The U.S. Department of State has announced that the annual cap for Employment-Based Fourth Preference (EB-4) visas has been reached for Fiscal Year 2025. No more EB-4 immigrant visas will be issued until October 1, 2025.
Impact on EB-4 Applicants
- Visa Issuance Halted, no new EB-4 visas will be issued by U.S. embassies and consulates for the remainder of FY 2025.
- Pending Cases Delayed, If your EB-4 case is in process, it will be placed on hold until visa numbers become available in FY 2026.
- Adjustment of Status (I-485) on Hold, USCIS will not approve any EB-4 Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) applications until the next fiscal year.
- The next batch of EB-4 visa numbers will be released in FY 2026.
Who Is Affected?
The EB-4 category includes the following special immigrant groups:
- Religious Workers
- Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJs)
- Broadcasters
- U.S. Government Employees Abroad
- Retired International Organisation Employees
- Armed Forces Members
- Afghan and Iraqi Translators
Next Steps for EB-4 Applicants
- Monitor the Visa Bulletin: Stay updated with the U.S. Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin to check when EB-4 priority dates become current again.
- Prepare for October 2025: Ensure all documents are up to date to avoid delays when visa numbers become available.
We will continue to monitor and bring important updated. For up-to-date information on the visa bulletin, we encourage petitioners / beneficiaries to visit the U.S. Department of States’s website.