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September 2025 Visa Bulletin Prediction: The Autumn Shuffle, Aiming for a Soft Landing

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    Adam Kizabi
    Twitter

The September 2025 Visa Bulletin isn't bringing fireworks—think gentle fall breezes, not a hurricane. As the government sets the stage for the FY2026 visa reset, let's break down what to expect in employment- and family-based green card categories.

September 2025 Visa Bulletin Prediction: The Autumn Shuffle, Soft Landing Ahead?

September is the last dance of the government's visa calendar year. Historically, this means few drastic moves—just enough motion to use up numbers, but cautious enough to avoid an October pile-up. Let's look at what may be in store!

Employment-Based Categories

EB-1 (Priority Workers):

  • 🇮🇳 India: Prediction—No change. Still waiting (impatiently) at Feb 15, 2022. A frozen treat nobody ordered.
  • 🇨🇳 China: Maybe a nudge—possibly up a week to Nov 22, 2022, but don't expect a leap.
  • 🌍 Rest of World: Current and coasting through September.

EB-2 (Advanced Degree/Exceptional Ability):

  • 🇨🇳 China: Small move—expect 1–2 weeks to Dec 29, 2020. Room for optimism, but pace is glacial.
  • 🇮🇳 India: Stuck at Jan 1, 2013. Every Bollywood drama moves faster than this line.
  • 🌍 Other Countries: Unchanged at Oct 15, 2023.

EB-3 (Skilled Workers/Professionals):

  • 🇨🇳 China: Steady as she goes—look for a 1-week advance to Dec 8, 2020.
  • 🇮🇳 India: Tiny ripple—just a week more, landing at April 29, 2013.
  • 🌍 Other Countries:
    • Professionals: Likely flat at April 1, 2023. Summer heat has cooled off.
    • Other Workers: Perhaps a 1–2 week bump to around July 22, 2021.
  • 🇵🇭 Philippines: No movement—plateau at Feb 8, 2023.

EB-5 (Investors):

  • 🇨🇳 China: Still in deep freeze at Jan 22, 2014—no change expected as numbers are maxed out.
  • 🇮🇳 India: Likely stagnant—May 1, 2019 stays.
  • ✅ Set-Aside Categories (rural, high-unemployment, infrastructure): Current and open for business.

EB-4 (Special Immigrants):

  • 🧊 Frozen solid until October 1, 2025. Don't expect defrosting until the new fiscal year.

Family-Based Categories

These generally hold their own in September, as visa numbers wind down.

  • F2A (Spouses/Children of Permanent Residents): Still current worldwide—a rare bright spot!
  • Other Family Categories (F1, F2B, F3, F4): Little to no forward movement—expect status quo until the October reset.

What's the Takeaway?

The September Bulletin is the calm before the October storm. Numbers are nearly spent, so movement is mostly symbolic—and most big changes are on hold until the new allotments roll in for FY2026. If you're tracking a priority date, buckle in: October's Bulletin is when things might shake up.

Until then, keep cool, enjoy a pumpkin-spiced latte, and watch for the 'reset' coming with October. 🍂✨

Did you find this helpful? Stay tuned for our October preview—where the real action begins!

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