EB-3 Visa Exhausted for FY 2025: A Closer Look at the Latest Visa Bulletin Developments

In a significant update for employment-based immigration, the U.S. Department of State has announced that the annual limit for the EB-3 visa category, including its subcategories for Professionals, Skilled Workers, and Other Workers (EW), has been fully met for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. This means the category is now immediately unavailable, halting the issuance of immigrant visas and approvals of adjustment of status applications through September 30, 2025. This development follows similar exhaustions in the EB-1 and EB-2 categories earlier this month, underscoring the intense demand for U.S. employment-based green cards amid ongoing backlogs.

Understanding the EB-3 Visa Category and Annual Limits

The EB-3 visa is a key pathway for foreign workers seeking permanent residency in the United States. It covers three main groups: professionals with at least a bachelor's degree, skilled workers with at least two years of training or experience, and other workers (unskilled labor requiring less than two years of training). Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the total annual limit for all employment-based immigrant visas is approximately 140,000, with the EB-3 visa allocated 28.6% of that total—roughly 40,000 visas. Of these, no more than 10,000 can be issued to "Other Workers."

The U.S. Congress establishes these numerical limits, and their administration is handled jointly by the Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The September 2025 Visa Bulletin, released earlier this month, had already warned of high demand, noting that "visa demand and number use remain high in the EB-3 and EW visa categories, and issuance totals are approaching the annual limits for FY-2025." At that time, the bulletin listed final action dates for EB-3 as January 1, 2023, for most countries. However, the rapid pace of visa usage has now pushed the category to "U" (unavailable) status.

Timeline of Recent Exhaustions in Employment-Based Categories

The EB-3 visa announcement on September 9, 2025, caps a swift series of limit reaches across priority categories. For the latest on all categories, you can check our internal link to the latest visa bulletin summary on VisasUpdate.com.

• EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals and Exceptional Ability): Exhausted just over a week ago.

• EB-1 (Priority Workers): Reached its quota shortly after EB-2.

• EB-3 and EW: The EB-3 category was the most recent to reach its congressionally mandated limit. While its exhaustion was predicted, the rate at which it occurred surpassed initial projections.

These back-to-back announcements highlight broader pressures on the U.S. immigration system, including per-country caps that disproportionately affect applicants from high-demand countries like India and China.

Implications for Applicants and Employers

For those pursuing an EB-3 visa, the immediate effects are clear: U.S. embassies cannot issue immigrant visas, and USCIS cannot approve Form I-485 applications until October 1.

However, there's a silver lining. USCIS policy allows the agency to continue accepting EB-3 I-485 filings if the applicant's priority date was current under the September 2025 Visa Bulletin's Final Action Dates chart. Once filed, these applications will be placed on hold and processed starting October 1.

Looking Ahead to FY 2026

The annual quota for employment-based immigrant visas, including the EB-3 category, is replenished at the start of the new fiscal year on October 1, 2025. This reset will allow the U.S. Department of State to recommence the issuance of EB-3 visas. The specific priority date cutoffs governing eligibility will be officially outlined in the forthcoming October 2025 Visa Bulletin.

While this pause is frustrating, it aligns with historical patterns. For continuous coverage on what to expect when the new fiscal year begins, keep an eye on VisasUpdate.com.

Applicants are advised to work with immigration counsel to navigate filings during this period and to consult the official State Department Visa Bulletin for authoritative information.