US Visa Bulletin May 2025: Significant Retrogression for Indian Applicants
The US Visa Bulletin for May 2025 reveals significant retrogression for Indian applicants in the EB-5 category, moving the cutoff date back to May 1, 2019, while Chinese applicants’ dates remain unaffected. Other categories have minor changes. Trump’s administration continues to shape immigration policy amid high demand from various nationalities, complicating pathways for many.
The US Visa Bulletin for May 2025 has signaled troubling news for Indian visa applicants, particularly in the employment-based fifth preference (EB-5) category. The bulletin notes significant retrogression for Indian applicants, pushing the cutoff date back over six months to May 1, 2019. In contrast, the cutoff for Chinese applicants remains at January 22, 2014, highlighting the disparity in processing times.
The bulletin explains that the retrogression was necessitated by high demand from Indian applicants in the EB-5 unreserved category, compounded by increased demand from the Rest of World category, prompting adjustments to maintain adherence to the maximum allowed under the fiscal year 2025 limits.
Additionally, the bulletin provides updates for various employment-based categories. The EB-1 category remains unchanged for India at February 2, 2022, while China retains a cutoff of November 8, 2022. The EB-2 category remains constant, with cutoff dates at January 1, 2013, for India and October 1, 2020, for China. In the EB-3 category, India sees a slight advancement to April 15, 2013, whereas China’s date is November 1, 2020.
In the context of family-sponsored preference immigrants, the fiscal year 2025 limit is set to 226,000, with at least 140,000 slots for employment-based applicants. The per-country limit stands at 7% of total petitions, which translates to 25,620 visas for each country.
Visa retrogression occurs when the number of applicants exceeds the available visas, often evident as the fiscal year concludes, prompting adjustments. The US Department of State releases a monthly Visa Bulletin that indicates the cutoff dates for different nationalities, allowing applicants with earlier priority dates to apply for permanent residency.
Since President Trump resumed office in January 2025, immigration policy has regained significant attention, focusing on both legal and illegal immigration with an emphasis on high-skilled immigration policies. The administration’s “America First” agenda continues to impact who can enter or remain in the US, shaping the immigration landscape significantly.
The May 2025 US Visa Bulletin reflects a challenging situation for Indian visa applicants, particularly in the EB-5 category, with notable retrogression in processing dates. Other employment-based categories show minor adjustments, emphasizing a backlog for Indian applicants compared to their Chinese counterparts. With current immigration policies influenced by Trump’s administration, the landscape for high-skilled immigration continues to evolve, affecting thousands who aspire to the American dream.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
