Visa Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication by the U.S. Department of State that lists which priority dates are currently "available" for green card processing in each family-based and employment-based preference category, broken out by country of birth. Two tables matter: "Final Action Dates" govern when USCIS can approve a green card; "Dates for Filing" govern when you can submit Form I-485. Applicants with a priority date earlier than the cutoff on a given table are eligible to move forward. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents) are not subject to the Visa Bulletin.