Oakton Health Center

1. The Department of State has released the October 2025 Visa Bulletin, enhancing the green card process. For those waiting on an employment-based green card, this creates a clearer path to filing their adjustment of status or getting their pending case approved. The document advises two groups of people on strategies: those who can now submit their Adjustment of Status (I-485) and those whose I-485 is now pending. The guide outlines how to use two important charts in the bulletin, filing dates versus final action dates, and emphasizes the importance of preparing and submitting documents correctly.

2. Harvard University international students and exchange visitors can now resume processing their F, M, and J visas following a court order to reverse the previous refusal. Elsewhere, new rules for green card applications on medical examination forms will impact immigrants seeking permanent residency. Medical examinations signed on or after Nov 1, 2023, will be valid indefinitely if they are properly completed. If an application is withdrawn or denied, the medical exam form will also be invalidated, requiring the applicant to retake the examination for a new form.

3. The Trump administration has announced the immediate need for a renewed medical exam form for every new permanent residency application. This suggests that the previous policy of using forms indefinitely could threaten public health. USCIS has stated that from June 11, 2025, anyone looking for a green card will need a new medical exam form with each fresh application. This could result in immigrants paying multiple times for the same medical examination. President Trump has also announced the launch of a new website where people can register their interest in a “gold card” that would allow successful applicants to buy a green card for $5 million.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented a policy change for Green Card applicants, requiring them to submit their medical examination report (Form I-693) simultaneously with their initial application (Form I-485). This represents a major shift from the previous policy where forms could be submitted at separate times, often in response to a Request for Evidence (RFE) or during an interview. This change is expected to streamline the application process and prevent delays. Should an applicant fail to include the completed and signed Form I-693 with the initial Form I-485 submission, they risk their application being rejected.

The Department of State’s November 2025 Visa Bulletin shows forward progression in several visa categories, meaning more applicants may become eligible to file for adjustment of status or receive final approval. Some family-sponsored preferences have seen progress in their Dates for Filing (DOF), while many employment-based categories have remained relatively unchanged from October to November.

USCIS has noted slight increases in processing times for some common forms in Fiscal Year 2025, although these times generally remain close to pre-pandemic levels. Family-based adjustment of status process times in the recent year are estimated to be around 8-10 months, subject to the local field office workload and visa availability. Employment-based adjustment processes are heavily dependent on Visa Bulletin changes and the history of underlying PERM/I-140 petitions.

The new policy is particularly significant for Kenyans who are among the fast-growing diaspora in the United States. In 2022, 168,915 Kenyans relocated to the United States, an increase of 9.6% from 2021 thereby reflecting an increasing demand for skilled and semi-skilled labor in the U.S. and a dwindling job market in Kenya.

For the application process, applicants need to schedule an appointment with a USCIS-designated civil surgeon to complete Form I-693. It is crucial for applicants to monitor the monthly Visa Bulletin on the Department of State’s website to understand their eligibility for filing. Consulting with an immigration attorney could also help ensure compliance with the latest requirements and help applicants navigate through the complexities of the immigration process.

Several questions still hover regarding the long-term impact of this new medical exam policy on overall processing times, especially for applicants in countries with limited access to USCIS-designated civil surgeons. This change places implications on future Visa Bulletins, which is crucial for many immigrants.

The U.S. Department of State is expected to release the December 2025 Visa Bulletin around mid-November, which will yield further insights into the availability of immigrant visas and possible shifts in priority dates, key information for many Kenyan applicants.