The monthly Visa Bulletin from the U.S. Department of State is one of the most important documents in the immigration process — and one of the most confusing. Here is a step-by-step guide to understanding it in plain English.
The Visa Bulletin is published monthly by the U.S. Department of State. It shows the cutoff dates for each family-based and employment-based immigration category for each country. If your priority date is earlier than the cutoff date shown, you may be eligible to move forward with your green card application.
Your priority date is the date USCIS received your I-130 petition (or your employer's I-140 petition). It is printed on your receipt notice (Form I-797). This date is your place in line — the earlier it is, the better.
There are two main sections of the Visa Bulletin — Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based. Within each section, there are preference categories:
The Visa Bulletin has separate columns for China, India, Mexico, Philippines, and "All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed" (which covers all other countries). Find the column for your country of birth — not your citizenship or residence.
If the Visa Bulletin shows "C" (Current) for your category and country, it means no waiting — you can file immediately. If it shows a date, your priority date must be earlier than that date for you to proceed. If it shows "U" (Unavailable), no visas are available in that category right now.
There are two charts each month — the Final Action Dates chart and the Dates for Filing chart. USCIS announces each month which chart can be used for I-485 filings. Always check USCIS.gov to confirm which chart applies for your case type that month.
Not Sure What This Means For Your Situation?
Use ClearPath's free tools to:
✓ Find your immigration pathway
✓ Check your priority date
✓ Estimate processing times
✓ Explore USCIS forms
Start Here →