EB-5 Visa Retrogression: Impact on Indians Seeking Green Cards as US Department of State releases April 2025 Bulletin

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The April 2025 US Visa Bulletin shows a significant retrogression in the EB-5 unreserved visa category for India and China due to increased demand. Indian applicants now face longer waiting periods for green cards as final action dates have shifted to November 2019 and January 2014, respectively.

The US Visa bulletin for April has been published, providing a summary of the immigrant numbers available for “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications” in April. The dates show when applicants for immigrant visas should be informed to gather and provide the necessary paperwork to the National Visa Centre.

The April Visa Bulletin states that in order to keep number use within the maximum permitted by the FY-2025 annual limits, the final action dates had to be retroactively moved back due to the increased demand and number used by China and India in the EB-5 unreserved visa categories, as well as increased demand and number use by the rest of the world.

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program enables foreign investors to obtain U.S. permanent residency by investing a minimum of $1 million, or $500,000 in targeted employment areas, into new commercial enterprises that create at least ten full-time jobs for US workers. This program has been particularly attractive to investors from countries like India and China, seeking opportunities and stability in the United States.

The April 2025 Visa Bulletin indicates a significant retrogression in the EB-5 unreserved visa category for India and China. Specifically, the final action date for India has moved back by over two years to November 1, 2019, and for China, by approximately two and a half years to January 22, 2014.

This means that only applicants from these countries with priority dates before these cutoffs are currently eligible for visa issuance.

The main cause of the regression is the rise in demand for and use of visas by Chinese and Indian applicants. In order to properly manage the yearly visa restrictions, the U.S. Department of State observed that increased application volumes required modifying the final action dates.

Additionally, there has been a surge in interest from applicants worldwide, contributing to the backlog in the EB-5 category.

Indian investors will have to wait longer to obtain green cards under the EB-5 program as a result of the retrogression. Delays for applicants with priority dates after November 1, 2019, may impact their immigration and investment plans. It might be necessary for potential investors to think about other visa choices or modify their expectations on the timeframe for acquiring permanent status.

According to the US Department of State, if demand keeps growing, it may be necessary to set final decision dates for applicants from all other nations, not just those from China and India.

This move highlights the importance for potential EB-5 investors to stay informed about visa bulletin updates and plan accordingly.

The April 2025 Visa Bulletin’s retrogression in the EB-5 category for India reflects the growing demand for US permanent residency among Indian investors. Although this development might indicate longer waiting periods, it’s necessary to understand the reasons behind the retrogression. Stay informed about future visa bulletin updates, to understand better the complexities of the US immigration process, and how to plan your actions more effectively.

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