next Steps for Applicants
If your priority date is current or approaching the cut-off date:
- Prepare your documentation – Gather required forms, supporting documents, and evidence
- Complete medical examination – Schedule your immigration medical exam with a USCIS-approved civil surgeon
- Monitor for updates – Check the monthly Visa Bulletin for any changes
- Consult an attorney – Consider professional guidance for complex cases
Tracking Your Immigration Journey
Understanding visa bulletin trends requires patience and consistent monitoring. Priority date movement varies monthly based on visa availability and application demand. Keep detailed records of your case, maintain copies of all correspondence, and stay informed about policy changes that might affect your application.
The December 2025 Visa Bulletin reflects continued processing of family and employment-based immigration cases. While wait times remain substantial for many categories, the overall movement indicates steady progress through the backlog.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and should not be considered legal advice. Consult with a qualified immigration attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
