August 2025 Visa Bulletin: What Applicants Need to Know

The Department of State (DOS) released the August 2025 Visa Bulletin on July 15. For many family‑ and employment‑based applicants, these final two months of the fiscal year are "make‑or‑break" for filing Adjustment of Status (AOS) packages before the annual visa‑number reset on October 1.

Key Movements This Month

• EB‑2 India advanced by **2 months** to March 8 2013 (Final Action Dates). This is the category’s biggest jump since April.
• EB‑3 Worldwide held steady but **EB‑3 China** progressed by **1 month** to October 1 2020.
• Family‑based **F2A** (spouses/children of LPRs) remains _current_, letting eligible applicants file immediately.

Chart A vs Chart B: Which One Does USCIS Allow in August?

USCIS confirmed it will **use the Final Action Dates (Chart A)** for both family and employment categories. That means your priority date must be _current_ in Chart A—not just Chart B—to file an I‑485 in August.

Action Steps If Your Date Just Became Current

• Gather civil docs (birth, marriage, police certs) _now_. RFEs spike in September when USCIS races to use leftover visas.
• Use **overnight courier** so your package is post‑marked before any mid‑month retrogression.
• Add Form I‑131 + I‑765 to get combo card benefits even while waiting.

Will We See September Retrogression?

Historically the bulletin **pulls back** in September as DOS tries to avoid exceeding numerical limits. Given the uptick in EB‑2 filings this summer, a 2‑ to 4‑month backward adjustment for India EB‑2 is likely. Family categories, especially F2B, may inch forward because usage is lower than projected.

▶️ **Bottom line:** If you are within 30–60 days of becoming current, assemble your AOS package now. The August window is often the last safe harbor before year‑end volatility.