This week, the U.S. Department of State released the September 2025 Visa Bulletin (see here), concluding FY2025 with no changes for either the Unreserved or Reserved EB-5 categories in the last month of the current fiscal year.
FY2025 has been a volatile year for pre-RIA EB-5 applicants from China and India. In October 2024, the first month of FY2025, the Unreserved EB-5 final action date advanced by 213 days for China-born applicants and 396 days for Indian-born applicants (see here). However, in April and May 2025, the cut-off dates retrogressed drastically, moving back 905 days for China and a total of 976 days for India (see here). In August, pre-RIA Chinese applicants saw a 685-day advancement in their cut-off date, while pre-RIA Indian applicants enjoyed a 198-day advancement (see here). Overall, compared to September 2024, the FY2025 cut-off date for Unreserved EB-5 applicants retrogressed by 7 days for China and moved back 382 days for India. The chart below illustrates the month-by-month changes in final action dates for Unreserved EB-5 applicants from China and India, showing the volatile movements in this fiscal year.
As anticipated, all Reserved EB-5 categories have remained “current” throughout FY2025. Our analysis found that since the implementation of the Reform and Integrity Act, USCIS has adjudicated only 1,620 I-526E and I-526 cases, approving fewer than 500 cases in the first half of FY2025 (see here). Consequently, only 9% of available visas in the Rural Area category and 8% in the High Unemployment Area category were issued through May 2025 (see here). Depending on the pace of visa usage through adjustment of status at USCIS, it is highly likely that a portion of carryover Reserved visas will go unused in FY2025.
EB-5 FINAL ACTION DATES (CHART A)
The September Visa Bulletin revealed the following final action dates for EB-5 visa applicants:
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Unreserved EB-5 Visa Categories:
- China: December 8, 2015 (unchanged from the August Visa Bulletin)
- India: November 15, 2019 (unchanged from the August Visa Bulletin)
- All Other Countries: “Current”
-
Reserved EB-5 Visa Categories:
- All Countries: “Current”
(Chart A on the September 2025 Visa Bulletin)
EB-5 DATES FOR FILING (CHART B)
All Reserved EB-5 categories remain “current” across the board, confirming that there are no cutoff dates for applicants in these categories in September.
For the Unreserved EB-5 category, the Dates for Filing remain “current” for all applicants in the last month of FY2025, except for those born in China or India:
- For Chinese applicants: October 1, 2016 (unchanged from the August Visa Bulletin);.
- For Indian applicants: April 1, 2022 (unchanged from the August Visa Bulletin).
(Chart B on the September 2025 Visa Bulletin)
USCIS AOS Filing Charts for September 2025
According to USCIS, in September, the agency will continue to accept only Chart A (Final Action Dates) for employment-based adjustment of status (AOS) applications, meaning the window to use Chart B (Dates for Filing) will remain closed in the upcoming month. See below for USCIS’ announcement on its website:
Next Month’s Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
For Employment-Based Preference Filings:
For all employment-based preference categories, you must use the Final Action Dates chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for September 2025.
Have you explored IIUSA’s EB-5 Visa Data Dashboard? This powerful tool offers comprehensive insights into EB-5 visa usage, including:
- Year-to-date issuances for Fiscal Year 2025,
- Historical trends in visa number availability versus usage,
- Country-specific statistics on EB-5 green card issuances, and
- Much more.
Stay informed with the latest data to support your decision-making and analysis.
