What changed in the December 2025 bulletin
Compared with last month, 6 of 50 employment-based cut-off dates moved forward, 0 moved back and 44 stayed put. The biggest advances: Certain Religious Workers for most countries (became available again), Certain Religious Workers China (became available again), Certain Religious Workers India (became available again) and Certain Religious Workers Mexico (became available again).[1]
Against last month: 5 family-sponsored dates advanced, 0 retrogressed, 20 held. The biggest advances: F2A for most countries (+31 days to 22 Nov 2025), F2A China (+31 days to 22 Nov 2025), F2A India (+31 days to 22 Nov 2025) and F2A Mexico (+31 days to 22 Nov 2025).
| Category | Country | Before | December | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certain Religious Workers | Rest of world | U | 15 Feb 2021 | ▲ became available again |
| Certain Religious Workers | China | U | 15 Feb 2021 | ▲ became available again |
| Certain Religious Workers | India | U | 15 Feb 2021 | ▲ became available again |
| Certain Religious Workers | Mexico | U | 15 Feb 2021 | ▲ became available again |
| Certain Religious Workers | Philippines | U | 15 Feb 2021 | ▲ became available again |
| F2A | Rest of world | 22 Oct 2025 | 22 Nov 2025 | ▲ 31 days |
| F2A | China | 22 Oct 2025 | 22 Nov 2025 | ▲ 31 days |
| F2A | India | 22 Oct 2025 | 22 Nov 2025 | ▲ 31 days |
| F2A | Mexico | 22 Oct 2025 | 22 Nov 2025 | ▲ 31 days |
| F2A | Philippines | 22 Oct 2025 | 22 Nov 2025 | ▲ 31 days |
December 2025 employment-based dates
Arrows compare each date with November 2025, the month before. EB-2 India held at 01 Dec 2013. Category history: EB-2, EB-3, EB-2 India.
| Category | Rest of world | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C■ | 15 May 2023■ | 15 Apr 2023■ | C■ | C■ |
| EB-2 | 15 Jul 2024■ | 01 Dec 2021■ | 01 Dec 2013■ | 15 Jul 2024■ | 15 Jul 2024■ |
| EB-3 | 01 Jul 2023■ | 01 Jan 2022■ | 15 Aug 2014■ | 01 Jul 2023■ | 01 Jul 2023■ |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 01 Dec 2021■ | 01 Oct 2018■ | 15 Aug 2014■ | 01 Dec 2021■ | 01 Dec 2021■ |
| EB-4 | 15 Feb 2021■ | 15 Feb 2021■ | 15 Feb 2021■ | 15 Feb 2021■ | 15 Feb 2021■ |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15 Feb 2021▲ became available again | 15 Feb 2021▲ became available again | 15 Feb 2021▲ became available again | 15 Feb 2021▲ became available again | 15 Feb 2021▲ became available again |
| EB-5 Unreserved | C■ | 22 Jul 2016▲ advanced 21 days | 01 Apr 2022■ | C■ | C■ |
The three EB-5 set-aside rows (rural, high unemployment, infrastructure) were current for every country in December 2025.
December 2025 family-sponsored dates
Family dates are compared with November 2025. F2A for most countries was 22 Nov 2025 (advanced 31 days). 21 cells were current (C). History: F2A; backlog in years: wait-time table.
| Category | Rest of world | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01 Sep 2017■ | 01 Sep 2017■ | 01 Sep 2017■ | 01 Mar 2007■ | 22 Apr 2015■ |
| F2A | 22 Nov 2025▲ advanced 31 days | 22 Nov 2025▲ advanced 31 days | 22 Nov 2025▲ advanced 31 days | 22 Nov 2025▲ advanced 31 days | 22 Nov 2025▲ advanced 31 days |
| F2B | 08 Mar 2017■ | 08 Mar 2017■ | 08 Mar 2017■ | 15 May 2009■ | 01 Oct 2013■ |
| F3 | 22 Jul 2012■ | 22 Jul 2012■ | 22 Jul 2012■ | 01 Jul 2001■ | 01 Nov 2005■ |
| F4 | 01 Mar 2009■ | 01 Mar 2009■ | 15 Dec 2006■ | 30 Apr 2001■ | 01 Jan 2008■ |
Fiscal year 2026 context
December 2025 is early in fiscal year 2026. The State Department usually moves dates cautiously in the first quarter while it measures demand against the new year's limits. Since the October 2025 bulletin on the same chart: EB-2 India unchanged at 01 Dec 2013; EB-2 China unchanged at 01 Dec 2021; EB-3 India unchanged at 15 Aug 2014; EB-3 China unchanged at 01 Jan 2022; EB-2 Rest of world unchanged at 15 Jul 2024; EB-3 Rest of world unchanged at 01 Jul 2023. No category was marked U in December 2025.
USCIS's choice of chart matters as much as the dates: in December 2025 it accepted Dates for Filing for employment-based I-485s.[3] The chart history page lists every month's choice since 2015.
- Previous month: visa bulletin November 2025
- Next month: visa bulletin January 2026
- Check your own date: priority date calculator
Frequently asked questions
Did EB-2 India move in the December 2025 visa bulletin?
No. EB-2 India stayed at 01 Dec 2013 on the Dates for Filing chart, the same as November 2025.
Which chart did USCIS accept for December 2025?
For employment-based adjustment of status, USCIS accepted Dates for Filing; for family-sponsored cases, Dates for Filing. Applicants whose category is current on the Final Action Dates chart may also file under it.
Was any category unavailable in December 2025?
No. No category or country was marked U in December 2025.
When was the December 2025 visa bulletin in effect?
From December 1 to December 31, 2025. The State Department publishes each bulletin in the middle of the previous month.
Sources
- When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: December 2025
- When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: November 2025
- Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
- The Visa Bulletin (monthly publication and archive)