How to Read the State Department’s Visa Bulletin?
- Introduction. T he Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication issued by the US Department of State. ...
- The Overall Caps by Family-Based Green Cards. There are four basic family classifications, according to Boundless. ...
- The Overall Caps for Employment-Based Green Cards. ...
- A Few Key Visa Bulletin Definitions. ...
- Country-Specific Columns. ...
Full Answer
Do you need to read the monthly Visa Bulletin?
Everything you need to know about this important monthly update is explained below, but here’s the bottom line for family members seeking green cards: If you’re the spouse, parent, or unmarried child (under age 21) of a U.S. citizen, you don’t even need to read the visa bulletin—there’s no green card backlog or wait time for you!
What is the priority date on the Visa Bulletin?
Important terms in the Visa Bulletin Priority date: This is the date that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received your I-130 petition. Think of this date as your place in the green card line. You can find your priority date on the I-797 form mailed by USCIS approving your I-130 petition.
What does current status mean on the Visa Bulletin?
Current: In the context of the visa bulletin, “current” means no backlog and no wait time for a green card. A particular priority date becomes “current” once it reaches the front of the line and a green card is available.
What category do I need to watch for when checking Visa Bulletin?
If you are a green card holder who has applied for a green card for your spouse, this is the category you’ll need to watch when you check the visa bulletin. 77% of the second category quota goes towards this F2A sub-category (that’s 87,934 green cards per year).
How do you read a visa bulletin current date?
Select the "Current Visa Bulletin." Forward to "Family-Sponsored Preferences" to see a table similar to the sample below. Find your family preference category and compare your priority date to the date listed. If your priority date comes before the date listed, your immigrant visa is current.
What does the Visa Bulletin tell you?
The visa bulletin is issued every month by the Department of State. It shows which green card applications can move forward, based on when the I-130 petition that starts the green card process was originally filed.
How do you read a DV Visa Bulletin?
6:489:38How to read Visa Bulletin - DV Lottery - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNumber is current for that month it is in the month that the visa bulletin.MoreNumber is current for that month it is in the month that the visa bulletin.
What does no wait in Visa Bulletin mean?
The Visa Bulletin uses “Current (C)” to indicate that there's no backlog/no wait time for a green card. A priority date becomes current when it reaches the front of the line which indicates a green card is available. An entire preference category can also be current – if that category has no backlog/wait time.
Will USCIS speed up 2022?
Washington, D.C., May 6, 2021: Reports from USCIS and from Donoso & Partners' own recent experience indicate that USCIS processing times are likely to drop during the remainder of 2021 and through 2022.
What does it mean when your priority date is current?
When your priority date arrives, it's known as being current; that means the people with that date are now eligible for visas or green cards. You can check the Visa Bulletin that the U.S. State Department publishes monthly to find out which priority dates are becoming current.
How do you read a DV case number?
1:464:08What is CASE NUMBER in DV Lottery? Can you trick ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt will say congratulations blah blah blah blah all the way in the at the bottom they will be havingMoreIt will say congratulations blah blah blah blah all the way in the at the bottom they will be having your case number the case number will be starting with the year of the fiscal. Year the v2022.
How DV lottery winners are selected?
The winners of the Diversity Visa lottery are chosen at random by a computer program, with a certain number of visas allocated to each region of the world and no one country receiving more than 7% of the Diversity Visas available in any given year.
What do I do if my priority date is passed?
In general, when the priority date has already passed, it means that your case is under review by the immigration authorities. So, an immigrant visa number may already be available to continue your process.
How long does it take for NVC to schedule interview 2022?
How long does it take to get an appointment? Although NVC strives to schedule appointments within three months of NVC's acceptance of all requested documentation, this timeframe is subject to the operating status and capacity of the consular section.
Is NVC scheduling interviews 2022?
After reviewing your application, the NVC will schedule your immigrant visa interview. As of April 25, 2022, the NVC is reviewing documents submitted on or before February 4, 2022. Applicants must still complete all necessary formalities for their applications before the NVC reviews their case.
How long is the green card process 2022?
7 to 33 monthsIt takes 7 to 33 months to process a Green Card application. The Green Card processing time depends on the type of Green Card you are applying for, the location of the processing office and other factors. Family Preference Green Cards processing takes from 1 to 10 years depending on the wait time and yearly caps.
How long does it take for NVC to schedule interview 2022?
How long does it take to get an appointment? Although NVC strives to schedule appointments within three months of NVC's acceptance of all requested documentation, this timeframe is subject to the operating status and capacity of the consular section.
What is final action date in Visa Bulletin?
A: The Final Action Date on the Visa Bulletin is the date when an immigrant visa is available and a green card may finally be issued. A green card case cannot be completed (approved) unless the applicant's priority date is earlier than the Final Action Date listed on the Visa Bulletin.
How long does it take to get the green card after the priority date becomes current?
Form I-485 Processing Time Summary HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A GREEN CARD? After filing Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status, and related forms, your I-485 processing time can take anywhere from 8 to 14 months.
What happens when final action date is current?
Final action dates are the dates that are most commonly used by applications for filing adjustment of status applications with USCIS during rest of the year after first few months. If the final action dates chart shows as 'Current' or 'C', then it means that there is no wait time in the green card queue.
What is the visa bulletin?
The U.S. Department of State issues the “ visa bulletin ” each month. The visa bulletin shows you when you may proceed with your green card application based on when you originally filed your Form I-130 (the “Petition for Alien Relative”).
How to read the visa bulletin
To read the visa bulletin correctly, you’ll first need to familiarize yourself with some important terms and procedures.
What is a visa retrogression?
Typically, cut-off dates for the visa bulletin continue to move forward. But, sometimes U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State get more green card applications for certain categories in a month than they had expected. When this happens, the cut-off dates for the next month may move backward.
Conclusion
Applying for a green card can be complicated, but working with a good immigration attorney can make it easier. If you can't afford the attorney fees and don't want to handle your green card case alone, we may be able to help.
What is the visa bulletin?
Here are some useful tips and a few examples. The visa bulletin is issued every month by the Department of State and, simply put, it shows three things: Which categories are eligible for filing of the green card application (i.e. I-485 if you are in the U.S.).
How many charts are there on the visa bulletin?
There are also two charts on the visa bulletin to understand:
What is priority date for green card?
Priority Date: This is your place in line. It determines when you can file the green card application (I-485).
Is the visa bulletin easy to read?
The visa bulletin is by no means an easy read and can require a lot of research in order to gain a full understanding of your personal status. That's why Legalpad has developed a tool to help you find out in minutes if you are eligible to file your green card application. Get started here!
Can I use my spouse's country of birth for I-485?
Retrogression is the priority date on the visa bulletin moving backwards due to increase in demand. Cross-chargeability: If I-485s for you and your spouse are filed together, you can both use your spouse’s country of birth for filing the I-485s.
Introduction
T he Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication issued by the US Department of State. The visa bulletin discloses the following three items of information:
Why the Visa Bulletin is Required Reading for Visa and Green Card Applicants?
The bulletin exists, according to Legal Pad, because the number of green cards that can be issued yearly is capped. There are also limits based on the country the immigrant lives in. As a rule, there’s always a backlog. The bulletin is essentially a way for applicants to watch their place in line. The cap number may change from year to year.
The Overall Caps by Family-Based Green Cards
There are four basic family classifications, according to Boundless. Each of these classifications has the following current caps:
The Overall Caps for Employment-Based Green Cards
Workers can apply for green cards based on their priority and based on the following cap levels – most of which are based on a percentage. According to the December 2020 Visa Bulletin, the employment categories are:
Is there a Cap on the Number of Green Cards for the Spouses of US Citizens?
The good answer is no. The spousal cap only applies to spouses of US green card holders, not to spouses of US citizens. Since there isn’t a limit on spousal green cards – there’s no backlog and thus no need to review the visa bulletin.
A Few Key Visa Bulletin Definitions
There are a few precise terms that are used in the Visa Bulletin that it helps to understand (or to have an experienced immigration lawyer explain to you). These terms are:
What are the Visa Bulletin Charts?
The Visa Bulletin uses four charts to determine your place in line. How to use and read these charts are discussed in a separate article.