John Burson  edited Monday, March 17, 2025

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Visa Bulletin for April 2025: Key Updates and Opportunities for EB-5 Visa Investors

The latest green card waiting lists as of April 2025

​The April 2025 Visa Bulletin introduces significant changes for EB-5 investors, particularly affecting applicants from China and India. Notably, the unreserved EB-5 categories for these countries have experienced substantial retrogression, with China's date moving back over two years and eight months and India's by nearly two and a half years. In contrast, all other countries remain current in these categories.

Additionally, the EB-5 set-aside categories remain current for all applicants, including those from high-demand countries like China and India. These developments underscore prospective investors' importance in staying informed and considering timely action in their application processes.

Key Highlights for EB-5 Investors in April 2025

For many investors, particularly from China and India, the Visa Bulletin for April 2025 brings notable changes. These include the retrogression of EB-5 unreserved final action dates, directly impacting EB-5 investors from these regions. Prospective investors need to stay informed about these changes, as they determine when they can proceed with their visa applications.

Overview of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program offers a path to permanent U.S. residency for foreign nationals who invest in a U.S. business. This program has specific categories for investment:

1. Unreserved EB-5
   Open to investors from all countries but subject to retrogression due to high demand in certain countries like China and India.
2. Set-Aside EB-5
   Reserved for investments in targeted employment areas (TEAs), including rural or high-unemployment regions, with a portion of visas designated for infrastructure projects.

Changes to EB-5 Final Action Dates in April 2025

The final action dates in the EB-5 program for countries like China and India have retrogressed due to increased demand. Let's break down the most important updates for EB-5 investors in April 2025:

1. China and India - Retrogression of Unreserved EB-5 Dates

Increased demand for EB-5 visas has made it necessary to retrogress the final action dates for China and India. This means that investors from these countries will face longer wait times before receiving their visas. Below is a summary of the EB-5 Final Action Dates for unreserved categories:

As per the data, the unreserved category for China and India has experienced a significant retrogression, while the Rest of the World applicants are still considered "current."

2. Set-Aside EB-5 Categories

The set-aside EB-5 categories have remained current for all countries, including China and India. These set-aside categories are for investors who are putting their money into projects located in high-unemployment areas, rural areas, or infrastructure projects. This provides an excellent opportunity for investors looking to benefit from these reserved slots, as these categories are less impacted by the retrogression affecting the unreserved category.

The current availability of set-aside EB-5 visas presents a clear opportunity for investors from all countries, including those facing delays in the unreserved category.

EB-5 Visa Process and What Investors Need to Know

For investors looking to apply for the EB-5 visa, it is crucial to understand the two key charts in the April 2025 Visa Bulletin:

• Final Action Dates:
  This chart indicates when the visa application process can proceed. Applicants with priority dates earlier than the listed final action date are eligible to receive an immigrant visa.
• Dates for Filing Visa Applications: This chart determines when applicants can submit their documents to the National Visa Center (NVC).

Key Considerations for EB-5 Investors

Watch for Retrogression in Final Action Dates

The Final Action Dates are crucial for investors from countries with high demand, such as China and India. Due to retrogression, these dates may shift backward, causing delays. Applicants from oversubscribed countries should closely monitor these dates to avoid missing out on visa availability.

Set-Aside Categories as an Alternative

For investors looking for more predictable visa issuance, the set-aside EB-5 categories offer a strong option. These categories, designed for investments in high-unemployment areas, rural areas, and infrastructure projects, remain current and are not subject to the same retrogression issues as the unreserved categories.

Priority Dates and Timing

Your priority date determines when your application can be processed, and it’s a critical element of the EB-5 visa process. Filing early, when your priority date is current, can help you avoid delays and ensure your visa application is processed promptly.

By staying proactive and understanding how these charts function, EB-5 investors can navigate the complexities of the process and make informed decisions about their visa application strategies.

EB-5 Opportunities for Investors from China and India

Despite facing retrogression in the unreserved EB-5 categories, China and India still have significant opportunities through the set-aside EB-5 visa categories. These categories, designed to promote investment in high-unemployment areas, rural areas, and infrastructure projects, remain current for investors from both countries.

For Chinese and Indian investors, these set-aside categories provide a viable alternative to bypass the delays and retrogression associated with the unreserved EB-5 slots. By investing in projects within these designated regions, investors can avoid the backlogs impacting the general EB-5 categories, accelerating their path to U.S. permanent residency.

Investors from China and India should strongly consider targeting these set-aside opportunities, as they offer a more consistent and predictable route to obtaining an EB-5 visa. Whether the project is in a rural or high-unemployment area or focused on infrastructure development, the set-aside categories ensure that investors can move forward with their application without waiting for the unreserved visa numbers to become available.

Key Takeaways for EB-5 Investors

​The April 2025 Visa Bulletin introduces significant changes for EB-5 investors, particularly those from China and India. The retrogression of final action dates in unreserved categories for these countries may delay processing applications. However, the set-aside EB-5 categories, which remain current, offer a promising alternative for investors from all countries, including China and India. By focusing on investments in rural areas, high-unemployment zones, or infrastructure projects, investors can navigate these changes effectively and expedite their path to U.S. permanent residency.

 
 
 

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