US Visa Bulletin December 2025: EB-5 Green Cards Advance for Indians: The latest US Visa Bulletin shows modest progress for Indian EB-5 investors in the “unreserved” category (Final Action Date moves to March 15, 2015), while set-aside streams (rural, high-unemployment, infrastructure) remain current with no backlog. However, employment-based Dates for Filing stay unchanged, signaling ongoing waits for many. This is crucial for Indian investors and families abroad pursuing permanent residency.
(source: business-standard.com)
- Final Action Date (Unreserved category) advanced to 15 March 2015 in the December 2025 Visa Bulletin
- All EB-5 “Set-Aside” categories (Rural, High-Unemployment, Infrastructure) remain CURRENT for Indians – meaning zero backlog if you invest in these projects
- Over 1,200 Indian families expected to receive green cards in FY2026 under the reformed EB-5 program (Reform and Integrity Act 2022)
US Expands Social Media Vetting for H-1B Visas: Starting December 15, 2025, all H-1B applicants and dependents from India will face mandatory social media reviews, potentially delaying approvals. This affects thousands of Indian IT professionals renewing or applying for work visas.
- H-1B approval rates for Indian IT majors (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL) dropped to ~63% in FY2025 – the lowest ever recorded
- More than 85,000 H-1B stamping appointments mysteriously cancelled across India in Nov–Dec 2025
- From 15 December 2025, mandatory social-media screening introduced for ALL H-1B applicants and dependents from India
- USCIS issued new RFE (Request for Evidence) templates targeting “Level-1 wages” and “specialized occupation” criteria
3. Student Visa Crackdown Across Top Destinations2025 has been brutal for Indian students planning to study abroad:
- United Kingdom: Graduate Route (post-study work) reduced from 3 years to 2 years; dependents banned for most courses starting Jan 2025
- Canada: Study permit cap continues; two-year restriction on new PGWP for college graduates
- Australia: Genuine Student requirement + increased financial proof (AUD 29,710)
- USA: F-1 visa interview wait times in India crossed 450 days in major cities; higher scrutiny on-site verification of SEVIS records
4. Golden Visa Alternatives Gaining Traction Among NRIs With US doors partially closing, wealthy Indians are fast-tracking Plan B residency:
- Portugal Golden Visa: €500,000 fund route still open (processing ~8–12 months)
- Greece Golden Visa: Threshold increased to €800,000 in Athens/Thessaloniki but €400,000 island projects still available
- UAE Golden Visa: 10-year residency with AED 2 million property or business investment – processing under 30 days
- Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H): New Silver tier at ~₹1.2 crore gaining huge interest from Indian retirees and digital nomads
5. OCI & Renunciation Numbers Hit Record HighThe uncertainty is showing in official data:
- Over 180,000 Indians renounced citizenship in 2024–25 (highest in five years)
- OCI card applications surged 42% YoY as families hedge with “forever visa-free” access to India
- Ministry of External Affairs opened four new OCI centres abroad in 2025 to clear backlog
6. India’s Response: Mobility Push and Bilateral TalksExternal Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar repeatedly called 2025 the year of “Talent Mobility”.
Key developments:
- Third Modi–Trump call (11 Dec 2025) focused on skilled-worker visas and tariff exemptions
- India negotiating Totalisation Agreement with USA (to protect social-security contributions of Indian workers)
- New “Fast-Track Immigration” lanes for OCI card holders rolled out at 12 Indian airports
Final Verdict: Should NRIs Stay or Return?2025 is truly the year of mixed signals:Stay & Fight if:
→ You are already in the US on H-1B with an approved I-140
→ Your EB-5 I-526 is approved or in Set-Aside category
→ Your employer supports premium processing and extensionsConsider Plan B if:
→ You are on initial H-1B with a service-based Indian IT employer
→ Waiting for PD to become current in EB-2/EB-3 (still 12–15 years)
→ Planning to bring aging parents (10+ year green-card wait)India’s own start-up and AI boom (Microsoft $17.5B, Amazon $35B, Google $15B investments announced in last 30 days) is making “reverse migration” a realistic and attractive option for many.Stay updated.
Stay calm Plan strategically.
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