October 2025 Visa Bulletin Analysis for EB-5 Investors from India

The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2025 Visa Bulletin, marking the start of the new fiscal year. For Indian-born doctors and dentists on H-1B visas considering EB-5, October brings the kind of movement we watch closely: EB-5 (Unreserved) India advances to a Final Action Date of 01 Feb 2021, while all three EB-5 set-aside categories remain Current. For many physicians stuck in long H-1B-to-green-card queues, this mix of forward movement and “Current” set-asides reopens strategic options for 2025–2026.

Below, we include the official four tables from the October bulletin and translate what they mean in practical terms for Indian healthcare professionals weighing an EB-5 investment this year.

Table A — Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases (October 2025)

Family-Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	08NOV16	08NOV16	08NOV16	22NOV05	22JAN13
F2A	01FEB24	01FEB24	01FEB24	01FEB23	01FEB24
F2B	22NOV16	22NOV16	22NOV16	15DEC07	01OCT12
F3	08SEP11	08SEP11	08SEP11	15APR01	22SEP04
F4	08JAN08	08JAN08	01NOV06	08APR01	22MAR06

Table B — Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications (October 2025)

Family-Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01SEP17	01SEP17	01SEP17	08OCT06	22APR15
F2A	22SEP25	22SEP25	22SEP25	22SEP25	22SEP25
F2B	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN17	15DEC08	01OCT13
F3	22JUL12	22JUL12	22JUL12	15JUN01	01AUG05
F4	01MAR09	01MAR09	15DEC06	30APR01	01JAN08

Table C — Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases (October 2025)

Employment-Based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
EB-1	C	22DEC22	15FEB22	C	C
EB-2	01DEC23	01APR21	01APR13	01DEC23	01DEC23
EB-3	01APR23	01MAR21	22AUG13	01APR23	01APR23
Other Workers	15JUL21	01DEC17	22AUG13	15JUL21	15JUL21
EB-4	01JUL20	01JUL20	01JUL20	01JUL20	01JUL20
Certain Religious Workers	U	U	U	U	U
EB-5 Unreserved (C5/T5/I5/R5/NU/RU)	C	08DEC15	01FEB21	C	C
EB-5 Set-Aside: Rural (20%)	C	C	C	C	C
EB-5 Set-Aside: High Unemployment (10%)	C	C	C	C	C
EB-5 Set-Aside: Infrastructure (2%)	C	C	C	C	C

Table D — Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications (October 2025)

Employment-Based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
EB-1	C	15MAY23	15APR23	C	C
EB-2	15JUL24	01DEC21	01DEC13	15JUL24	15JUL24
EB-3	01JUL23	01JAN22	15AUG14	01JUL23	01JUL23
Other Workers	01DEC21	01OCT18	15AUG14	01DEC21	01DEC21
EB-4	15FEB21	15FEB21	15FEB21	15FEB21	15FEB21
Certain Religious Workers	U	U	U	U	U
EB-5 Unreserved (C5/T5/I5/R5/NU/RU)	C	01JUL16	01APR22	C	C
EB-5 Set-Aside: Rural (20%)	C	C	C	C	C
EB-5 Set-Aside: High Unemployment (10%)	C	C	C	C	C
EB-5 Set-Aside: Infrastructure (2%)	C	C	C	C	C

What Changed This Month for EB-5 (India) — and Why It Matters

1) EB-5 Unreserved (India) moved forward to 01 Feb 2021.
That’s a sizable jump from September’s 15 Nov 2019, effectively cutting wait time for many Indian investors with 2020–early-2021 priority dates. Practically, if your I-526/I-526E priority date is earlier than 01 Feb 2021, you’re now in a position where final action (i.e., visa issuance/green card approval) becomes possible as soon as your case is otherwise ready.

2) EB-5 Set-Asides remain Current for India across all three reservable buckets.
If your investment qualifies as Rural (20%), High Unemployment (10%), or Infrastructure (2%), both Final Action and Filing dates are Current—meaning visa numbers are immediately available. For H-1B physicians looking to accelerate timelines, this continues to be the fastest pathway to permanent residence via EB-5.

3) Filing remains ahead of Final Action.
On the Filing chart, EB-5 Unreserved (India) sits at 01 Apr 2022. If USCIS confirms the use of the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based categories, eligible applicants may be able to file earlier, lock in EAD/AP benefits, and get into the processing queue even if their Final Action Date isn’t current yet. (Always check USCIS’s monthly filing chart guidance.) (USCIS)

4) EB-4 Religious Workers (SR) is listed as Unavailable in October.
Not directly EB-5, but relevant context: SR is U absent new legislation. This underscores how fiscal-year resets can shuffle categories—something EB-5 investors should remember going into FY-2026.

Strategic Guidance for Indian Doctors and Dentists on H-1B

1. A) Decide quickly between Unreserved versus Set-Asides.

• If you already have an unreserved EB-5 petition with a priority date before 01 Feb 2021, coordinate with counsel and your regional center to confirm case readiness (medical, security checks, fee payments) to capitalize on immediate Final Action availability.
• If your unreserved priority date is on/after 01 Feb 2021, consider whether a qualifying set-aside project could materially shorten your wait, given Current visa availability.

1. B) Use Filing Chart flexibly (if permitted).
   If USCIS authorizes Dates for Filing for October’s employment-based filings, Indian EB-5 investors with priority dates before 01 Apr 2022 may file earlier—helpful for work/travel authorization and predictability while Final Action catches up. Monitor the USCIS page for the month’s determination. (USCIS)
2. C) Treat Q4 2025 as a window to reset your strategy.
   New fiscal year = new annual visa numbers. October’s forward movement for EB-5 India suggests improved availability compared to late FY-2025. If you paused due to end-of-year visa exhaustion, revisit your plan now and prepare documentation so you can move the moment your case is eligible.
3. D) Project selection matters more than ever.
   Beyond visa availability, prioritize project job creation credibility, capital stack transparency, and exit pathway. For physicians with limited time outside clinical duties, diligence support from experienced advisors can de-risk selection while keeping focus on patient care.
4. E) Keep PERM/EB-2/EB-3 context in view.
   Some doctors may be running parallel employment-based options through hospital systems. October shows moderate movement in EB-1 to EB-3, but EB-5 set-asides remain the clearest “Current” path for India. This dual-track awareness helps you pivot if your employer-sponsored category stalls. (Fragomen)

Practical Next Steps (Checklist)

1. Assess your priority date (I-526/I-526E): Is it before 01 Feb 2021 (unreserved) or do you qualify for a set-aside project?
2. Confirm USCIS filing chart usage for October and plan filings accordingly (AOS vs. consular). (USCIS)
3. Tighten documentation: source of funds, medical, police certificates (if consular), civil docs, and any pending RFE responses.
4. Coordinate with your employer if you’re on H-1B: ensure status maintenance, travel plans, and EAD/AP timing won’t disrupt patient schedules.
5. Engage professional advice: immigration counsel + EB-5 project due diligence to align with your clinical career and family goals.

Notes on Diversity Visa & Category Mechanics

• Diversity Visa (DV-2026) numbers are outlined for October with an annual limit reduced to ~52,000 due to NACARA/NDAA provisions—important background but separate from EB-5.
• Per-country limits remain at 7% of combined family and employment totals for FY-2026, with a 2% dependent area limit—context that shapes India’s backlog pressure.

Closing Statement

Whether you’re a first-time investor or reevaluating your strategy, careful planning is crucial to navigating these shifts. EB5 Doctors is here to provide the guidance, expertise, and support you need to make informed decisions and secure your future. Contact us today to learn more about your EB-5 opportunities and how to adapt to the latest visa updates. Don’t wait until the changes affect your plans—take action now – Contact us today!

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal or financial advice.