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As the fiscal year winds down, the September Visa Bulletin is set for only minor shifts. EB-1 and EB-2 for India and China inch forward (if at all), EB-3 brings a few consolation prizes, EB-4 stays frozen, and family categories mostly hold their ground. Here's what to watch for as summer ends and the new visa year looms.

A comprehensive guide to U.S. green‑card quotas, the 7% per‑country cap, how to read the Visa Bulletin—and how priority‑date calculators estimate your wait time.

The July 2025 Visa Bulletin brings minimal movement in EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3, with India largely stalled. EB-5 remains retrogressed for China and India, while EB-4 stays unavailable. Family-based categories hold steady. Expect cautious movement as the fiscal year winds down.

The April 2025 Visa Bulletin shows mixed movements: modest progress in EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3, but major retrogression in EB-5 for China and India. Family-based categories see slow but steady advancements. EB-4 remains unavailable until FY2026. Expect potential EB-2/EB-3 slowdowns ahead due to high demand.

Silicon Valley's golden ticket, the O-1 visa, invites 'extraordinary' global tech talent to America through a path that bypasses the dreaded H-1B lottery, requiring concrete evidence of your exceptional contributions, press mentions, and industry recognition. The 4-8 month journey costs $8,000-15,000 but rewards successful applicants with unparalleled flexibility to consult, work for multiple employers, or launch startups. Success hinges on transforming technical achievements into compelling impact stories that convince immigration officials you're not just good, but genuinely extraordinary in your field.

The EB-2 NIW lets skilled professionals self-petition for a U.S. green card—no employer, no labor certification, and yes, you dodge those lawyer fees (which can run $4,000-$10,000). Essentially, if you've got an advanced degree or exceptional skills, you gather your records, fill out the I-140 form, and wait (think of it like waiting for your favorite package to arrive—sometimes 6-9 months, or 45 days with premium processing if you have $2,805 to spare). It's a DIY immigration journey that saves you money and lets you be the captain of your own ship.

The April 2025 Visa Bulletin will likely see small advancements in EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 for India and China, while some categories might face retrogression due to high demand. EB-4 could become unavailable, and family-based visa movement will be minimal, except for slight progress in the Philippines' F3 and F4 categories. With fewer employment-based visas in FY 2025, overall movement will be slow and cautious.

The March 2025 Visa Bulletin shows modest advancements in EB-2 and EB-3, while EB-4 faces significant retrogression. Family-based categories remain unchanged. With fewer green cards expected in FY 2025, slow progress and potential retrogressions are likely. Employers should act quickly to file Adjustment of Status applications as demand stays high.

Getting a U.S. green card is like waiting for a VIP concert ticket—rules change, and the line moves unpredictably! Your priority date is your place in line, and the Visa Bulletin tells you when to step forward. Thanks to country caps, no nation gets more than 7% of green cards per year, meaning high-demand countries face long waits. And beware of retrogression—it can push your wait time back just when you think you're close.

The February 2025 Visa Bulletin brings minimal movement, with small advances for EB-2 and EB-3 India and China, while most other categories remain unchanged. High demand and backlogs mean slow progress, limited I-485 filings, and potential retrogressions ahead. Patience is key as visa allocations remain tight.