May 2025 Visa Bulletin Brings Setback for Indian Green Card Aspirants – No Relief for H-1B Holders
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In a major blow to Indian immigrants hoping to secure permanent residency in the U.S., the May 2025 Visa Bulletin released by the U.S. Department of State has shown no meaningful forward movement across key employment-based categories. The bulletin reflects growing backlogs, particularly for Indian nationals under H-1B and EB visa categories.
EB-5 Category Suffers Sharp Retrogression
The biggest setback came in the EB-5 Unreserved category for India, where the cutoff date has been pushed back by over six months, now standing at May 1, 2019. This retrogression significantly delays processing for thousands of Indian investors who were previously eligible under this route.
This means only EB-5 applicants with a priority date earlier than May 1, 2019, can currently proceed with their applications, leaving recent investors facing years of additional wait time.
No Progress in EB-1 and EB-2 for India
In other employment-based visa categories:
- EB-1 for India remains stagnant at February 1, 2022
- EB-2 holds at January 1, 2013, extending one of the longest waiting periods in the employment-based system
- EB-3 shows only slight advancement, with the new cutoff date now set to April 15, 2013
These hold-ups continue to frustrate highly skilled Indian professionals, many of whom are currently working in the U.S. under H-1B visas and are caught in multi-decade-long queues.
EB-4 Remains Entirely Unavailable
The bulletin also states that the EB-4 category is entirely unavailable for all countries, including India, due to exhaustion of visa numbers for the current fiscal year. There is no estimate yet on when the category might reopen.
What This Means for Indian Applicants
For many Indian nationals—especially H-1B workers and EB-5 investors—this bulletin represents a prolonged period of uncertainty. The backlog continues to stretch across years, and in some cases, over a decade, despite prior attempts at immigration reform and green card backlog relief.
The stagnation and regression also highlight systemic challenges in the U.S. immigration framework:
- Lack of country cap reform
- Excessive processing delays
- Limited annual visa availability for high-demand countries like India
Strategic Planning Becomes Essential
Immigration attorneys are advising clients to stay alert and plan proactively. Applicants are encouraged to:
- Monitor monthly visa bulletins
- Explore possible eligibility under family-based or employer-sponsored adjustments
- Prepare documentation well in advance for priority date eligibility
“The May 2025 Visa Bulletin is a stark reminder that strategic, long-term immigration planning is now more important than ever,” said a senior immigration analyst.
A Grim Outlook for Indian Immigrants
With no immediate relief in sight, the May 2025 Visa Bulletin has dashed hopes of faster processing for thousands of H-1B visa holders and green card aspirants. The situation further emphasizes the urgent need for legislative overhaul of the per-country quota system, especially for countries like India, which contribute significantly to the U.S. workforce.
Hindustan Herald will continue to track all major developments in U.S. immigration policy and provide timely updates for Indian professionals and families navigating this complex journey.
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