US Visa Bulletin Brings Positive Updates for Indian Green Card Applicants

The January 2025 U.S. Visa Bulletin has brought good news for Indian nationals awaiting green cards, with progress in both family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories. This update is significant given the large number of Indian applicants in the green card queue.

Family-Sponsored Visa Categories

1. F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens):

The final action date has moved forward by one month, from October 22, 2015, to November 22, 2015.

2. F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents):

The date remains steady at January 1, 2022, offering stability for this category.

3. F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents):

Applicants benefit from slight progress, with the date advancing from May 1, 2016, to May 22, 2016.

4. F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens):

A significant leap of nearly two months, moving from April 15, 2010, to July 1, 2010.

5. F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens):

The final action date has shifted forward by one month, from March 8, 2006, to April 8, 2006.

Employment-Based Visa Categories

1. EB-1 (Priority Workers):

The final action date remains unchanged at February 1, 2022.

2. EB-2 (Advanced Degree Holders or Exceptional Ability):

Noticeable progress with the date moving forward from August 1, 2012, to October 1, 2012.

3. EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers):

The category has advanced from November 8, 2012, to December 1, 2012.

Why This Matters

Reduced Wait Times: The advancements indicate faster processing for certain applicants.
Challenges Persist: Despite these improvements, over one million Indians are still in the green card queue. Projections suggest the employment-based backlog could grow to 2.19 million by 2030, with some applicants potentially facing decades-long waits.

Key Takeaways

Applicants should stay updated via the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin for the latest developments.
Seeking guidance from immigration experts is highly recommended to navigate the complexities of the green card process.

This progress highlights some movement in addressing the backlog, but significant hurdles remain for Indian NRI green card applicants.

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