The Visa Bulletin Explained: How to Read It and Find Your Place in Line
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly State Department report that shows which family and employment green card applicants can move forward, based on their priority date, category, and country of birth. It has two charts: Final Action Dates, which show when a green card can actually be approved, and Dates for Filing, which show when you can start the final paperwork. You are in line when the date in your box is later than your priority date, or the box shows "C" for current.
On this page
- Published by
- US Department of State, monthly
- Two charts
- Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing
- "C"
- Current: every priority date qualifies
- "U"
- Unavailable: no visas can be issued that month
- Country columns
- All countries, China (mainland-born), India, Mexico, Philippines
- Per-country limit
- About 7% of each year's family and employment preference visas
- Fiscal year
- October 1 to September 30; FY2027 starts Oct 1, 2026
- Not in the bulletin
- Immediate relatives of US citizens (no wait for a visa number)
Why the Visa Bulletin exists
Congress limits how many green cards can go to each family preference and employment-based category each year, and no single country can use more than about 7% of the combined total. When more people qualify than there are visas, applicants wait in line by priority date: usually the date your petition (Form I-130 or I-140) or labor certification was filed. See priority dates.
The Visa Bulletin shows, each month, how far each line has moved. Our Visa Bulletin tracker shows the current dates and history for each category and country.
Immediate relatives of US citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of adult citizens) have no annual limit and do not wait for the bulletin. See spouse of a US citizen.
How to read the charts
Each chart is a grid. Rows are categories; columns are countries of chargeability.
| Category | Who | Chart row example |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Unmarried sons and daughters (21+) of US citizens | Date, C, or U |
| F2A | Spouses and children under 21 of green card holders | Date, C, or U |
| F2B | Unmarried sons and daughters (21+) of green card holders | Date, C, or U |
| F3 | Married sons and daughters of US citizens | Date, C, or U |
| F4 | Brothers and sisters of adult US citizens | Date, C, or U |
| EB-1 to EB-5 | Employment-based categories | Date, C, or U |
To check your place:
- Find your category row.
- Find your country of chargeability column (usually your country of birth, not citizenship). If your country has no separate column, use "All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed."
- Compare the date shown with your priority date. If your priority date is earlier than the date shown, you are current. "C" means everyone is current. "U" means no visas are available.
Final Action Dates vs Dates for Filing
| Final Action Dates | Dates for Filing | |
|---|---|---|
| What it means | A visa number is available; the green card can be approved | You can start final steps before your number is available |
| Used by consulates | For interviews and visa issuance | For the National Visa Center to collect documents |
| Used by USCIS | Always required for approval | Only in months when USCIS says so |
Each month, USCIS announces on its website which chart applicants inside the US must use to file Form I-485. When USCIS allows the Dates for Filing chart, many people can adjust status earlier and get a work permit and travel document while they wait.
Why dates move forward, stall, or go backward
Dates move based on demand and on how many visas are left in the fiscal year:
- Forward movement happens when demand is lower than expected.
- Retrogression (dates moving backward) happens when demand is higher than the numbers left. It is common near the end of the fiscal year in summer.
- A new fiscal year on October 1 brings new annual numbers, which often lets dates recover.
- Unused numbers from one year can shift to other categories the next year under the law's formulas.
Movement can also be unusual when visa issuance abroad is restricted, as it was in 2026 with the travel ban and the worldwide immigrant visa interview pause. The October 2026 bulletin is the first for fiscal year 2027.
Country of chargeability tips
- You are usually charged to your country of birth, not your citizenship. An Indian citizen born in the UK is charged to the UK (All Chargeability).
- A spouse can be charged to the other spouse's country of birth if that helps (called cross-chargeability), when both immigrate together.
- In some cases, a child can use a parent's country of birth.
These rules can shorten a wait by years for people from India, China, Mexico, or the Philippines. Ask your lawyer whether they apply to you.
The Diversity Visa section
The bulletin also lists Diversity Visa (DV) rank cutoffs by region. DV selectees can be scheduled only if their case number is below the cutoff. DV-2026 visas must be issued by September 30, 2026, and DV-2027 registration never opened. See DV lottery status.
Frequently asked questions
What does "C" mean in the Visa Bulletin?
Current. Every applicant in that category and country is eligible, regardless of priority date.
What is the difference between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing?
Final Action Dates show when a green card can be approved. Dates for Filing show when you can start the final paperwork, if USCIS or the National Visa Center allows it that month.
When is the Visa Bulletin released?
Usually around the middle of each month, for the following month.
Why did my date go backward?
That is retrogression. It happens when more people apply than there are visas left in the fiscal year. Dates often recover after October 1.
Which country column do I use?
Usually your country of birth. If it has no separate column, use All Chargeability Areas.
Where can I see the latest dates?
On the State Department's Visa Bulletin page, or on our Visa Bulletin tracker.
Official sources
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.