How to Read the Visa Bulletin for Green Card Cases

Why the Visa Bulletin matters

The Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin every month to show when immigrant visas are available. If you are pursuing a family based or employment based green card, your priority date must be current before you can receive a visa or file Form I-485 when eligible.

Key terms to know

• Priority date: The date your petition was filed (or, for some employment cases, the labor certification filing date).
• Preference category: The family or employment classification (for example, F2A or EB-2).
• Chargeability: The country that controls your visa quota, usually your country of birth.
• Final Action Dates: The date the government can approve a visa or green card.
• Dates for Filing: The earliest date you may file some applications, if USCIS allows that chart.

Step by step: reading your category

1. Find out whether your case is family based or employment based.
2. Identify your exact category on the Visa Bulletin table.
3. Locate your chargeability column.
4. Compare your priority date to the date listed in your category and column.

If your priority date is earlier than the listed date, your date is current.

Which chart applies to you

Consular processing generally follows the Final Action Dates chart. Adjustment of status applicants must check the USCIS monthly announcement to see whether they can use the Dates for Filing chart or must use Final Action Dates that month. Because the bulletin changes monthly, use the current month's bulletin and USCIS chart announcement when planning any filing.

Common pitfalls

• Retrogression: Dates can move backward when demand rises. A current date can become unavailable later.
• Cross chargeability: Some families can use a spouse's country of birth, which may speed up the timeline.
• Category confusion: A small change in category can move a case to a slower or faster line.

Practical tips

• Save a copy of your I-797 approval notice to confirm your priority date.
• Set a monthly reminder to review the bulletin and USCIS chart announcement.
• Speak with an immigration attorney if your category changes or if your case has complex factors.

---

This article is general information, not legal advice. Information is current as of Jan 21, 2026. For guidance tailored to your situation, consult an immigration attorney. To plan your next steps, call +1 918 221 9438 or schedule a consultation.