With increasing immigration caps under President Donald Trump’s presidency, thousands of Indians’ dream of the American Dream has also been shattered by the US Department of State’s Visa Bulletin May 2025, which captures alarming developments. For Indian citizens holding H-1B visas and applying for green cards, the news came as a setback, especially from the EB-5 Unreserved category, where there has been severe retrogression.
India’s EB-5 Visa Sees Retrogression
The Visa Bulletin says that the EB-5 Unreserved category for Indian citizens will retrogress by more than six months, with the cut-off date now May 1, 2019. Conversely, China’s EB-5 cut-off date is still January 22, 2014. The Indian category retrogression follows high demand and number utilization, as well as rising demand from other nations, which necessitated moving the final action date back further.
The bulletin continues, “High number use and demand by India in the EB-5 unreserved visa categories, coupled with greater Rest of World demand and number use, required further retrogression of the India final action date to maintain number use within the level permitted under the FY-2025 annual limits.”
Updates on Other Employment-Based Visa Categories
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EB-1 (First Preference): The cutoff date for India remains at February 2, 2022, with no change. For China, the cutoff date is set at November 8, 2022. All other countries remain current in the EB-1 category.
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EB-2 (Second Preference): For India, the cutoff date stays at January 1, 2013, while China’s cutoff remains October 1, 2020. The cutoff for all other countries is set at June 22, 2023.
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EB-3 (Third Preference): India’s cutoff advances by two weeks to April 15, 2013. China’s cutoff remains at November 1, 2020, and other countries will retain their cutoff date of January 1, 2023.
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EB-3 Other Workers: The cutoff date for Indian applicants matches that of the EB-3 category, at April 15, 2013. For China, it stands at April 1, 2017. The cutoff for other countries remains unchanged at May 22, 2021.
Visa Retrogression Defined
The US Department of State’s Visa Bulletin details the cut-off dates for visa availability every month, determining which applicants are eligible to file applications for permanent residence or change visa status. Retrogression takes place when more individuals apply for a visa than the number within available quotas. This usually leads to a longer or delayed wait time for applicants, particularly when the fiscal year nears its capacity.
Impact of Trump’s Immigration Policies
Since President Trump‘s re-installation in office in January 2025, immigration has become a prime topic in US politics once again, with the Republican “America First” agenda shaping policies that dictate who can come in or remain in the nation. Even though the administration has stepped up efforts to curb illegal immigration, these restrictions are impacting high-skilled immigration as well, with additional roadblocks for Indian citizens applying for H-1B visas and green cards.
The retrogression in the May 2025 Visa Bulletin represents a great disappointment for thousands of Indian nationals who have been anticipating gaining permanent residency in the US. It indicates wider changes in immigration policies and highlights uncertainty about US immigration under the existing administration