Priority Dates & the Visa Bulletin
Your priority date determines your place in the green card queue — the earlier your date, the closer you are to the front of the line.
For employment-based (EB) categories, it is the date USCIS received your I-140 petition — or your labor certification (PERM) filing date for EB-2/EB-3 PERM cases.
For family-based (FB) categories, it is the date USCIS received your I-130 petition.
For employment-based (EB) categories, it is the date USCIS received your I-140 petition — or your labor certification (PERM) filing date for EB-2/EB-3 PERM cases.
For family-based (FB) categories, it is the date USCIS received your I-130 petition.
Your priority date is "current" when it falls before the cutoff date published in the visa bulletin for your category and country — the cutoff date itself is not current.
Once current on the Final Action chart (Chart A), USCIS can approve your green card.
Once current on the Filing chart (Chart B), you can submit your I-485 application even though the green card cannot be issued yet.
Once current on the Final Action chart (Chart A), USCIS can approve your green card.
Once current on the Filing chart (Chart B), you can submit your I-485 application even though the green card cannot be issued yet.
The Final Action (FA) date (Chart A) is when USCIS can approve and issue your green card. The Filing date (Chart B) is typically a few months ahead and is when you can submit your I-485 application — even though the green card cannot be issued yet.
USCIS announces each month whether Chart B is available. When it is, filing early locks in your place in line and lets you apply for an EAD and Advance Parole while you wait. See our Chart A vs Chart B explainer for the full picture.
USCIS announces each month whether Chart B is available. When it is, filing early locks in your place in line and lets you apply for an EAD and Advance Parole while you wait. See our Chart A vs Chart B explainer for the full picture.
Yes. The Department of State can retrogress (move backward) cutoff dates at any time if visa demand exceeds available numbers for the fiscal year. Retrogression is most common in October (start of a new fiscal year) and in months when a particular category spikes.
If retrogression happens after you have already filed an I-485, your application remains pending — it is not rejected. You simply continue to wait.
If retrogression happens after you have already filed an I-485, your application remains pending — it is not rejected. You simply continue to wait.
U.S. immigration law caps employment-based green cards at 7% of the total annual allotment per country. India and China generate far more petitions than this cap allows, creating backlogs that stretch decades.
For family-based categories, Congress sets fixed annual limits per category and per country. Categories like F1, F2B, F3, and F4 have significant backlogs. F2A (spouses and children of LPRs) moves the fastest.
For family-based categories, Congress sets fixed annual limits per category and per country. Categories like F1, F2B, F3, and F4 have significant backlogs. F2A (spouses and children of LPRs) moves the fastest.
The U.S. Department of State publishes the visa bulletin around the 15th of each month for the following month. For example, the May bulletin is typically released in mid-April. You can find all bulletins at travel.state.gov.
After release, USCIS typically announces within a few days whether it will accept Chart B filings for that month.
After release, USCIS typically announces within a few days whether it will accept Chart B filings for that month.
Country of chargeability is the country whose visa quota your green card is charged against. It is normally your country of birth — not citizenship or current residence.
If your birth country has a long backlog but your spouse was born in a country with no backlog, you may be able to use your spouse's birth country through cross-chargeability, potentially cutting years off your wait. See the cross-chargeability question below.
If your birth country has a long backlog but your spouse was born in a country with no backlog, you may be able to use your spouse's birth country through cross-chargeability, potentially cutting years off your wait. See the cross-chargeability question below.
Filing Your I-485
You can file I-485 when all of the following are true:
- You have an approved I-140 (EB) or I-130 (FB) petition
- Your priority date is on or after the Filing date cutoff in the current visa bulletin for your category and country (Chart B)
- USCIS has announced Chart B is available — or your date is current on Chart A
- You are in lawful status or otherwise eligible to adjust status
Core documents include:
- Form I-485 (the main application)
- Form I-693 (medical exam by a USCIS civil surgeon)
- Approved I-140 or I-130 approval notice
- Birth certificate (with translation if not in English)
- Passport and all prior visas/I-94 records
- Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) for family-based cases
- Passport-style photos
Processing times vary by service center and caseload, typically 8 months to 3+ years from filing to approval. You can check current estimates at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times.
For most EB applicants with backlogs, the dominant wait is the visa bulletin queue — not USCIS processing time itself.
For most EB applicants with backlogs, the dominant wait is the visa bulletin queue — not USCIS processing time itself.
Form I-693 is a medical examination performed by a USCIS-authorized civil surgeon. It screens for communicable diseases and verifies required vaccinations.
Expiration rules (as of June 2025):
If you are approaching your date becoming current and your original exam was signed before 2023, you will almost certainly need a new one. Do not wait for the RFE to schedule — civil surgeons in high-demand areas book out weeks in advance.
Expiration rules (as of June 2025):
- Signed before November 1, 2023: valid for 2 years from the civil surgeon's signature date — almost certainly expired for India/China EB backlog applicants
- Signed on or after November 1, 2023: valid as long as the specific I-485 application it was submitted with remains pending. If that application is denied or withdrawn, the I-693 becomes invalid and cannot be reused for a refiling.
If you are approaching your date becoming current and your original exam was signed before 2023, you will almost certainly need a new one. Do not wait for the RFE to schedule — civil surgeons in high-demand areas book out weeks in advance.
An EAD (Form I-766) is a work permit issued to I-485 applicants while their green card is pending. Once your I-485 is filed, you can apply by filing Form I-765 concurrently or separately.
The EAD lets you work for any employer in any role — it is not tied to a specific job or employer like an H-1B. EADs are typically valid for 2-year increments and can be renewed while your I-485 remains pending.
Important: working on EAD may affect your H-1B status — see the H-1B vs EAD question below.
The EAD lets you work for any employer in any role — it is not tied to a specific job or employer like an H-1B. EADs are typically valid for 2-year increments and can be renewed while your I-485 remains pending.
Important: working on EAD may affect your H-1B status — see the H-1B vs EAD question below.
Advance Parole (AP) is travel authorization granted to I-485 applicants, allowing them to leave and re-enter the U.S. while their green card is pending. Applied for on Form I-131.
Critical warning: if you are on H-1B and you travel on Advance Parole instead of your H-1B visa, you abandon your H-1B status on re-entry. If your I-485 is subsequently denied, you would have no valid immigration status to fall back on.
Always consult an attorney before traveling while your I-485 is pending. See our article on H-1B vs EAD while I-485 is pending.
Critical warning: if you are on H-1B and you travel on Advance Parole instead of your H-1B visa, you abandon your H-1B status on re-entry. If your I-485 is subsequently denied, you would have no valid immigration status to fall back on.
Always consult an attorney before traveling while your I-485 is pending. See our article on H-1B vs EAD while I-485 is pending.
After You File
After filing, here is the typical sequence:
- Receipt notice (I-797) — arrives within a few weeks confirming USCIS received your application
- Biometrics appointment — scheduled at a local Application Support Center (ASC) for fingerprints and photo
- Background checks — USCIS, FBI, and other agencies run security checks in parallel
- Interview (if required) — family-based cases almost always require one; many EB cases are interview-waived
- Approval and card production — once approved, your green card is produced and mailed
A biometrics appointment is a scheduled visit to a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) where your fingerprints, photo, and signature are collected. Required for most I-485 applicants.
The appointment typically takes about 30 minutes. Missing it without rescheduling can cause delays or denial of your application. You can reschedule online via your USCIS account if needed.
The appointment typically takes about 30 minutes. Missing it without rescheduling can cause delays or denial of your application. You can reschedule online via your USCIS account if needed.
It depends on your category and case complexity:
- Family-based cases — almost always require an in-person interview at a local USCIS field office
- Employment-based cases — many are interview-waived, but USCIS has expanded interviews in recent years, and it is not guaranteed
- Complex cases (prior overstays, criminal history, multiple entries, prior denials) — more likely to require an interview regardless of category
An RFE is a notice from USCIS asking you to provide additional documentation before they can decide your case. Common RFE reasons include:
- Missing or expired medical exam
- Questions about employment history or job duties
- Clarification on prior immigration violations
- Additional financial evidence (family-based)
Yes, but only with proper authorization. You have two options:
Option 1 — Advance Parole: Apply for an AP travel document (Form I-131) before departing. With a valid AP document, you can leave and re-enter without abandoning your I-485. However, re-entering on AP (rather than H-1B) abandons H-1B status.
Option 2 — H-1B or other visa: If you maintain valid H-1B status, you can travel and re-enter on your H-1B visa without needing AP, preserving your H-1B as a fallback.
Leaving the U.S. without AP or a valid H-1B (or other valid nonimmigrant status) will be treated as an abandonment of your I-485. Always consult an attorney before any travel while pending.
Option 1 — Advance Parole: Apply for an AP travel document (Form I-131) before departing. With a valid AP document, you can leave and re-enter without abandoning your I-485. However, re-entering on AP (rather than H-1B) abandons H-1B status.
Option 2 — H-1B or other visa: If you maintain valid H-1B status, you can travel and re-enter on your H-1B visa without needing AP, preserving your H-1B as a fallback.
Leaving the U.S. without AP or a valid H-1B (or other valid nonimmigrant status) will be treated as an abandonment of your I-485. Always consult an attorney before any travel while pending.
Job Changes & Employment
AC21 (American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act) allows you to change employers after your I-485 has been pending for 180+ days, as long as the new job is in the same or similar occupational classification as the original petitioned position.
Under AC21, your I-485 and priority date remain valid even after leaving your original employer. You should file a portability notification letter with USCIS through your attorney to document the job change. See our detailed AC21 guide.
Under AC21, your I-485 and priority date remain valid even after leaving your original employer. You should file a portability notification letter with USCIS through your attorney to document the job change. See our detailed AC21 guide.
Before 180 days: Generally not without risk. Your I-485 is tied to the original employer's petition, and a job change will typically cause denial unless you find a new employer willing to file a new I-140.
After 180 days: Yes, under AC21. The "same or similar" standard is relatively broad — it looks at SOC occupational codes and job duties, not employer name or job title. A software engineer can port to another software engineering role at any company.
Always consult an attorney before any job change while your I-485 is pending, regardless of timing.
After 180 days: Yes, under AC21. The "same or similar" standard is relatively broad — it looks at SOC occupational codes and job duties, not employer name or job title. A software engineer can port to another software engineering role at any company.
Always consult an attorney before any job change while your I-485 is pending, regardless of timing.
It depends on where you are in the process:
I-485 pending 180+ days: You can port under AC21 to a new employer with a same or similar role. Your I-485 remains valid. Get an attorney to send a portability letter.
I-485 pending under 180 days: A layoff is more serious. You generally need a new sponsor. Your priority date from your approved I-140 is preserved even if you restart — you do not lose your place in the queue.
H-1B grace period: After a layoff, H-1B holders have up to 60 days to find new employment or change status before falling out of status. Act quickly. See our full article on layoffs and pending I-485.
I-485 pending 180+ days: You can port under AC21 to a new employer with a same or similar role. Your I-485 remains valid. Get an attorney to send a portability letter.
I-485 pending under 180 days: A layoff is more serious. You generally need a new sponsor. Your priority date from your approved I-140 is preserved even if you restart — you do not lose your place in the queue.
H-1B grace period: After a layoff, H-1B holders have up to 60 days to find new employment or change status before falling out of status. Act quickly. See our full article on layoffs and pending I-485.
One of the most consequential decisions during the I-485 process:
Working on EAD: Allows employment flexibility with any employer. However, it terminates your H-1B status. If your I-485 is denied, you have no fallback status.
Maintaining H-1B: Requires your employer to continue sponsoring and paying LCA-compliant wages. Limits employer flexibility. But preserves H-1B as a safety net if I-485 is denied.
Most attorneys recommend maintaining H-1B as long as possible — especially if your I-485 is under 180 days old, you work for a large employer who is stable, or denial risk is elevated. See our H-1B vs EAD full comparison.
Working on EAD: Allows employment flexibility with any employer. However, it terminates your H-1B status. If your I-485 is denied, you have no fallback status.
Maintaining H-1B: Requires your employer to continue sponsoring and paying LCA-compliant wages. Limits employer flexibility. But preserves H-1B as a safety net if I-485 is denied.
Most attorneys recommend maintaining H-1B as long as possible — especially if your I-485 is under 180 days old, you work for a large employer who is stable, or denial risk is elevated. See our H-1B vs EAD full comparison.
Special Situations
Cross-chargeability lets a married couple use the less-backlogged spouse's birth country for visa quota purposes — as long as both spouses are filing I-485 together.
Example: If you were born in India (EB-2 priority date: 2013) but your spouse was born in the UK (EB-2: current), your case can be charged to the UK, making your date effectively current right now.
Both spouses must be filing together, and the person who benefits must be a derivative beneficiary (accompanying spouse). See our full cross-chargeability guide.
Example: If you were born in India (EB-2 priority date: 2013) but your spouse was born in the UK (EB-2: current), your case can be charged to the UK, making your date effectively current right now.
Both spouses must be filing together, and the person who benefits must be a derivative beneficiary (accompanying spouse). See our full cross-chargeability guide.
Priority date porting lets you carry your earliest approved I-140 priority date to a newer I-140 petition — even from a different employer or category.
This is especially valuable after a layoff or employer change: you do not lose the years already built up in the queue. The earlier I-140 must have been approved and must not have been revoked by USCIS on adverse grounds (simple employer withdrawal is fine).
See our article on priority date porting using an earlier I-140.
This is especially valuable after a layoff or employer change: you do not lose the years already built up in the queue. The earlier I-140 must have been approved and must not have been revoked by USCIS on adverse grounds (simple employer withdrawal is fine).
See our article on priority date porting using an earlier I-140.
CSPA protects dependent children from "aging out" of the green card process when they turn 21. The law provides a formula to calculate a reduced "CSPA age" based on how long the underlying petition was pending at USCIS.
Important 2025 policy change: In August 2025, the Trump administration changed CSPA to use Final Action Dates rather than Filing Dates in the age calculation. This significantly increased aging-out risk for children in backlogs. See our article on aging out and CSPA.
Important 2025 policy change: In August 2025, the Trump administration changed CSPA to use Final Action Dates rather than Filing Dates in the age calculation. This significantly increased aging-out risk for children in backlogs. See our article on aging out and CSPA.
Possibly — this is time-sensitive. Children who "age out" (turn 21) may no longer qualify as dependents on your I-485 and must file their own separate petition, losing the benefit of your priority date.
CSPA provides some protection but is no longer as broad as it was before the August 2025 policy change. An attorney can calculate your child's CSPA age and advise whether they are protected.
If unprotected, your child may need to independently qualify (e.g., file their own EB or FB petition, or pursue another path). Act immediately — there is no grace period once they age out.
CSPA provides some protection but is no longer as broad as it was before the August 2025 policy change. An attorney can calculate your child's CSPA age and advise whether they are protected.
If unprotected, your child may need to independently qualify (e.g., file their own EB or FB petition, or pursue another path). Act immediately — there is no grace period once they age out.
An NIW is a subcategory of EB-2 that lets you self-petition for a green card without employer sponsorship — if your work is in the national interest of the United States.
You must demonstrate: (1) your proposed endeavor has substantial merit, (2) you are well-positioned to advance it, and (3) it would benefit the U.S. to waive the normal job offer requirement.
Critical misconception: An NIW petition does not come with a faster priority date. If you were born in India, you still wait in the EB-2 India queue. The advantage is independence from employer sponsorship — not a shorter wait. See our NIW and priority dates explainer.
You must demonstrate: (1) your proposed endeavor has substantial merit, (2) you are well-positioned to advance it, and (3) it would benefit the U.S. to waive the normal job offer requirement.
Critical misconception: An NIW petition does not come with a faster priority date. If you were born in India, you still wait in the EB-2 India queue. The advantage is independence from employer sponsorship — not a shorter wait. See our NIW and priority dates explainer.
Green Card Categories
These are employment-based (EB) green card preference categories:
EB-1 — Priority workers: persons of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives/managers. No labor certification required.
EB-2 — Advanced degree professionals (master's degree or higher, or bachelor's + 5 years progressive experience) or persons of exceptional ability. Includes the National Interest Waiver (NIW) subcategory.
EB-3 — Skilled workers (jobs requiring at least 2 years training), professionals (bachelor's degree required), and other workers (unskilled labor).
EB-1 — Priority workers: persons of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives/managers. No labor certification required.
EB-2 — Advanced degree professionals (master's degree or higher, or bachelor's + 5 years progressive experience) or persons of exceptional ability. Includes the National Interest Waiver (NIW) subcategory.
EB-3 — Skilled workers (jobs requiring at least 2 years training), professionals (bachelor's degree required), and other workers (unskilled labor).
EB-2 requires an advanced degree or exceptional ability. EB-3 is for bachelor's degree holders and skilled workers.
For India, the two categories' priority date cutoffs have fluctuated significantly — sometimes EB-3 moves faster, sometimes EB-2 does. Some applicants strategically downgrade from EB-2 to EB-3 (or upgrade) to take advantage of whichever category is further ahead. This requires a new I-140 at the lower category from an employer willing to sponsor at that level.
Check the current visa bulletin and compare your priority date against both categories. See our comparison: EB-2 vs EB-3: which is faster for India?
For India, the two categories' priority date cutoffs have fluctuated significantly — sometimes EB-3 moves faster, sometimes EB-2 does. Some applicants strategically downgrade from EB-2 to EB-3 (or upgrade) to take advantage of whichever category is further ahead. This requires a new I-140 at the lower category from an employer willing to sponsor at that level.
Check the current visa bulletin and compare your priority date against both categories. See our comparison: EB-2 vs EB-3: which is faster for India?
Family-based green card categories are for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs):
F1 — Unmarried sons and daughters (age 21+) of U.S. citizens.
F2A — Spouses and children (under 21) of LPRs. Moves the fastest of all family-based categories.
F2B — Unmarried sons and daughters (age 21+) of LPRs.
F3 — Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
F4 — Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens (petitioner must be 21+).
F1 — Unmarried sons and daughters (age 21+) of U.S. citizens.
F2A — Spouses and children (under 21) of LPRs. Moves the fastest of all family-based categories.
F2B — Unmarried sons and daughters (age 21+) of LPRs.
F3 — Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
F4 — Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens (petitioner must be 21+).
Act quickly — visa numbers can retrogress and the window can close unexpectedly.
- Consult a qualified immigration attorney before your date becomes current, not after
- Have your medical exam done in advance (it must be completed within 60 days of filing)
- Gather all required documents ahead of time (birth certificate, passport, financial evidence, I-140 approval notice)
- Do not wait until the last day of the month — file as early in the month as possible once the bulletin is released
About This Tool
We update the data as soon as USCIS and the U.S. Department of State publish new reports each month — including the latest visa bulletin, I-485 pending inventory, and appropriations data. The current data date is shown at the bottom of the results page after you run an analysis.
Projections are estimates based on recent historical trends in visa bulletin advancement and USCIS approval rates. Visa bulletin movement is inherently unpredictable — the Department of State can advance, hold, or retrogress dates at any time based on visa demand and available numbers. Always treat projections as rough estimates, not guarantees. Major policy changes, end-of-fiscal-year surges, and annual retrogression can all invalidate a trend.
The "Ahead of You" figure comes from the USCIS I-485 Pending Inventory, which only counts applicants who have already filed their I-485. To file, your priority date must have been reachable at some point in the past.
Applicants whose date has never been current — the "shadow queue" — cannot file and are invisible in USCIS data. The tool flags this:
HIGH confidence — your date has been reachable before; you are likely counted in the inventory and the queue estimate is reasonable.
LOW confidence — your date has never been current; the true queue ahead of you is likely much larger than shown. See our inventory explainer article.
Applicants whose date has never been current — the "shadow queue" — cannot file and are invisible in USCIS data. The tool flags this:
HIGH confidence — your date has been reachable before; you are likely counted in the inventory and the queue estimate is reasonable.
LOW confidence — your date has never been current; the true queue ahead of you is likely much larger than shown. See our inventory explainer article.
Your priority date and inputs are never sent to any server and are not stored anywhere. All analysis runs entirely in your browser. We collect anonymized usage analytics via Google Analytics — see our Privacy Policy for full details.
Yes. The tool supports both employment-based (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3) and family-based (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4) green card categories. It covers all countries of chargeability: India, China, Mexico, Philippines, and Rest of World (all other countries).
Select your category type, country, and specific category in the tool to see the correct visa bulletin dates, queue estimates, and projections for your situation.
Select your category type, country, and specific category in the tool to see the correct visa bulletin dates, queue estimates, and projections for your situation.
Disclaimer: This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is complex and fact-specific. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice specific to your situation.