Visa Bulletin Explained: How Priority Dates Work and What to Watch

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The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication from the Department of State that determines when immigrants in preference categories can file for their green cards. If you are waiting for a family-based or employment-based green card, the Visa Bulletin controls your timeline. Understanding how to read it is essential.

What Is the Visa Bulletin?

Congress limits the number of immigrant visas issued each year in each preference category and per country. When demand exceeds supply, a waiting line forms. The Visa Bulletin shows where that line is — specifically, which priority dates are currently eligible to proceed.

Priority Date

Your priority date is your place in line. It is established when:

  • Family cases: The date USCIS receives your I-130 petition
  • Employment cases (with PERM): The date the DOL receives your PERM application
  • Employment cases (without PERM): The date USCIS receives your I-140 petition
  • EB-5 cases: The date USCIS receives your I-526E petition

How to Read the Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin contains two charts:

Chart A — Final Action Dates: Shows when a visa is actually available. If your priority date is before the listed date, you can receive your green card.

Chart B — Dates for Filing: Shows when you can file your I-485 adjustment application. Filing early allows you to receive work authorization and travel documents while waiting. USCIS announces each month whether Chart B is available for filing.

Country-Specific Backlogs

No single country can receive more than 7% of the total immigrant visas issued each year. This creates significant backlogs for nationals of high-demand countries:

  • India (EB-2/EB-3): Priority dates currently in the early 2010s — a decade-long backlog
  • China (EB-2/EB-3): Multi-year backlogs, though shorter than India
  • Philippines, Mexico (family-based): F4 category backlogs exceed 20 years

Tips for Managing Long Waits

  1. Monitor the Visa Bulletin monthly for any movement
  2. Maintain valid nonimmigrant status while waiting
  3. Consider EB-1 or other categories that may be current
  4. For EB-5, consider rural or high-unemployment set-aside categories with separate visa pools
  5. File under Chart B when available to get EAD and advance parole benefits early

Have priority date questions? Request a free case evaluation.