how to read the visa bulletin

Complete Guide to the Visa Bulletin

• Identify your green card category. The first step to reading the visa bulletin is identifying your “preference category.” This just means the type of green card application that you would ...
• Determine your country of chargeability. ...
• Find your priority date. ...
• Figure out what chart to use: We are almost to the end, can you believe it? ...

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 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 is the date of filing in the Visa Bulletin?

The date of filing is the “priority date.” The Visa Bulletin supports the visa allocation system. It has two charts showing the preference categories. The first chart is the “Date of Filing Chart.” It shows the priority dates ready for processing with the National Visa Center, a sub-agency of the DOS.

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 does Visa Bulletin Work?

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.

What does date of filing mean in Visa Bulletin?

A: The Date for Filing on the Visa Bulletin represents the earliest date when an applicant may be able to submit documents for the last stage of the green card process through Adjustment of Status.

What is my priority date?

The priority date is the date upon which either the U.S. Department of Labor received the labor certification application filed (in most cases) by your U.S. employer; or when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received the completed Form I-130 visa petition filed by your U.S. citizen or permanent ...

What is Chart B in Visa Bulletin?

B. This second chart indicates when the intending immigrant can apply for an immigrant visa. Specifically, the applicant may file an adjustment of status application provided that the applicant's priority date is before the date listed in the visa bulletin's filing dates chart.

How do I know if my visa is approved?

Check the Status of a Visa Application For nonimmigrant visas, call 1-603-334-0888. Or use the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC).

How much time after priority date is current?

one yearStill, after your priority date becomes current in the “Application Final Action Dates” chart, you will have one year to pursue your visa or green card. If you miss this as well, the government will perceive you have quit, and the next person in the line will get your visa number to the next.

Will USCIS speed up 2022?

USCIS Extends Premium-Processing to Certain Pending Immigrant Petitions. On May 24, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an expansion of premium processing service to two additional categories of Form I-140 immigrant petitions.

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 happens after my priority date is current?

Generally, it is cause for celebration when these individuals' priority dates become current, as then are eligible to apply for adjustment of status. When the Final Action Date becomes current, the individual should receive permanent residence.

What does visa Class F11 mean?

Unmarried son or daughter of U.S.F11. Unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen.

What is current priority date for F4?

What does Immigration Planner predict? The key of our short-term prediction is that there will be no 'forward movement' for F4-All Countries until at least the summer of 2022, and most likely no movement until the end of fiscal year 2022 in September 2022.

How can I check my U.S. visa slots?

Check US Visa Slots. This checkvisaslots.com's extension will provide access to check & share the US visa slots availability. Summary: checkvisaslots.com is a collaborative screenshot sharing platform to check the US visa slots availability at US Consulates/Embassy in India.

What does application filing date mean?

Related Definitions Application Filing Date means the date the department receives a signed application document that contains the minimum required information.

What is the difference between date of filing or final action?

Now, the “Date for Filing” determines whether or not you can submit the final immigrant visa application, and the “Final Action Date” indicates whether or not it is expected that an immigrant visa number will be available.

What is the difference between priority date and filing date?

A filing date is the date you file your application (for trade marks, patents or designs). The priority date is the date your legal right over such trade mark, patent or design commences.

What is final action and date of filing?

Final action dates are used by the USCIS as default priority dates to ask applicants for green cards to apply for an Adjustment of status. Any exceptions for a certain month will be mentioned in the Visa Bulletin and specified to use “filing dates”.

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.

How often is the visa bulletin issued?

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. It also lets you estimate how long it will take before you will be able to get your green card, based on how quickly the “line” is moving now. Once your I-130 petition has been filed, you’ll be able to check the visa bulletin and watch your place in line move forward.

What does "current" mean in visa?

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.

Why is there a backlog for green cards?

Green card backlogs and the Visa Bulletin. The visa bulletin exists because Congress caps the number of green cards that can be issued each year . The number of people who are seeking green cards has consistently exceeded this annual limit, creating a backlog—in fact, several backlogs.

How long does it take to get a green card?

If you’re the spouse or unmarried child (under age 21) of a U.S. green card holder, you’ll have to wait extra 12-18 months for your green card to become available.

What is the maximum number of green cards you can get in a year?

F1 (first preference): Unmarried adults (age 21 and over) who are children of U.S. citizens. The cap for this category is 23,400 green cards per year.

When is the visa bulletin for 2020?

How to Read the Visa Bulletin. May 25, 2020. May 15 , 2020 by crispinaranda. To ensure that admitting huge numbers of new permanent residents will not overwhelm the economy of the United States, the U.S. government follows a strict visa allocation system. The U.S. Department of State reports the availability of immigrant numbers in its monthly ...

What is the Department of State's report for visas?

Each month, the Visa Office of the Department of State receives a report for each consular post for allocating visa numbers of categories subject to numerical limitations. Part of this report lists the number of documentarily qualified immigrant visa applicants. There are essential things to remember:

How many immigrant visas are issued in the US each year?

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the U.S. government may issue up to 675,000 immigrant visas each year. There are, however, more than that number of applicants every year. In fact, the Department of State or DOS, has over three million immigrant visa applicants in its database. This includes applicants within the U.S. waiting to adjust their status and applicants living outside the U.S. waiting for their interviews at a consular post. The DOS however, issues visas according to the visa categories and the date by which the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, receives a specific visa petition.

What is the priority date for visas?

Visa petitions are queued based on the date the USCIS filed and acknowledged them. The date of filing is the “priority date.”

When did the EB3 visas go retrograde?

The USCIS did this to reduce the backlog in July 2007. By reallocating visa numbers, the EB3 category suffered retrogression until the Visa Office made employment preference numbers available in October of that year.

How many visas are there per country?

There is a per-country yearly allocation of 25,620 for immigrant visa numbers.

What is VO visa?

The Visa Office (VO) computes the annual preference and foreign state limitations into monthly allotments. Several factors determine the numbers available for a specific allotment period, including:

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.

What is the Visa Bulletin?

A priority date is a date an immigrant petition was filed and received by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The priority date is secured once your immigrant petition is approved, at which time the applicant is placed in the visa queue for further processing. In other words, the priority date represents your place in line and helps estimate how long it will take before arriving in the US and receiving your green card.

What is the chart for employment based visas?

There are two important charts to monitor for the employment-based category visas, which are Chart A: Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases, and Chart B: Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications. Chart A is what we know as true as of the moment the Visa Bulletin is issued. Applications with the dates listed on Chart A: Final Action Dates on the monthly Visa Bulletin may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment.

Why is there a limit on the number of green cards that can be issued each year?

The reason for a date showing on this chart is due to an overuse of that category. The U.S. Congress puts a limit on the number of green cards that can be issued each year with a specific quota for each visa category. Thousands of people are seeking green cards every year which has created several backlogs because the annual limit has been reached. Unfortunately, the Immigration Service will continue to file petitions; however, your place in that queue gets longer and longer if you do not have a green card petition filed.

What is chart B?

Chart B, is less talked about, and it is almost like the immigration crystal ball. What this chart states, is that by the end of the government fiscal year, (end of September) this is where the Immigration Service EXPECTS priority dates to have moved to. Chart B is often forgotten about, but it’s crucial to see what the future might look like!

Is every country listed in the Visa Bulletin?

As you can see, not every country is listed in these charts. In that second column, you can see “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed,” which refers to every single country in the world, except those listed in the columns to the right of that. In this month’s Visa Bulletin, “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed,” have the letter C listed. The countries that are typically separated from the rest of the world will have a specific date listed if there is a backlog.

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.

What Is the Visa Bulletin & What Is Its Purpose?

Most people seeking Green Cards are sponsored by a family member ( I-130) or an employer (I-140). It’s important to know that approval of either form I-130 or I-140 is only the first step. After approval, you must either apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate or apply to adjust your status (the process that allows people already in the U.S. to receive their Green Card without leaving the country).

What Types of Visas Are Included in the Bulletin?

The visa bulletin has information on processing times for both employment-based and family-based Green Cards .

What Impacts the Wait Time for My Visa?

Using the above charts as a guide, you can see that there is not a waiting period if you are seeking an EB-1 visa (1st Preference) and you are from Germany (A country under “All Chargeability Areas “), but if you are seeking an EB-3 visa (3rd preference) and you are from India, you can expect a wait of more than ten years (date is 01OCT09 on the chart above). Likewise, if you seek a family-based visa in the F2A category, there is no waiting period. But if you are applying from any other category and are from Mexico, you can expect a wait of more than 20 years!

What is an I-130?

If you have a pending Green Card application, either an I-130 ( Petition for Alien Relative ) or an I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers), one of the most pressing questions you most likely have is- how long will the process take? Or when can you expect to take the next step, either through filing an adjustment of status application or scheduling a visa appointment at a U.S. consulate? The visa bulletin is a tool you can use to make that determination!

What is the first step to get a green card?

It’s important to know that approval of either form I-130 or I-140 is only the first step. After approval, you must either apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate or apply to adjust your status (the process that allows people already in the U.S. to receive their Green Card without leaving the country). The amount of people who apply ...

Where is the priority date on my green card?

This date can be found in the top section of either your I-130/ I-140 receipt or approval notice. Your priority date sets your place in line.

What percentage of the worldwide employment-based preference level is held by the Second?

The Second: Persons of Exceptional Ability or Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, also any numbers not required by first preference.

How Available Visa Numbers Are Determined

• The Visa Office (VO) computes the annual preference and foreign state limitations into monthly allotments. Several factors determine the numbers available for a specific allotment period, including: 1. Past number use such as the number of applicants who qualified for a visa per category. 2. Estimates of future number use and return rates. The Stat...

See more on visacenter.org

The Consular Post and Reallocation of Visa Numbers

Visa Categories and Visa Numbers