U.S. Visa Bulletin

U.S. Visa Bulletin – Complete Guide

One of the most crucial aspects of obtaining a Green Card in the United States is waiting for your priority date. Those who have invested time, effort, and money in an immigration visa often ask, “How long will it take for my priority date to become current?” and “Can I speed up the process?” To help answer these questions, this post provides a monthly update on the latest Visa Bulletin, an analysis of priority date movement, and predictions for the upcoming months.

Visa Bulletin Overview

For those new to the Green Card process, there are a few key terms to learn and remember. If you have additional questions regarding your application or any other immigration-related matters, it’s best to consult with an immigration attorney.

Priority Dates

When you apply for a Green Card, you receive a priority date-the day your application is received by USCIS. This date is crucial because it determines when you can proceed with the next steps of your Green Card process. Keep this date handy, as you will need it to compare with the dates published in the Visa Bulletin. It’s important to note that your priority date does not change unless under specific circumstances.

Final Action Dates

The Final Action Date is determined by your Green Card category and country of chargeability (your country of birth). These dates fluctuate depending on the number of available Green Cards and the demand for a specific category.

If the demand is low, Final Action Dates move forward, getting closer to your priority date. If demand is high, the date might stay the same or even retrogress (move backward), meaning a longer wait time.

Once the Final Action Date for your Green Card category and country matches your priority date, your case becomes current, and you can proceed with adjustment of status or consular processing. Some Green Cards have immediately available priority dates, meaning there is no waiting period once the application is approved.

Family-Based Green Cards

Family-based immigration is divided into four preference categories, depending on your relationship with the U.S. sponsor. There are five regions for chargeability: China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and all other countries (general category).

Marriage-based Green Cards fall under a separate category. Spouses of U.S. citizens are considered immediate relatives, meaning their priority dates are always current.

First Preference (F1)

This category is for unmarried adult children (over 21) of U.S. citizens.

  • The General Category, China, and India moved forward by two months and three weeks, from October 8, 2013, to January 1, 2014.
  • Mexico moved forward one week, from September 15, 1997, to September 22, 1997.
  • The Philippines advanced six months, from September 1, 2009, to March 1, 2010.

Second Preference (F2)

This preference has two subcategories:

  • F2A: Spouses and unmarried children (under 21) of Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders).
    • Priority dates for all chargeability areas remain current.
  • F2B: Unmarried adult children (over 21) of Lawful Permanent Residents.
    • The General Category, China, and India moved forward two weeks, from September 15, 2014, to November 1, 2014.
    • Mexico advanced six weeks, from October 15, 1998, to December 1, 1998.
    • The Philippines moved forward four months, from October 1, 2009, to February 1, 2010.

Third Preference (F3)

This category is for married children of U.S. citizens.

  • The General Category, China, and India moved forward six weeks, from December 15, 2007, to February 1, 2008.
  • Mexico advanced one month, from April 8, 1996, to May 8, 1996.
  • The Philippines moved forward seven months and two weeks, from October 1, 1999, to May 15, 2000.

Fourth Preference (F4)

This category is for siblings of U.S. citizens.

  • The General Category and China saw no movement, remaining at July 1, 2006.
  • India advanced two weeks, from December 8, 2004, to December 22, 2004.
  • Mexico moved forward one month, from February 15, 1998, to March 15, 1998.
  • The Philippines advanced five months, from December 1, 1999, to May 1, 2000.

Employment-Based Green Cards

Employment-based Green Cards are divided into five preference categories, with different chargeability areas: China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador), Vietnam, and the General Category.

First Preference (EB-1)

This category includes extraordinary ability professionals, outstanding researchers, professors, and multinational executives.

  • General Category, Central America, Mexico, the Philippines, and Vietnam moved forward three months, from March 1, 2019, to June 1, 2019.
  • China advanced one week, from June 1, 2017, to June 8, 2017.
  • India moved forward two months, from March 1, 2015, to May 1, 2015.

Second Preference (EB-2)

This category is for advanced degree holders and exceptional ability professionals.

  • The General Category, Central America, Mexico, the Philippines, and Vietnam remain current.
  • China advanced two weeks, from August 15, 2015, to September 1, 2015.
  • India moved forward three days, from May 22, 2009, to May 25, 2009.

Third Preference (EB-3)

This category is for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers.

  • The General Category, Central America, Mexico, the Philippines, and Vietnam saw no movement, remaining at January 1, 2017.
  • China advanced three weeks, from March 22, 2016, to April 15, 2016.
  • India moved forward one week, from January 15, 2009, to January 22, 2009.

Visa Bulletin Predictions and Summary

This month saw significant progress in family-based categories, while employment-based categories remain stagnant due to processing backlogs. The situation for employment-based Green Cards is expected to continue until visa availability stabilizes.

The January 1 Final Action Date for EB-3 Green Cards is expected to remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.

Can You Speed Up Your Green Card Process?

The short answer is probably not, but there are two main exceptions that might reduce your wait time:

  1. Premium Processing – Available for certain employment-based Green Cards using Form I-140, reducing processing time to 15 calendar days for an additional fee.
  2. Category Transfer – Moving from one employment category to another (e.g., EB-3 to EB-2) may shorten your wait time, but this requires a new petition and qualifying credentials.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the Visa Bulletin helps you track your Green Card progress and plan ahead. For the latest updates, you can subscribe to the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin newsletter.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *