Visa Lawyer Blog

Articles Posted in National Visa Center

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pumpkin-5517221_1280We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the October 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of October, USCIS will be using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.

Highlights of the October 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of October?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

  • At the start of the new fiscal year in October, the Final Action Dates for several EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 countries will move forward, but none will advance by more than three and a half months, except for two notable exceptions:
    • EB-3 Other Workers China which will advance by 7 months and
    • The Final Action Date for EB-5 India will advance by almost 14 months

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Flickr Creative Commons Attribution Jeroen Akkermans

In the last months, the U.S. Department of State released two significant policy updates that impact both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants. These updates focus on a core change: applicants will now be required to have their visa interviews in their place of residence or country of nationality.

This change has significant consequences for third-country nationals who have traditionally applied for U.S. visas outside their country of nationality, particularly those renewing H-1B, E, O, and L visas, as well as immigrant visa applicants outside the United States.

Immigrant Visa Applicants Must Apply in their Country of Residence

On August 28, 2025, the State Department announced that, starting November 1, 2025, immigrant visa applicants must attend their interviews at a U.S. consulate or embassy located in their country of residence, or in their country of nationality, with limited exceptions. The update applies across all immigrant visa categories, including Diversity Visas.

There are exceptions to this rule, though they are limited. Exceptions may be granted in rare cases involving humanitarian or medical emergencies, or in circumstances involving specific foreign policy considerations. Applicants residing in countries where routine U.S. visa services have been suspended or paused will need to process their case at a designated consular post, which is typically assigned by the State Department to handle cases from those particular regions.

Existing appointments for immigrant visa interviews scheduled prior to November 1st will not be cancelled or rescheduled.

Same Policy Applies to Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants

A similar change was later announced on September 6, 2025, for nonimmigrant visa applicants. Effective immediately, nonimmigrant visa applicants must also apply for their visa in their country of residence or nationality. This means that individuals cannot simply choose a different country’s embassy based on convenience or shorter wait times unless they reside there or are citizens of that country. This applies to all third country nationals who previously traveled to embassies or consulates in Mexico or Canada to renew their nonimmigrant visas.

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We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the July 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will continue to use the Final Action Dates chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of July.

For family-sponsored preference categories, USCIS will also continue to use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of July.

Please click here for more information.

Highlights of the July 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of July?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • EB-1 China will advance by 1 week to November 15, 2022

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 China will advance by 2 weeks to December 15, 2020

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note-42883_1280-1We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the June 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will continue to use the Final Action Dates chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of June.

For family-sponsored preference categories, USCIS will also continue to use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of June.

Please click here for more information.

Highlights of the June 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of June?

Employment-Based Categories

Dates for Filing Advancements

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 China will advance by 2 months to January 1, 2021
  • EB-2 All countries, except India will advance by 3.5 months to November 15, 2023

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • EB-3 China will advance by 1.2 months to December 22, 2020

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 All countries, except India and China will advance by 1 month to July 22, 2021

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may-4999078_1280We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the May 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will continue to use the Final Action Dates chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of May.

For family-sponsored preference categories, USCIS will also continue to use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of May.

Please click here for more information.

Highlights of the May 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of May?

Employment-Based Categories

Dates for Filing Advancements

  • No change

Final Action Advancements & Retrogressions

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by 2 weeks to April 15, 2013

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by 2 weeks to April 15, 2013

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)

  • India will retrogress by 6 months to May 1, 2019

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boeing-159589_1280A new article published in the New York Times reveals the 43 countries that are reportedly included in President Trump’s new travel ban, expected to be released by executive order on Friday March 21st.

According to anonymous government sources, the White House is considering a draft proposal establishing partial or full suspensions on entry to the United States for countries falling into three different tiers: red, orange, and yellow.

The “red” list of countries includes nationals whose entry to the United States would be barred for a temporary period that is yet to be determined by the U.S. government including:

  • Afghanistan
  • Bhutan
  • Cuba
  • Iran
  • Libya
  • North Korea
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Venezuela and
  • Yemen

The draft proposal also includes an “orange” list of countries whose nationals would not be barred from the United States, but who must be properly vetted and screened at mandatory in-person visa interviews before gaining admission to the United States.

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calendar-162126_1280We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the April 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will continue to use the Final Action Dates chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of April.

For family-sponsored preference categories, USCIS will also continue to use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of April.

Please click here for more information.

Highlights of the April 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of April?

Employment-Based Categories

Dates for Filing Advancements

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 India will advance by 1 month to February 1, 2013
  • EB-2 China will advance by 1 month to November 1, 2020

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 1 month to June 22, 2021

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passport-159592_1280We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the February 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will use the Final Action Dates chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of February.

For family-sponsored preference categories, USCIS will use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of February.

Please click here for more information.

Highlights of the February 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of February?

Employment-Based Categories

Dates for Filing

  • No change from previous month 

Final Action Advancements

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 India will advance by two weeks to October 15, 2012

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by two weeks to December 15, 2012
  • EB-3 China will advance by one month to July 1, 2020

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by two weeks to December 15, 2012

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couple-7445474_1280Recently, the Department of State released guidance to assist U.S. Citizens petitioning for family members in Lebanon.

Here are the highlights:

  • To facilitate family reunification, full immigrant visa processing has resumed for Lebanese family members of U.S. citizens, at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
  • Routine nonimmigrant visa processing is not yet available. Individuals may apply for a nonimmigrant visa at any U.S. embassy or consulate.

Immigrant Visa Information

The National Visa Center (NVC) will directly email petitioners, beneficiaries, and representatives of spouses, children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens with approved I-130 petitions to provide an immigrant visa interview appointment date and instructions.  Applicants must check their email for updates.

Immigrant visa cases will continue to be processed according to the final action date published in the Visa Bulletin.  In November/December, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut will schedule visa interviews for currently eligible family preference immigrant visa cases and nonimmigrant Fiancé (K-1) visa cases.  

Case Transfers from Beirut to Other Embassies/Consulates

Individuals wishing to transfer their immigrant visa case from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to another U.S. embassy or consulate may contact NVC via the Public Inquiry Form and in the “Enter Your Inquiry Below” box, include:

    • The U.S. embassy or consulate where they would like their case transferred; and
    • Likely dates of travel and preferred date for a new appointment.

Applicants must arrange their own travel to an alternate embassy or consulate for their visa appointment, including complying with any visa requirements for entering that country to attend their visa appointment.

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interview-6956089_1280-1In this blog post, we discuss the release of the Department of State’s October 2024 Immigrant Visa Backlog report.

This is a monthly publication that provides data and statistics regarding the number of immigrant visa cases currently at the National Visa Center waiting for interviews, documentarily complete cases that have been scheduled for visa interviews, and those that are still awaiting visa interviews.

We also compare the increase in the backlog from September to October 2024.

According to the National Visa Center’s Immigrant Visa Backlog Report for the month of October 2024, there has been a modest decrease in the immigrant visa (IV) backlog from 385,800 pending cases in September to 363,242 cases in October — nearly a 5.8% decrease in the backlog.  

Additionally, when comparing the September and October Immigrant Visa backlogs, we can see that the number of immigrant visa applicants whose cases were declared documentarily complete and ready to be scheduled for interviews decreased by 17,846 cases, from 431,110 (in September) to 413,264 (in October).

Additionally, 50,022 applicants whose cases were documentarily complete were scheduled for interviews in the month of October (in comparison to just 45,310 in September).

  • A case is considered documentarily complete by the National Visa Center, when the applicant has paid all necessary fees and submits all necessary documents to meet the formal visa application requirements, such that the case is ready to be scheduled for a visa interview. When a case becomes documentarily complete, the NVC sends applicants an email to notify them that their case is complete and pending scheduling at the local Consulate or Embassy.

September 2024 Immigrant Visa Backlog Report

Number of IV applicants whose cases are documentarily complete at NVC and ready for interview as of August 31 431,110
Number of documentarily complete IV applicants scheduled for September 2024 interview appointments 45,310
Number of eligible IV applicants still pending the scheduling of an interview after September 2024 appointment scheduling was completed 385,800

October 2024 Immigrant Visa Backlog Report

Number of IV applicants whose cases are documentarily complete at NVC and ready for interview as of September 30 413,264
Number of documentarily complete IV applicants scheduled for October 2024 interview appointments 50,022
Number of eligible IV applicants still pending the scheduling of an interview after October 2024 appointment scheduling was completed 363,242

 Note: In Calendar Year 2019 on average, 60,866 applicants were pending the scheduling of an interview each month.

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