On November 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced the visa bulletin for December, detailing the priority dates for immigrant visas, commonly known as green card visas. These visas are divided into two categories: Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based, each with separate Application Final Action Dates (FAD) and Dates for Filing Applications (DFA).
For applicants born in mainland China, significant advancements were made in the priority dates for the fifth category of employment-based green cards, moving up by 7 months. The second and fourth categories progressed by 2 months each, while the first and third categories advanced by 1 month. In the family-sponsored green card category, the priority date for the second preference advanced by 1 month, while others mostly remained stagnant.
Family-Sponsored Green Card Final Action Dates (FAD):
Family-Sponsored Green Card Dates for Filing Applications (DFA):
Employment-Based Green Card Final Action Dates (FAD):
Employment-Based Green Card Dates for Filing Applications (DFA):
Note 1:
The FAD provided in Table A is the date when the immigration agency can approve the green card. Applicants who submit their petitions (e.g., I-140/I-130/I-526) before the published date have the chance of approval that month.
Table B represents the priority date by which the immigration agency can accept green card applications. This date is usually listed in the Notice of Action received after filing the petition, labor certification approval notice, or I-140 receipt, always earlier than Table A. If an applicant’s priority date precedes the time published in Table B, they can submit the I-485 application that month.
Note 2:
The U.S. Congress issues approximately 140,000 family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visas annually, structured across the following categories:
• First Preference F1: Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens, 23,400 visas per year.
• Second Preference F2-A, F2-B: Spouses and unmarried minor children of U.S. permanent residents and unmarried adult children of U.S. permanent residents, 114,200 visas per year.
• Third Preference F3: Married children of U.S. citizens, 23,400 visas per year.
• Fourth Preference F4: Siblings of U.S. citizens, 65,000 visas per year.
Note 3:
The U.S. Congress allocates about 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas annually, encompassing the following five priority areas:
• First Preference EB-1: Outstanding researchers, professors, multinational executives or managers.
• Second Preference EB-2: Professionals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional ability in arts, sciences, or business.
• Third Preference EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers without advanced degrees.
• Fourth Preference EB-4: Certain special immigrants, including religious workers.
• Fifth Preference EB-5: Investors, with non-reserved and reserved categories including direct investment, regional center programs, rural areas, high unemployment regions, and government infrastructure projects.
Note 4:
Regarding U.S. immigration policy, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau are considered territories independent of mainland China, with visa quotas not included in the “China mainland” category. However, under the “one country, two systems” policy, Hong Kong is now included in the same EB-5 visa bulletin system as mainland China.