April 2025 Visa Bulletin reveals setbacks for EB-5 applicants from India, delaying processing by more than two years.
In a disappointing update for Indian Green Card applicants, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released the April 2025 Visa Bulletin, confirming a significant retrogression in the EB-5 Unreserved category.
The priority date for Indian applicants has been pushed back to November 1, 2019—over two years of delay, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
China Also Affected, Further Delays Possible
China will also face setbacks, with its EB-5 Unreserved category retrogressing by approximately two and a half years to January 22, 2014. Meanwhile, applicants from all other countries remain unaffected.
USCIS explained that the surge in demand from China and India, coupled with increased global usage, has forced this retrogression. Officials also warned that if the demand continues to rise, further restrictions might be imposed on Rest of World countries.
EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories for India will see moderate progress, while EB-4 remains unavailable for all countries due to reaching the annual limit.
What is the EB-5 Visa?
The EB-5 visa program offers foreign investors a pathway to US permanent residency and eventual citizenship in exchange for a significant financial investment in the American economy.
According to USCIS guidelines, the minimum investment required is either $1,050,000 (₹91.5 million) or $800,000 (₹69.7 million) if the investment is in a designated Targeted Employment Area (TEA), which includes rural or high-unemployment regions.
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