What’s New in the September 2025 Visa Bulletin

What’s New in the September 2025 Visa Bulletin

Published by VisaLex | Updated: August 12, 2025

The U.S. Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for September 2025, and while many categories remain unchanged, there are a few important updates that green card applicants should know.

Key Changes This Month:

Family-Based Categories

  • F-2A (spouses and children of permanent residents): This category advanced by two months across all countries. This is welcome news for families waiting to reunite, as it means applicants in this category may move forward sooner.
  • F-3 (married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens – Philippines): This category progressed by five months, offering faster movement for long-waiting applicants from the Philippines.
  • All other family-based categories: No movement this month; they remain the same as in August.

Employment-Based Categories

  • No forward movement was reported in any of the employment-based categories. Cut-off dates remain unchanged from the prior month.
  • EB-4 (special immigrants): This category has reached its annual limit and is now unavailable until October 2025, when the new fiscal year begins. This temporary closure means applicants in this category will need to wait until visa numbers are reissued at the start of FY 2026.

Why This Matters

The Visa Bulletin serves as a monthly guide for applicants waiting in line for a green card. Movement in the charts indicates how quickly applicants can advance toward filing or approval.

  • For family-based applicants in F-2A and F-3 Philippines, September brings some encouraging progress.
  • For employment-based applicants, however, there’s little change — and for EB-4 applicants, the category is effectively paused until October.

Next Steps for Applicants

If your priority date is now current:

  • Inside the U.S.: You may be eligible to file for Adjustment of Status with USCIS.
  • Outside the U.S.: You may be able to apply for an immigrant visa through a U.S. consulate.

At VisaLex, we monitor these monthly updates closely to help our clients navigate when to take the next step. If your category advanced in September or you’re unsure how this affects your case, now is the time to review your options with an experienced immigration attorney.

Learn more: visalex.com

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