🗓️ How to Understand the Visa Bulletin and Priority Dates
If you’re waiting for a green card through family-based or employment-based immigration, it’s important to know how visa availability is determined.
Each month, the U.S. Department of State releases a Visa Bulletin to show which green card categories are current, backlogged, or have upcoming availability.
This process helps U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and applicants know when they can submit adjustment of status applications (Form I-485) or prepare for consular processing.
📊 What Is the Visa Bulletin?
The Visa Bulletin shows which immigrant visa categories are moving forward and which are still waiting. It’s organized by:
- Filing category (family- or employment-based)
- Country of origin (for the applicant or “beneficiary”)
It includes two important sections:
- Final Action Dates (Chart A)
- Dates for Filing Applications (Chart B)
✅ Chart A: Final Action Dates
This chart shows the cutoff dates when immigrant visas can actually be issued.
- If your priority date (the date your petition was filed) is on or before the listed Final Action Date:
- You may be eligible to receive your green card
- You can move forward with interviews and final approvals
🔁 The Final Action Date is used when USCIS or a U.S. embassy decides whether to approve your green card.
📁 Chart B: Dates for Filing Applications
This chart tells you when you can submit your visa application and supporting documents, even if a visa is not yet available.
- If your priority date is earlier than the Filing Date:
- You can send your paperwork to the National Visa Center (NVC)
- This step lets you prepare early, before your visa becomes current
⏱️ Keep in mind: Submitting early doesn’t mean your green card will be approved yet, but it gets you ahead in the process.
🔄 Why Are There Two Different Dates?
You might notice that Chart B (Filing Dates) is often ahead of Chart A (Final Action Dates).
Why? Because the government is trying to:
- Manage demand
- Avoid delays
- Stay within the annual visa limits set by law
By allowing applicants to submit documents early, the process moves faster once a visa number becomes available.
📆 Why These Dates Change Each Month
The Visa Bulletin is updated monthly by the U.S. Department of State. These changes are based on:
- How many green cards have been issued that year
- Application demand from around the world
- Annual visa limits by category and country
📌 Sometimes the gap between Chart A and B gets bigger or smaller — and this can impact your case timeline.
📣 Pro Tip: Stay Updated and Plan Ahead
The best way to stay on top of your immigration process is to:
- Check the Visa Bulletin every month (View the latest Visa Bulletin)
- Know your priority date
- Work with an experienced immigration attorney to decide when to file and what steps to take next
🤝 Need Help Understanding the Visa Bulletin?
The system can be confusing — especially if you’re tracking both USCIS and Department of State updates.
As an experienced immigration attorney, I’m here to help you:
- Understand where your case stands
- Decide when to file
- Stay prepared for visa availability changes
📞 Contact me today to make sure you’re ready when your priority date becomes current.
Revision Date: March 2025.