What is the Visa Bulletin?

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication that determines when Green Cards can be issued to applicants in certain immigration categories.

It helps applicants understand when they may be eligible to file or receive approval based on their category and country of chargeability.

How do you know when you can apply for a Green Card?

To know when you can apply for a Green Card (Adjustment of Status), you need to know your priority date and compare it to the dates listed in the Visa Bulletin.

USCIS will also announce which chart applicants may use for filing in a given month: “Final Action Dates” or “Dates for Filing.”

If your priority date is earlier than the published date for your category and country (and USCIS permits use of that chart), you may be eligible to file.

Your priority date

Your priority date is the date your immigrant petition was filed (or, for certain categories, when the labor certification was filed).

Visa Bulletin categories are typically split into employment-based and family-based preference categories, and each category may move differently month to month.

Employment-based categories

• EB-1: Priority workers (extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, certain multinational executives/managers)
• EB-2: Advanced degree professionals or exceptional ability (including NIW)
• EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers
• EB-4: Certain special immigrants
• EB-5: Immigrant investors

Family-based categories

• F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (21+)
• F2A: Spouses and children of permanent residents
• F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents (21+)
• F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
• F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens