The Department of State’s (DOS) Visa Bulletin for January 2025 includes the following updates:

Scheduled Expiration of Employment Fourth Preference Religious Workers Category

No SR visas in the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight December 19, 2024. Visas issued before that date will be valid only until December 19, 2024, and all individuals seeking admission in the non-minister special immigrant category must be admitted into the United States by December 19, 2024.

The SR category is listed as “Unavailable” for all countries for January. If Congress extends the green card category, it is likely it will become available effective immediately. If extended, the category will be subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.

Visa Availability in EB-5 Set-Aside Categories

DOS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) note an increase in I-526E petition approvals. Both agencies see increasing numbers of individuals processing their applications to completion in the EB-5 set-aside categories. The bulletin states that “it may become necessary to establish Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates during the fiscal year to ensure that issuances in these categories do not exceed annual limits. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.”

Effects of NDAA on U.S. Government Employee Special Immigrants

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) may affect certain current and former employees of the U.S. government abroad, as well as certain surviving spouses and children of deceased employees of the U.S. government abroad, applying for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) or adjustment of status. This does not affect certain Iraqis and Afghans applying for SQ and SI SIVs, the bulletin notes. “Applicants should contact the consular section at which they filed their Form DS‑1884 for further information on the impact of that law on their case.”