Urgent: New 2025 Green Card Changes Slash Wait Times—Find Out If You Qualify Now

The U.S. green-card system is once again under intense scrutiny as fresh government data and congressional proposals collide with record-high demand from workers and families worldwide. Immigration agencies reach annual cap early The State Department confirmed that the employment-based EB-2 category—used by advanced-degree professionals—has exhausted its fiscal-year 2025 quota, forcing all new applications to pause until 1 October 2025. The abrupt freeze pushes wait times for Indian and Chinese talent—already facing queues stretching beyond a decade—still further into the future. Little movement in the September Visa Bulletin USCIS and the State Department’s September 2025 Visa Bulletin shows no forward progress for most family- and employment-based preference categories, signaling that backlog relief is unlikely before the new fiscal year opens on 1 October 2025. Analysts warn that unused family-based numbers are not expected to roll over in large enough quantities to ease employment categories this year. Dignity Act aims to cap waits at 10 years On Capitol Hill, the bipartisan “Dignity Act of 2025” seeks to modernize the legal immigration system by: • Clearing the green-card backlog within a decade • Allowing unused visas to roll over automatically • Granting “dual intent” to international students, letting them pursue permanent residency without jeopardizing study visas • Imposing a supplemental $20,000 fee on certain petitions to fund border security and workforce training programs. While supporters call it a “once-in-a-generation fix,” the bill faces a crowded legislative calendar ahead of the 2026 midterms. What applicants can do now 1. Check priority-date cut-offs monthly and file as soon as a date becomes current. 2. Maintain valid non-immigrant status (H-1B, L-1, E-2, etc.) to bridge lengthy waits. 3. Explore category switches (EB-3 → EB-2 or EB-1) where possible to leverage faster lines. 4. Document every job change; porting to a new employer typically requires a fresh PERM or I-140. 5. Consider cross-chargeability through a spouse born in a country with shorter queues. Forecast for FY 2026 Immigration attorneys expect another surge of filings on 1 October 2025 when FY 2026 visa numbers refresh, partially unclogging EB-2 and EB-3. However, without statutory reform, per-country caps will continue to lengthen waits for high-demand nations, making legislative action the only durable solution. Key takeaway The green-card race is entering a critical phase: quotas have maxed out months early, legislative fixes are on the table, and millions are hanging on every Visa Bulletin update. Staying informed—and ready to file the moment a window opens—remains the most effective strategy until meaningful reform becomes law.