What Is the Visa Bulletin?
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly document published by the US Department of State (DOS). It tells you whether a visa number is currently available for your green card category and country of birth — which determines whether you can file or receive approval for a green card.
Think of it like a traffic light for each green card category:
- Green (Current): You can file or get approved right now
- Yellow (a future date): You can only proceed if your priority date is earlier than this cutoff
- Red (Unavailable): No visas are available this month for this category
The bulletin is published around the 8th–12th of each month and takes effect the following month. For example, the June 2026 bulletin (published in early May) controls who can file and receive approvals in June 2026.
The bulletin exists because Congress limits the number of green cards that can be issued each year — 140,000 for employment-based categories and 226,000 for family-based categories. When demand exceeds supply, a queue forms, and the bulletin tracks where the queue stands each month.
Step 1 — Find Your Priority Date
Your priority date is your place in line. It's the date USCIS or DOL received your petition:
| Your Situation | Priority Date Is | Where It Appears |
|---|---|---|
| Employment-based with PERM (EB-2, EB-3) | Date DOL received your PERM application | PERM approval letter / I-140 approval notice |
| Employment-based without PERM (EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 NIW) | Date USCIS received your I-140 petition | I-797 receipt or approval notice |
| Family-based (I-130 petition) | Date USCIS received the I-130 petition | I-797 receipt notice for the I-130 |
Your priority date never changes once established — even if you change employers, change immigration attorneys, or your petition is refiled. It is yours for life (unless your I-140 is revoked for fraud).
Example: If your employer filed your PERM application on March 15, 2022, and the labor certification was approved, your priority date is March 15, 2022 — regardless of when the I-140 was filed or approved.
Step 2 — Understand Chart A vs Chart B
Each month's Visa Bulletin contains two charts:
Used for: When USCIS can approve your green card (I-485 or immigrant visa).
Your priority date must be: Earlier than (before) the date shown.
Default: USCIS uses Chart A unless they specifically announce Chart B.
Used for: When you can file Form I-485 (adjustment of status) — earlier than Chart A.
Your priority date must be: Earlier than the (earlier) date shown.
Only valid when: USCIS explicitly authorizes it each month — check uscis.gov.
Why does Chart B exist? Because USCIS can project how many visas will be available months ahead. When they see surplus capacity, they allow applicants to file I-485 early — before a visa number is actually available. This lets people get work permits (I-765) and travel documents (I-131) earlier, even though the green card itself won't be approved until the Chart A date is also current.
Practical rule: Start with Chart A. Only use Chart B if USCIS has published a notice on uscis.gov specifically saying they are accepting filings using Chart B for your category that month. Check every month — it changes.
Step 3 — Read the Table
The bulletin table looks like this (simplified example using June 2026 Final Action Dates for Employment):
| Category | All Other | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Apr 1, 2023 | Dec 15, 2022 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Sep 1, 2021 | Sep 1, 2013 | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Jun 1, 2024 | Aug 1, 2021 | Dec 15, 2013 | Jun 1, 2024 | Aug 1, 2023 |
How to use this table:
- Find your row — your green card category (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, F1, F2A, etc.)
- Find your column — your country of birth (not citizenship). If born in China, India, Mexico, or Philippines, use that column. All other countries use "All Other."
- Compare to your priority date — if your priority date is earlier than (before) the date shown, you are current. If it is later than the cutoff, you are not yet current.
Example: You were born in India, your category is EB-2, and your priority date is October 1, 2012. The June 2026 cutoff for India EB-2 is September 1, 2013. Since October 1, 2012 is before September 1, 2013, your date is current this month.
Another example: Same category and country, but your priority date is January 1, 2015. Since January 2015 is after September 2013, you are not yet current — you must wait.
Retrogression — When Dates Move Backward
Retrogression is when a Visa Bulletin cutoff date moves to an earlier date — meaning fewer people are eligible than in the previous month. It's the opposite of progress.
Why it happens: The State Department tracks how many visa numbers are being used each month. If use is outpacing projections and the annual cap is at risk of being exceeded, they pull the date back to slow down consumption. This can happen to any category, any country, at any time.
What it means for you: If your priority date was current last month but the date retrogressed past your date this month, you are no longer eligible to file or get approved — until the date advances forward again. If you already had a pending I-485, retrogression does not mean your application is denied; it just pauses further processing until your date is current again.
India EB-2/EB-3 example: These categories have retrogressed multiple times. Always check the current bulletin before booking medical exams, attorneys, or travel.
What To Do When Your Priority Date Is Current
When your priority date is finally current (or USCIS authorizes filing under Chart B), you can take the next step toward your green card. What that step is depends on where you are physically:
File Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) with USCIS. At the same time, you can concurrently file:
- I-765 — Work permit (EAD), valid while I-485 is pending
- I-131 — Advance parole for international travel
- I-864 — Affidavit of support (family-based cases)
USCIS will schedule a biometrics appointment. An interview may or may not be required depending on your category. Average processing: 12–24 months.
The National Visa Center (NVC) will notify you when your case is ready. You'll need to:
- Submit civil documents (birth certificate, police clearances, etc.)
- Complete Form DS-260 (immigrant visa application)
- Attend a medical exam at an approved physician
- Attend an interview at a US consulate or embassy
If approved, you receive an immigrant visa to enter the US. The green card is mailed after entry.
Check the bulletin every month before filing
Priority dates can retrogress between when you prepare your filing and when you actually submit it. Always confirm the current month's bulletin at travel.state.gov on the day you file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my country of birth or country of citizenship determine my column in the Visa Bulletin?
Country of birth — not citizenship, not where you currently live. The per-country caps in immigration law are based on birth chargeability. This is why Indian nationals born in India but holding Canadian citizenship still face the India backlog. However, there is an important exception: if you were born in a country other than your spouse's country, you can sometimes "charge" to your spouse's (less backlogged) country, as long as your spouse is the primary applicant.
How do I find out the current Visa Bulletin?
The official Visa Bulletin is published at travel.state.gov each month. You can also find the current month's cutoff dates summarized at USCISFees Visa Bulletin, which also shows which chart USCIS is currently using and highlights the most-watched dates.
Why is there a 7% per-country cap?
The Immigration Act of 1990 set a rule that no single country may receive more than 7% of the total annual employment-based and family-based green card allocations. The intent was to ensure geographic diversity. In practice, because countries like India and China have enormous demand relative to this cap, their nationals face multi-decade waits while nationals of other countries often see "Current" in the same categories. This disparity is not corrected by the per-se law without Congressional action.
If my I-485 is pending, do I need to keep checking the Visa Bulletin?
Yes — your I-485 cannot be approved until a visa number is available in the month of approval. USCIS tracks this automatically. If your date retrogresses after filing I-485, processing pauses until your date is current again. Your case will not be denied solely because of retrogression, but it may wait much longer than originally expected. Your work permit (EAD) and advance parole (I-131) can typically be renewed while waiting.