Work and Employment
USCIS Visa Bulletin Explained: Step-by-step Guide
Confused by the USCIS visa bulletin? What is a priority date? Why are there 2 dates on the visa bulletin? After hearing these questions from thousands of our prior clients, we decided to create the ultimate guide explaining how to read the USCIS visa bulletin.
By:
Chelsea Spinos
Reviewer:
Simon Craven, Esq.
12 min read • March 29, 2024
Key takeaways
Visa bulletin is a monthly publication by the USCIS that defines the priority for various types of Green Cards - employment, family and others.
Visa bulletins are extremely confusing. They have a lot of numbers, dates and visa categories. Many of our clients get lost, confused and overwhelmed.
We created the most clear, simple and straight forward manual explaining how to read the visa bulletin. In this guide we explain what is your priority date and when can you get your green Card.
In this USCIS visa guide, we'll help you locate your priority date and read the visa bulletin chart. We'll also explain why the visa bulletin dates might not be moving and provide guidance on what to do when your priority date becomes current.
The USCIS visa bulletin is published by the U.S. Department of State every month, showing which green card applications can move forward. Your place in line for a green card is determined by your priority date, which is given upon filing an immigrant petition (Form I-140 or Form I-130).
You have reached the front of a line for a green card once your priority date has become “current”.
You can check the visa bulletin to watch your place in line and find out when you can move forward with your green card application.
💡 Manifest Tip: Remember to review the form very carefully, as the information cannot be changed once submitted!
To read the visa bulletin chart, you need to know two things:
Your priority date
Your preference category
Since Congress sets a cap on the number of green cards issued each year (366,000 annually), there is an ongoing backlog which creates a waiting list. Your priority date is essentially your place on the waiting list.
Your priority date is the date that USCIS receives the initial filing of your immigration petition, such as Form I-130.
Finding your priority date is fairly simple. You can take a look at the receipt notice (Form I-797C) that USCIS sends you after they receive and process your petition.
Your priority date is located at the top section of the document.
Next step is to find which preference category your case falls under. This is essential to know which visa bulletin chart to look at.
EB-2: Individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities, filing for an EB2 PERM or EB2 NIW visa.
EB-3: Skilled workers with at least two years of experience, professionals with a bachelor's degree, and other workers filing for an EB3 visa.
EB-4: Special immigrant categories such as religious workers, filing for an EB4 visa.
EB-5: Individuals making substantial investments in U.S. businesses for an EB5 visa.
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F1: Unmarried children over the age of 21 of U.S. citizens.
F2A: Spouses and unmarried children (under 21 years old) of lawful permanent residents.
F2B: Unmarried children over the age of 21 of lawful permanent residents.
F3: Married children of U.S. citizens.
F4: Siblings of U.S. citizens.
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Now that you know how to find your priority date and the preference category you’re in, it’s time to head over to the U.S. State Department's website and find the monthly visa bulletin.
If you're looking into applying for a green card in the US, you may have heard about the Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin exists because there is an annual limit on certain kinds of green cards. When demand exceeds supply, backlogs are created. The government publishes the Visa Bulletin monthly to indicate the wait times for each category. If visas are available for a certain category, applications are ready to move on to the next steps in the green card process.
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Start by searching for "visa bulletin" online (or go directly to: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html)
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Type "visa bulletin"
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Click on …
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To find out the cases eligible for filing this month, click on the "Current Visa Bulletin"
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Determine whether you are in the Family or Employment Sponsored category, and confirm the Priority Date and correct Preference category for your case ("Section"):
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Sample Family Approval Notice (I-130)
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Sample Employment Approval Notice (I-140, I-360, I-526)
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Click on FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
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Click on EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
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Determine whether to use the "Dates for Filing" or "Final Action" chart for your category by going to the USCIS visa bulletin information site.
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Click on www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo
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Click on GO
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Look at the matching category for your case (Family or Employment)
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Family-Sponsored Filings:
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Employment-Based Preference Filings:
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Confirm which chart is used for your category that month
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You can also see the next month's charts, usually a few weeks before the start of the month:
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Family Categories (F):
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Employment Categories (EB):
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Find the applicable column for your country of nationality
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Match your preference category (F1, F3, EB1, EB3, etc.) with the country column to find the current Priority Date.
In this example, the petition is in the F2A category (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents), for a beneficiary from India. The current Priority date is September 1, 2023.
Once you have matched the correct preference category and country column, you can confirm the "current" priority date that month.
Diversity Visas: If you applied in the "DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT" (DV) category, you can find additional information here as well.
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This works a bit differently than the Employment and Family categories, and is determined by a "cut-off number" rather than a Priority Date.
Sample DV Selection Notice:
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Compare your region's number with the cut-off number on your selection notice, and confirm if yours is lower, or "current." If so, you can take the next steps for your green card!
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Sometimes the Visa Bulletin includes "VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE COMING MONTHS" with predictions and other information about visa availability.
That's it! Hopefully this step-by-step guide to the USCIS Visa Bulletin helps you to navigate your way to success on your green card journey!
As you may have noticed, the USCIS visa bulletin includes two charts for each category: "Final Action Dates" and the "Dates for Filing Applications".
Each chart serves a different purpose and is intended to provide guidance to visa applicants at different stages of the immigration process. Let’s take a closer look at each chart:
Final Action Dates chart
Provides cut off dates for final approval of immigrant visa applications
If your priority date is earlier than the cutoff dates in this chart, you can take the next step of your visa application process!
Dates for Filing Applications chart
Provides cut off dates for submitting certain forms and documents to file a visa application
If your priority date is earlier than the cutoff dates in this chart, you can go ahead and submit your application, but USCIS will not take final action until the priority date becomes current according to the Final Action Dates chart
In short, if you are at the earlier stages of your visa application, you most likely need to look at the Dates for Filing Applications chart.
If you are at the later stages of your visa application, you will need to look at the Final Action Dates chart to see if a visa for your category is available.
Let's take a look at a few hypothetical examples of how someone would read the visa bulletin based on their country of origin, visa type, and priority date.
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Dr. Sophia Chen is a researcher in the field of artificial intelligence and a citizen of China. Given her significant contributions to her field through her groundbreaking research, she is eligible for the EB1-B visa. She has an approved I-140 petition with a priority date of August 22, 2022.
With the EB1-B visa, we need to look at the first row of the visa bulletin for the employment-based category.
Since she is a citizen of China, we need to look at the column for “China-mainland born”.
In the sample visa bulletin shown above, Sophia’s priority date is earlier than the listed date of September 1, 2022 on the Final Action Dates chart.
This means that there is a visa available for the EB1-B category!
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23
Steven Patel, a software developer from India, has been recognized for his innovative contributions to mobile application development. Seeking new opportunities abroad, Steven is applying for an E3 visa as an "other worker" to further his career in the US. He has an approved I-140 petition with a priority date of November 11, 2022.
With the EB3 visa for “other workers”, we need to look at the fourth row of the visa bulletin for the employment-based category.
Since he is a citizen of India, we need to look at the column for “India”.
In the sample visa bulletin shown above, Steven’s priority date is later than the listed date of September 12th, 2015, which means there is not a visa available yet.
Steven still needs to wait, and check the visa bulletin later for updates.
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Carlos Martinez, a citizen of Mexico, has been married to Maria, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) of the US, for three years. Maria has initiated the process to sponsor Carlos for an F2A visa so they can build their life together in the US. Carlos has an approved I-130 petition with a priority date of May 5, 2023.
With the F2A visa, we need to look at the second row of the visa bulletin for the family-sponsored category.
Since he is a citizen of Mexico, we need to look at the column for “Mexico”.
In the sample visa bulletin shown above, Carlos’ priority date is earlier than the listed date of September 1, 2023.
This means there is an F2A visa available, and he can move onto the next step of the green card process.
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The U.S. The Department of State releases the visa bulletin every month, typically around the middle of the month.
Every month, the Department of State reviews the current backlog across the visa categories and predicts a future date based on this data. If your priority date falls on or before this projected date, it's time to take the next step in your immigration journey.
Stay informed about the USCIS visa bulletin and visa bulletin predictions on our blog article here for the latest insights.
You can also enter your email address below to receive monthly updates sent directly to your inbox.
Sometimes the priority dates listed on the visa bulletin chart remain unchanged or even regress from the previous month. When this happens, it's known as visa retrogression.
Visa retrogression occurs when more people apply for a visa in a particular category or country than there are visas available for that month. Retrogression for a visa commonly happens towards the end of the fiscal year as visa allocations get close to the annual limits for specific categories or countries.
While there isn’t anything you can do to prevent or eliminate visa retrogression, there are some steps you can take to navigate the delays and uncertainty:
Stay informed: Keep an eye on the USCIS visa bulletin for updates on priority date movements and any changes in visa availability for different categories and countries
Explore other visa options: Consider any alternative visa categories that may not be affected by retrogression, or have different priority date requirements
Consult a professional: Our experienced immigration lawyers at Manifest Law can help assess the impact of visa retrogression on your case and explore alternative options or strategies
Remain patient: We know it's frustrating when you watch the visa bulletin not moving, but the unfortunate reality is that the supply of visas isn’t enough to meet the demand. Instead, focus on collecting your documents and preparing your case
Congrats! If your I-130 petition is now current, it’s time to move onto the next step towards getting permanent residency. Depending on where you are applying from, you will either file through Consular Processing or Adjustment of Status.
If you're applying from outside the United States, your path is consular processing. This involves applying for an immigrant visa (green card) through a U.S. embassy or consular office abroad.
With consular processing, the National Visa Center will notify the petitioner and beneficiary when the visa becomes available. They'll request the immigrant fee, visa application, Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support), and a medical exam.
Once you provide these, the NVC will transfer your case to the U.S. embassy or consulate for an interview.
Processing time for Consular Processing
The processing time for consular processing can range from a few months to over a year in some cases.
Fees for Consular Processing
The fees for consular processing can vary depending on the visa type, but here are some of the common fees:
Fee
Visa application fee
Medical examination fee
Document translation fees
Cost
$160 - $365
Varies depending on country and physician
Varies
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For marriage and family-based green cards, additional fees include:
Form
Form I-130
Form I-864
Form DS-260
USCIS Immigrant Fee
Cost
$535
$120
$325
$220
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If you're already in the United States, you might qualify for adjustment of status, which is changing from a temporary visa to permanent residency (green card).
This option is available to certain people who entered the U.S. lawfully and meet specific criteria. For example, immediate relatives, K-1 visa holders who married a U.S. citizen, asylees, refugees, and certain employment visa holders sponsored for a green card can typically adjust status. Others must go through consular processing.
Processing time for Adjustment of Status
Generally, the processing time for adjustment of status can range from a few months to over a year.
In some cases, processing times may be shorter if the application is straightforward and there are no issues.
However, processing times can be longer if there are issues with the application, requests for evidence (RFEs) are sent, or if additional security or background checks are required.
Fees for Adjustment of Status
The fees for adjustment of status can vary depending on the visa type, but here are some of the common fees:
Fee
Form I-485 Filing Fee
Biometric Services Fee
Form I-765 Filing Fee (Optional)
Form I-131 Filing Fee (Optional)
Cost
$1,130
$85
$550
$575
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You have one year from the date an immigrant visa becomes available to claim it!
With a year of the visa becoming available, you need to start the application process and respond to any notifications from the National Visa Center (NVC). If you don’t start the process within the one-year period, you may lose the opportunity to obtain the immigrant visa and your priority date, and you would need to reapply for the visa.
So, it’s important that you keep your eyes on the USCIS visa bulletin to stay informed about the priority dates.
When your priority date becomes current based on the USCIS visa bulletin, an immigration lawyer can assist you in completing and filing the necessary forms, such as the I-485, I-765, and I-131, accurately and promptly.
They can also help prep you for any required interview, guiding you on presenting your case effectively and offering expert advice on answering questions.
Here at Manifest Law, our immigration lawyers have 10+ years of experience and have handled thousands of visa and green card applications. We offer flexible payment plans stretching up to 6 months and a visa-approved or money-back guarantee (terms apply).
Book a free visa consultation today, and get the support and guidance you need.
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