The US Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for January 2025, bringing long-awaited relief for Indian green card applicants. With priority date advancements in employment-based (EB) categories, individuals who have been waiting for over a decade can now move forward in the process.
Key Updates for Indian Applicants
Indian applicants often face extensive delays due to visa backlogs. The latest update in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories provides some progress:
| Category | Previous Date | New Date (Feb 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| EB-2 India | April 22, 2012 | October 15, 2012 |
| EB-3 India | December 1, 2012 | December 15, 2012 |
| F1 (Family-based) | November 22, 2015 | Unchanged |
| F2A (Family-based) | January 1, 2022 | January 15, 2022 |
These advancements allow applicants to proceed with their green card applications sooner than expected.
Who Qualifies for a US Green Card?
Green card eligibility is based on different factors such as family ties, employment, refugee/asylee status, or the Diversity Visa program:
- Family-Based: Spouses, children, parents, and siblings of US citizens or permanent residents.
- Employment-Based: Professionals with extraordinary abilities, researchers, executives, and skilled workers.
- Refugees & Asylees: Eligible after one year of residence.
- Diversity Visa: 50,000 visas annually for applicants from underrepresented countries.
Green Card Application Process
Most applicants must complete two key steps:
- Immigrant Petition: Filed by a sponsor (employer or family member) or self-filed in specific cases.
- Green Card Application (Form I-485): Filed once a visa number is available.
For employment-based applicants, Form I-140 is employer-filed and often requires PERM labor certification to confirm that no qualified US workers are available for the job.
Employment-Based Categories
| Category | Eligibility |
| EB-1 | Priority workers (extraordinary ability, researchers, executives) |
| EB-2 | Advanced-degree professionals or those with exceptional ability |
| EB-3 | Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers |
Applying from Inside vs. Outside the US
Applicants already in the US must choose between:
- Adjustment of Status (Form I-485): If an approved petition and visa number are available.
- Consular Processing: If applying from outside the US, which involves:
- Petition approval
- National Visa Center (NVC) processing
- Consular interview
- Visa issuance and entry as a lawful permanent resident
Tracking Your Green Card Status
Once Form I-485 is submitted, applicants can:
- Check Case Status: The USCIS website allows real-time status updates.
- Update Address: To prevent delays in receiving notifications.
- Track Delivery: Using USCIS and USPS Informed Delivery services.
The recent advancements in EB-2 and EB-3 priority dates offer significant relief for Indian applicants. Staying updated with the Visa Bulletin, understanding eligibility, and following proper application procedures can help applicants navigate the green card process efficiently.
