How the Visa Bulletin Works
Most family-based immigrants must wait for a green card because only a limited number are issued each year. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21) are the exception, since visas are always available to them. For everyone else, the U.S. Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin that explains when you can move forward. This guide will show you exactly how the Visa Bulletin works.
U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin Explained
What is the Visa Bulletin?
The family-based immigration process begins when a U.S. citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for a family member. Because demand for visas usually exceeds supply, most family preference categories face a wait. The Department of State issues green cards on a first-come, first-served basis.
An approved I-130 confirms your qualifying relationship and secures your place in line—it does not grant immediate entry. Your exact spot is marked by a priority date. When your priority date becomes “current,” a visa is available. The Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin shows which priority dates are current. Once your petition is current, you may apply for a green card.
To read the visa bulletin, you’ll need to know two things:
Determine Your Priority Date
Where do I find my priority date?
Family preference green cards have annual limits, which creates a waiting list. Each beneficiary’s place in line is marked by a priority date. This date is simply the day USCIS receives Form I-130. Once the petition is accepted, USCIS assigns the priority date to the case.
Finding your priority date is straightforward. Check the I-797 Notice of Action (I-130 Receipt Notice) that USCIS mails after accepting the petition. You can also find it on the Approval Notice issued once the petition is approved. The priority date appears in the top section of these notices.
Determine Your Family Preference Category
What are the Visa Bulletin categories?
Your family preference category depends on your relationship to the petitioner. Each type of relationship has a different priority for an immigrant visa. If an I-130 was filed for you, the petitioner is either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. Determining your category is straightforward. Use the list below to identify where you belong.
Unmarried, adult sons and daughters (age 21 or over) of U.S. citizens
Spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) of permanent residents
Unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents
Married sons and daughters (any age) of U.S. citizens
Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens
If you don't see your relationship type above, you may be an immediate relative. Immediate relatives include the spouse, parent, or unmarried child (under age 21) of U.S. citizens. There is no annual limit on the number of immigrant visas issued to immediate relatives each year. Thus, there is no wait, and they are not included on the Visa Bulletin. Immediate relatives can move forward with the application.
Read the Visa Bulletin
Which Visa Bulletin chart do I use?
Once you know your priority date and family preference category, go to the U.S. State Department's website and open the "Current Visa Bulletin." Scroll to "Family-Sponsored Preferences" and locate the table. Find your category and compare your priority date to the date listed. If your date is earlier, your visa is current and you may move forward.
Most applicants can use the column labeled “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.” However, if your country of nationality is China, India, Mexico, or the Philippines, use the column for your country. This is the key to understanding how the Visa Bulletin works.
A. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
The first chart is for “final action dates.” An immigrant visa is actually available if a priority date comes before the date listed in this chart.
Sample Chart for Final Action Dates
| Family-Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01DEC14 | 01DEC14 | 01DEC14 | 15NOV00 | 01MAR12 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | 22SEP15 | 22SEP15 | 22SEP15 | 01JUN01 | 22OCT11 |
| F3 | 22NOV08 | 22NOV08 | 22NOV08 | 01NOV97 | 08JUN02 |
| F4 | 22MAR07 | 22MAR07 | 15SEP05 | 01AUG00 | 22AUG02 |
B. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS
The second chart shows when an intending immigrant may apply for an immigrant visa. If your priority date is earlier than the date listed in the Filing Dates Chart, you may submit an adjustment of status application. For consular processing, the National Visa Center relies on this chart to begin the case and will notify you when it is time to apply.
Sample Chart for Filing Dates
| Family-Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 08AUG16 | 08AUG16 | 08AUG16 | 01DEC02 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JAN17 | 01JAN02 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 08NOV09 | 08NOV09 | 08NOV09 | 15JUN01 | 08NOV03 |
| F4 | 15DEC07 | 15DEC07 | 22FEB06 | 01APR01 | 22APR04 |
When your priority date is current and the I-130 petition is approved, you may begin the immigrant visa process. Beneficiaries lawfully present in the United States can usually apply through adjustment of status by filing the application package with USCIS. Those outside the United States must use consular processing, and the National Visa Center will notify them when it is time to apply. Learn how to apply.
Visa Bulletin Examples
Do you have examples of how the Visa Bulletin works?
Visa Retrogression
Why is the Visa Bulletin not moving?
Sometimes the priority dates in the Visa Bulletin don’t change from month to month. In some cases, they even move backward. This is called visa retrogression.
Normally, cut-off dates move forward as visas become available. Retrogression happens when demand for a specific category or country exceeds the visas allocated for that month. It often occurs near the end of the fiscal year, when annual limits are nearly reached. As a result, a priority date that was current one month may no longer be current the next. When the new fiscal year begins on October 1, a fresh supply of visas is released, and cut-off dates usually, but not always, return to their prior point.
Where to Check Visa Bulletin
How do I get monthly updates?
Now that you understand how the visa bulletin works, you'll need to monitor it on a regular basis. The U.S. Department of State publishes a monthly bulletin for employment-based and diversity visa categories as well. Book mark the State Department website below.
Use Data, Not Guesswork: Green Card Wait Time Estimator
Instead of relying only on general USCIS averages, you can see how visa availability may affect your family’s real timeline. The Green Card Wait Time Estimator combines:
- USCIS I-130 processing time trends
- Historical movement from the Visa Bulletin
- Your family category and country of chargeability
- Your priority date
The result is a data-informed estimate of when you may be able to obtain a green card.
Apply for a Green Card
My priority date is current. What's the next step?
If your I-130 petition is now current, you may apply for permanent residence (green card) in the United States. There are two basic ways to apply for your green card: consular processing or adjustment of status.
If you are outside the United States, your path to a green card is through consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. This is the most common way to obtain permanent residence. The National Visa Center (NVC) will notify you when a visa is available, collect fees and documents such as Form I-864, and schedule your medical exam. Once complete, the case is transferred to the embassy or consulate for your interview.
If you are inside the United States, you may qualify for adjustment of status, which allows certain nonimmigrants to apply for a green card without leaving the country. Eligibility requires lawful entry and meeting specific criteria. Common cases include immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, K-1 visa holders who married their petitioner, asylees, refugees, and certain workers sponsored by employers. Applicants who do not qualify must instead use consular processing.
Your immigrant visa is available to claim for one year. Under section 203(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the State Department must terminate a petition if the beneficiary does not apply within that year. The petition may be reinstated within two years, but only if the delay was beyond the applicant’s control. Failing to respond to NVC notices risks losing your petition and your priority date.
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
Use Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) to start the immigration process for a family member. Each year, USCIS rejects or denies thousands of I-130 petitions. Rejections and denials delay the process and can cost you money. Therefore, it's important to get it right.
* Data based on USCIS Forms Data and Lockbox Rejection Data.
How CitizenPath Helps You Prepare the I-130 Petition
How do I file Form I-130?
CitizenPath makes preparing Form I-130 simple and affordable. Created by immigration lawyers, our Immigrant Visa Petition Package helps you avoid the mistakes that cause delays, rejections, or denials. You’ll receive instant alerts for problem answers and personalized filing instructions tailored to your case. It’s a do-it-yourself tool with live customer support and a money-back guarantee of USCIS approval. Get started >>
STEP 1 | Check Eligibility | |
We're going to ask you a few questions to make sure you're eligible and preparing the correct form. | ||
STEP 2 | Prepare Form I-130 | |
Our software will guide you through the I-130 petition using simple step-by-step instructions. | ||
STEP 3 | Download, Print and File | |
Once you're completely satisfied, you’ll be able to print your I-130 and customized filing instructions. | ||
