In a sharp change to immigration policy, U.S. authorities have announced that, starting August 15, 2025, only the “Final Action Dates” chart from the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin will be used to calculate a child’s age under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). This replaces the previously more generous “Dates for Filing” method.
The move affects families filing for green cards through family, employment, or diversity visa categories. Under the older system, children could “lock in” their age earlier, offering stronger protection against aging out before turning 21. Now, eligibility will hinge on when a visa number is actually available—a stricter benchmark that may disqualify many dependents, especially in heavily backlogged categories like EB-2 and EB-3.
US authorities say any applications submitted before August 15 will still benefit from the former, more favorable policy. In cases where applicants were unable to apply within one year due to extraordinary circumstances, the old calculation may still apply.
This realignment aims to ensure consistent treatment across U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of State, avoiding contradictions in age calculations for applicants inside versus outside the United States.
