Visa Bulletin
Definition
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication of the US Department of State that shows which priority dates are eligible for immigrant visa (green card) processing in each preference category and country. It sets cutoff dates across two charts, Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing, that govern when applicants can file or be approved.
The two charts
The Visa Bulletin contains two tables. Final Action Dates (Chart A) control when a green card can actually be issued or an adjustment of status approved. Dates for Filing (Chart B) usually run ahead of the final action dates and control when an applicant may submit their green card application early.
For applicants adjusting status inside the US, USCIS announces each month which chart it will accept for filing Form I-485. Being current under Dates for Filing lets some applicants file early and pursue work authorisation, but a case can only be approved once the priority date is current under Final Action Dates.
How to read it
To use the bulletin, find your preference category, then your country of birth (country of chargeability), and read across to the cutoff date. Compare that cutoff to your own priority date. If your priority date is earlier than the listed date, you are current for that action.
Cutoff dates move month to month and can even move backward when demand outpaces supply. Because the rules are intricate and change monthly, agencies managing US immigrant visa workflows monitor each release and always verify against the official bulletin on the State Department website.
Agencies re-check the Visa Bulletin every month to tell clients whether their case has become current. VisaCRM can hold each applicant's category and priority date so staff quickly see who is affected when a new bulletin is published.
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Frequently asked questions
Who publishes the Visa Bulletin and how often?
The US Department of State publishes it once a month, typically a couple of weeks before the month it covers. It applies to immigrant visa categories that are numerically limited. Because it is released monthly and cutoff dates shift, you should always read the current edition on the official travel.state.gov site rather than relying on an older copy.
What is the difference between the two charts?
Final Action Dates determine when a green card can be granted. Dates for Filing, which are usually more advanced, determine when you may submit your application before a visa is fully available. For applicants inside the US, USCIS decides each month which chart it accepts for filing Form I-485, so check both alongside its announcement.
What does current mean in the Visa Bulletin?
A category is current when a visa number is available for your priority date. Practically, that means your priority date is earlier than the cutoff date shown for your category and country, or the category shows a C (current) with no backlog. When you are current you can take the next step in your green card process.
Why did my cutoff date move backward?
Cutoff dates can retrogress when more people apply in a category than there are visas available for the fiscal year. The State Department pulls the date back to stay within annual and per-country limits. This is normal, though frustrating, and the date typically resumes forward movement in later months or the next fiscal year.
Related terms
Related visa types
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