The US Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for May 2025 has added a critical blow to Indian immigrants looking for H-1B visas and PR cards, specially those apply under Employment-Based 5th Preference (EB-5) category. According to the New US Immigration Rules, the EB-5 Unreserved category for Indian candidates has retrogressed by over 6 months – from November 1, 2019, to May 1, 2019 – narrowing the eligibility standards and appreciably delaying the course to US permanent residency. This regression stands in stark analysis to the state of affairs for Chinese candidates, whose EB-5 cutoff date stays unchanged at January 22, 2014.
Trump administration Set New US Immigration Rules
The bulletin attributes the setback to high demand and usage by Indian applicants, mixed with increased packages from the relaxation of the world. “It was essential to further retrogress the Indian final action date to keep quantity use in the most allowed under the FY-2025 annual limits,” the bulletin said.
The EB-5 category is designed for certified immigrant investors and includes reserved slots for those who make investment in rural, high-unemployment regions or infrastructure projects. However, the bulk of demand keeps to concentrate in the unreserved section, wherein Indian nationals have been specially lively, leading to quickly depletion of available visas and eventual retrogression.
Who are eligible for Citizenship
The ‘Final Action Dates’ indexed in the New US Immigration Rules are important because they decide whilst the USA Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can finalise an application for visa or green card processing. Applicants whose previous date is earlier than the date indexed in the bulletin are eligible to continue with their programs.
While different employment-based category have visible little movement for Indians, the slight comes in the Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3) category, where India’s cutoff date superior by just two weeks to April 15, 2013.
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