Visa classes › Employment-based preferences › EW
EW · immigrant visa · Employment-based preferences
EW: Employment third preference, other worker (subgroup numerical limit), spouse and child (EW3, EW4, EW5)
The reports below contain preliminary data which are subject to change. Beginning with FY 2020, individual monthly issuance reports should not be aggregated, as this will not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date. Instead, refer to our annual Report of the Visa Office for final full Fiscal Year statistics.
EW is the State Department's symbol for "Employment third preference, other worker (subgroup numerical limit), spouse and child (EW3, EW4, EW5)". 126 EW immigrant visas were issued worldwide in September 2025, up 174% on September 2024 (46), 0.3% of the month's immigrant issuances and the 18th largest class of 49.
The Department publishes annual totals for immigrant classes separately, in its Report of the Visa Office immigrant visa tables, which this site does not yet carry; this site does not add monthly reports together.
18 posts issued at least one EW visa in September 2025. The largest were Ciudad Juarez (36, 28.6%), Guangzhou (14, 11.1%) and Ho Chi Minh City (14, 11.1%).
By foreign state of chargeability, the largest groups that month were Mexico (36), Vietnam (18) and China - mainland (14).
The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; monthly reports are not summed on this site.
Issuances by month
Compared with its group and all immigrant classes
| Measure | EW | Employment-based preferences group | All immigrant classes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visas issued, Sep 2025 | 126 | 927 | 45,966 |
| Change on Sep 2024 | +174% | — | -21% |
| Share of immigrant issuances, Sep 2025 | 0.3% | 2% | 100% |
Posts issuing the most EW visas, September 2025
18 posts issued at least one in the month. Shares of the month's EW total: Ciudad Juarez 28.6%, Guangzhou 11.1%, Ho Chi Minh City 11.1%, Islamabad 8.7%, Manila 7.9%.
By foreign state of chargeability, September 2025
| Foreign state of chargeability | Issued, Sep 2025 | Share of EW |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 36 | 28.6% |
| Vietnam | 18 | 14.3% |
| China - mainland | 14 | 11.1% |
| Philippines | 13 | 10.3% |
| Pakistan | 11 | 8.7% |
| Malawi | 5 | 4% |
| Thailand | 5 | 4% |
| Chile | 4 | 3.2% |
| El Salvador | 4 | 3.2% |
| Hong Kong S.A.R. | 4 | 3.2% |
| Iran | 4 | 3.2% |
| Dominican Republic | 2 | 1.6% |
| Poland | 2 | 1.6% |
| Russia | 2 | 1.6% |
| Brazil | 1 | 0.8% |
| Israel | 1 | 0.8% |
Other classes in the same group
- I5 Investor pilot program (regional center) in targeted area… (323 in Sep 2025)
- E3 Employment third preference: skilled worker or profession… (258 in Sep 2025)
- E1 Employment first preference (priority workers): person wi… (109 in Sep 2025)
- E2 Employment second preference: professional holding advanc… (62 in Sep 2025)
- RR3 Child of RR1 (15 in Sep 2025)
- RR1 Employment creation (EB-5) reserved visa, rural area, pri… (10 in Sep 2025)
- T5 Employment creation (EB-5) in targeted rural or high unem… (8 in Sep 2025)
- C5 Employment creation (EB-5) outside targeted areas, spouse… (4 in Sep 2025)
- RI Employment creation (EB-5) reserved visas, infrastructure… (3 in Sep 2025)
- RR2 Spouse of RR1 (3 in Sep 2025)
- RU3 Child of RU1 (2 in Sep 2025)
- RH1 Employment creation (EB-5) reserved visa, high unemployme… (1 in Sep 2025)
- RH3 Child of RH1 (1 in Sep 2025)
- RU1 Employment creation (EB-5) reserved visa, high unemployme… (1 in Sep 2025)
- RU2 Spouse of RU1 (1 in Sep 2025)
- BC Broadcaster in the U.S. employed by the International Bro… (0 in Sep 2025)
- E4 Employment fourth preference: certain special immigrants (0 in Sep 2025)
- R5 Investor pilot program (regional center), not in targeted… (0 in Sep 2025)
- RH Employment creation (EB-5) reserved visas, high unemploym… (0 in Sep 2025)
- RR Employment creation (EB-5) reserved visas, rural area, sp… (0 in Sep 2025)
- RU Employment creation (EB-5) reserved visas, high unemploym… (0 in Sep 2025)
- SD Minister of religion, spouse and child (SD1-SD3) (0 in Sep 2025)
- SE Certain employees or former employees of the U.S. Governm… (0 in Sep 2025)
- SK Certain retired international organization employees and … (0 in Sep 2025)
- SR Certain religious workers, spouse and child (SR1-SR3) (0 in Sep 2025)
Questions and answers
What is a EW visa?
The State Department's symbol list describes EW as "Employment third preference, other worker (subgroup numerical limit), spouse and child (EW3, EW4, EW5)". It is an immigrant visa class.
How many EW visas were issued last year?
In September 2025, the latest monthly report, 126 EW visas were issued. The Department publishes annual totals separately; this site does not add monthly reports together.
How does September 2025 compare with a year earlier for EW?
126 issued, up 174% on September 2024 (46).
Which posts issue the most EW visas?
In September 2025: Ciudad Juarez (36), Guangzhou (14), Ho Chi Minh City (14), Islamabad (11) and Manila (10), out of 18 posts that issued any.
Where does this data come from?
The State Department's monthly immigrant visa issuance tables by post and by foreign state of chargeability, March 2017 to September 2025. Class descriptions are the Department's own.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly immigrant visa issuance tables by post and by foreign state of chargeability, Mar 2017 to Sep 2025, public domain. The class description is quoted from the Department's Immigrant Visa Symbols list. Data through 30 Sep 2025. See corrections.