Department of State (DOS)

DOS Publishes June 2025 Visa Bulletin with Key Priority Date Updates

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immigration attorney

Visa Availability Changes Detailed in DOS June 2025 Bulletin

The Department of State (DOS) has posted the June 2025 Visa Bulletin, a critical resource for individuals pursuing immigrant visas. It is also important for those already in the United States seeking to adjust their status. This monthly publication offers vital updates on several key areas, including Final Action Dates, Dates for Filing, the Diversity Visa program, and Special Immigrant Visas. The distinction between the two primary charts—Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing—is crucial for applicants to understand. The Dates for Filing chart, on the other hand, allows certain applicants to file their Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. They can file sooner than their visa number becomes available for final approval.

In tandem with the DOS bulletin, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced its policy for adjustment of status filings for June 2025. This guidance is essential as it dictates which of the two charts applicants must follow to determine their eligibility to file. For the month of June, USCIS has specified that all family-sponsored applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart. This policy allows a broader range of family-based applicants to submit their applications earlier. As a result, it potentially reduces processing times and enables them to obtain work authorization and travel documents sooner. Conversely, employment-based applicants must use the more restrictive Final Action Dates chart. This means that for most employment-based categories, an applicant can only file their Form I-485 if their priority date is already current on the Final Action Dates chart. This signifies that a visa number is immediately available.

This bifurcated approach reflects a strategic decision by USCIS and DOS to manage the high demand for immigrant visas. They strive to balance different priorities. The use of the Dates for Filing chart for family-based cases helps to alleviate backlogs and provide relief to families waiting to reunite. The decision to use the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based cases, however, indicates a more conservative approach. This ensures that visa numbers are available at the time of filing. Consequently, it streamlines the final approval process for employment-based petitions. Applicants should also consult the specific country-by-country breakdowns within the bulletin. Priority dates can differ significantly based on an applicant’s country of chargeability and visa preference category.

Department of State Provides Update After Court Certifies Class

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Law Offices of Brian D. Lerner

DOS Addresses Class Certification: Key Information for Affected Parties

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has provided information following a major federal court order. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California certified a class in the consolidated cases of Farangis Emami, et al. v. Alejandro Mayorkas, et al. and Pars Equality Center, et al. v. Antony Blinken, et al. This legal action was on behalf of visa applicants who were refused visas under Presidential Proclamation 9645. This proclamation, often called the “Muslim Ban” or “Travel Ban,” was in effect from December 8, 2017, to January 20, 2021.

Who is Eligible?

The court order provides specific relief for a group of individuals known as “class members.” You may be a class member if you are a national of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, or Yemen. You must have also been denied a visa under Proclamation 9645 between December 8, 2017, and January 20, 2021. This includes both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants. However, there are some exceptions. For example, individuals who were denied a diversity visa or who received a waiver under the proclamation are not eligible for this relief.

The Benefits of the Order

Starting on August 12, 2024, eligible class members were able to receive a one-time, non-transferable fee credit. This credit can be used to submit a new visa application. Additionally, eligible class members have the option to receive a prioritized visa appointment. This is a significant benefit, as visa applicants often face long waiting periods for appointments, particularly at certain U.S. embassies and consulates. The court order also requires consular posts to process these new visa applications without prejudice from the prior denial under Proclamation 9645.

How to Get the Fee Credit and Prioritized Appointment

To claim the benefits, eligible class members must first complete a new visa application form (either the DS-160 for non-immigrants or the DS-260 for immigrants). After completing the form, they must follow specific instructions provided by the Department of State to indicate that they are an “Emami Class Member.” This is crucial for their application to be correctly processed and for the fee credit to be applied. The Department of State has set up a verification process, and individuals must provide information from their previously refused application to confirm their identity and eligibility.

The Department of State has identified over 24,000 potential class members based on its records. The attorneys for the plaintiffs are also attempting to reach out to class members using contact information from their old applications. This litigation is a major step toward addressing the lasting effects of the travel ban on affected individuals and families. It provides a concrete and streamlined pathway for them to re-apply for the visas they were previously denied.

Department of State

Final Rule Announced: DOS Updates the Code of Federal Regulations

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Law Offices of Brian D. Lerner

DOS final rule revising the Code of Federal Regulations to amend requirements for accreditation and approval by the United States to provide adoption services in intercountry adoption cases. The final rule becomes effective 1/8/25

Code of Federal Regulations

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