US visa bulletin deals setback to Indian green card hopefuls

Washington: Indians seeking green cards have been hit by a significant setback following the release of the May 2025 visa bulletin by the US State Department.

The bulletin shows a notable slowdown in the employment-based fifth preference (EB-5) category for Indian applicants, pushing the cut-off date back by over six months in the unreserved category.

This delay implies a longer wait for green cards under the EB-5 visa scheme, which allows foreign investors to obtain permanent residency in the US by investing in American businesses and generating at least 10 full-time jobs.

According to the bulletin, the EB-1 category — designated for priority workers — now has a cut-off date of February 2022 for Indian applicants, while China’s is November 8, 2022. Applicants from all other countries remain unaffected, with the category still current for them.

There has been no movement in the EB-2 category, where the cut-off date for India stands at January 1, 2023, and for China at October 1, 2020. The new bulletin has added to growing concerns among Indian professionals and investors navigating the lengthy US immigration system.