What the Visa Bulletin for December 2025 shows — in simple words

The US Department of State has published the Visa Bulletin for December 2025. This is a monthly document that thousands of people around the world use to check whether they can move forward in the immigration process — to apply for a green card through work or family.

The main news: there are no cardinal changes, but the queues remain very long for some countries, especially India and China. It has also been confirmed that the total number of employment-based green cards in the world is at least 140,000 per year.

It is important to remember: even if the dates in the bulletin look “open”, USCIS decides separately each month whether it is possible to submit documents according to the Dates for Filing table. Therefore, this should be constantly monitored.

Key dates — if short and clear

EB-1 (outstanding specialists, managers, scientists)

There are no queues for most countries — the current category.

But:

• China: January 22, 2023

• India: March 15, 2022

EB-2 (highly educated professionals)

• For most countries: February 1, 2024

• China: June 1, 2021

• India: May 15, 2013 (over 10-year waiting list)

EB-3 (skilled and unskilled workers)

• For most countries: April 15, 2023

• India: September 22, 2013

• China: April 1, 2021

  
  

This means that people from India and China could be waiting for years, even with an employer in the US.

How this will affect migration to the US

Asia (especially India and China)

EB-2 and EB-3 waiting lists remain very long. Because of this, many candidates are looking for other options:

• EB-1 (if the profile allows),

• H-1B or L-1 work visas,

• temporary work with the prospect of immigration later.

For recruitment agencies, this means more requests for work visas USA, analyzing the chances and building the right visa strategy.

Africa

For many African countries, the situation looks better - in some categories, the queues are short or almost non-existent.

This makes the USA a real and affordable destination for qualified specialists from Africa.

Stable or even growing demand is expected for:

• employer-sponsored programs,

• turnkey relocation packages.

Europe

Due to more complex rules in the EU and the UK, some highly qualified Europeans are increasingly looking towards the USA.

Recruitment agencies in Europe can:

• build transatlantic channels more actively,

• offer dual strategies: Europe now + USA as a backup or main option.

What recruitment agencies should do now

• Create or update Priority Date Tracker on the website and in newsletters.

• Offer “ready to file” packages — a complete list of documents for I-485 or consular procedure.

• Develop dual routes: USA + Canada or Australia.

• Optimize content for key queries:

• work visas USA, EB-1 priority dates, international recruiting Asia, recruiting agencies Europe.

• Honestly explain to employers the real terms and costs of sponsorship.

Conclusion

The Visa Bulletin for December 2025 shows once again: queues for priority dates are the main barrier to labor immigration to the USA, especially for India and China.

Those recruitment agencies in Asia and Europe that don't just "look for work" but help with visa strategy, planning, and alternatives will be the most in demand in 2025–2026.