How to Read the Visa Bulletin?
For many people going through the Green Card process in the United States, one of the most confusing topics is the Visa Bulletin. Published monthly, this bulletin shows which stage applicants are at in their process. However, if not read correctly, it can lead to false expectations.
In this article, we explain how the Visa Bulletin works, how to read it, and how it affects your process with clear examples.
What Is the Visa Bulletin and Why Is It Important?
The Visa Bulletin is published each month by the U.S. Department of State. Its purpose is to show which Green Card applicants can move forward and who must continue waiting.
The United States issues a limited number of Green Cards each year. For this reason, a queue system is applied.
The general annual distribution is as follows:
Family-sponsored Green Cards: approximately 226,000
Employment-based Green Cards: approximately 140,000
In addition, a per-country limit of approximately 7% is applied. Therefore, waiting times are longer for countries with high demand such as India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines. Other countries generally move faster under the “Rest of World” category.
What Is a Priority Date?
The key concept to understanding the Visa Bulletin is the priority date.
The priority date is the official start date of your Green Card process and determines your place in line.
It is determined as follows depending on the type of application:
For family-based applications (I-130): The date the petition is filed with USCIS.
For employment-based applications:
If PERM is required: The PERM filing date.
If PERM is not required: The I-140 filing date.
This date is the main reference point when evaluating movement in the Visa Bulletin.
The Two Main Charts in the Visa Bulletin
There are two separate charts in the Visa Bulletin, each representing a different stage.
Final Action Dates (Chart A)
This chart shows when a Green Card can be approved.
If your priority date is earlier than the listed date, your case is eligible for approval.
Dates for Filing (Chart B)
This chart shows when you can file your Green Card application (I-485).
If you are eligible under this chart, you can submit your application. However, this does not mean your Green Card will be issued immediately. You must wait for the Final Action date.
Which Chart Does USCIS Use?
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines each month which chart will be used.
In some months, only the Final Action Dates chart is used, while in others, applicants may file based on the Dates for Filing chart.
If the Dates for Filing chart is open, applicants have the opportunity to start the Green Card process earlier.
What Happens When the Final Action Date Is Reached?
This is one of the most critical stages of the process.
If your priority date reaches the Final Action date, two scenarios may occur:
If the I-485 has already been filed
Since your application is already in the system, your case will be reviewed and the approval process may move faster.
If the I-485 has not yet been filed
In this case, the applicant can file the I-485, and the Green Card process will begin moving forward at the same time.
This scenario is generally faster because the applicant’s place in line has already been reached.
Example Scenario (Family-Based Application)
Assume a U.S. citizen filed an I-130 petition on June 1, 2018, for their unmarried child over 21 under the F1 category.
In this case, the applicant’s priority date is June 1, 2018.
If the Final Action date in the Visa Bulletin is announced as January 1, 2019:
The applicant’s date is earlier, so their turn has arrived
The Green Card can be issued
If the applicant has already filed the I-485, the case may be finalized quickly
If not, they can file at this stage and move the process forward quickly
What Does “Current” Mean?
If a category is marked as “Current,” it means there is no waiting time in that category.
In this case:
The priority date does not matter
Anyone eligible can apply
The process moves faster
What Is the Per-Country Limit?
The U.S. applies a system that prevents any single country from exceeding a certain portion of the total number of Green Cards issued. This limit is approximately 7%.
For this reason, waiting times are longer in countries with high demand.
This is why China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines are listed separately in the Visa Bulletin. Due to high demand, their dates are further back.
Other countries are categorized as “Rest of World” and generally move faster.
Family-Based and Employment-Based Categories
The Visa Bulletin is divided into two main categories:
Family-Sponsored
F1: Unmarried children (21+) of U.S. citizens
F2A: Spouses and children (under 21) of Green Card holders
F2B: Unmarried children (21+) of Green Card holders
F3: Married children of U.S. citizens
F4: Siblings of U.S. citizens
Employment-Based
EB-1: Priority workers and executives
EB-2: Advanced degree professionals and National Interest Waiver applicants
EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers
EB-4: Special categories
EB-5: Investors
In addition, there is the Diversity Visa (Green Card lottery) category, which does not require a sponsor and is based on a lottery system.
For Diversity Visa winners, the order is determined by case number rather than priority date. The lower the case number, the earlier the turn. In the Visa Bulletin, this is shown with numbers by region. For example, if the bulletin states “EU: 15,000,” applicants from Europe with case numbers 15,000 or below can proceed that month. In this case, someone with case number 5,000 can move forward, while someone with 20,000 must wait.
Why Does the Visa Bulletin Change Every Month?
The Visa Bulletin is updated monthly based on:
Number of applications
Number of visas used
Annual quota limits
Country-based demand
For this reason, dates do not always move forward. They may stay the same or even move backward (retrogression).
Conclusion
Although the Visa Bulletin may seem complex, its basic logic is simple. It provides a queue management system for Green Card applications.
The priority date shows your place in line
Dates for Filing determine when you can apply
Final Action Dates show when a Green Card can be issued
When you interpret this system correctly, you can clearly understand what stage your process is in.
The Green Card process requires careful planning and the right strategy. As MC Law Firm, we are with you at every stage of your application. Contact us to manage your process correctly.
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