Knowing how to read the visa bulletin is essential if you are applying for any type of visa for the purpose of immigrating to the United States. Many people find that the visa bulletin is confusing, especially when it comes to understanding the dates for filing for visas, priority dates, and final action dates. Understanding what these things mean will help you to keep track of important immigration details so that your case moves forward smoothly. Keep reading to find out how to read the visa bulletin, where to find it, and how it is broken down.
What Is the Visa Bulletin?
Before we dive into how to read a visa bulletin, you need to understand what this actually is. This is a bulletin that is issued every month by the Department of State that shows which green card cases will be moving forward. The time it takes for green card applications to move forward is based on when the I-130 petition was filed, which can help you estimate your timeline.
Generally speaking, this bulletin allows you to watch your green card application move down the line so that you can move forward with applying for a green card when it is your time.
Different Visa Categories
Something else you need to understand about the visa bulletin is how it is impacted by different categories. For instance, for the family preference category, you won’t need to use the bulletin as there is no green card backlog or wait time for your application. This applies to family members, such as parents, spouses, or unmarried children under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen.
However, if you are applying for a green card and you are the spouse or an unmarried child under the age of 21 of a U.S. green card holder, you will have to check the bulletin. Additionally, you will have to wait an extra 12 to 18 months before you have access to a green card.
For other visa categories outside of the family category, the wait times can vary between several months to years.
Understanding Priority Dates
One of the most important things you need to understand about the USCIS visa bulletin is the priority date. Your priority date is the date that the USCIS received your I-130 petition. When this happens, this is when you join the line to wait for a green card, which will ultimately impact how long your wait time is.
Knowing your priority date will help you to track your application’s progress and estimate when a green card will become available. You can find your priority date on the I-797 form you received from the USCIS that approved your I-130 petition.
Other Important Visa Bulletin Terms
Besides understanding what priority dates are, you also need to understand other terms, such as the final action date and dates for filing. For instance, the final action date chart will help you to know what priority dates have reached the front of the line and will be able to get a green card next. When your priority date reaches this chart, you know you can now move forward with applying for your green card.
On the other hand, the dates for filing charts are for green card applicants who are living outside of the U.S. When your priority date enters this chart you know that you can proceed with submitting your application to the National Visa Center even if a green card is not available just yet.
How to Read the Visa Bulletin
If you have filed your petition and it has been approved, the next thing to do is to keep an eye on the visa bulletin. To do this, you need to know your priority date and your preference category. The next thing to do is to go on the U.S. State Department’s website, where you can view the current visa bulletin and navigate to different categories depending on your petition.
To find out whether or not your immigrant visa is current, all you need to do is compare your priority date to the date listed. If your priority date comes before the date listed, you will know that your visa is current, and you can proceed with applying for a green card.
When you hire an immigration attorney to represent your case, they will be able to assist you with reading the visa bulletin. This is just one of the many benefits they provide, as it can be challenging to read this bulletin on your own.
Why Priority Dates Sometimes Move Backward
Another detail about the USCIS visa bulletin that immigrants need to be aware of is retrogression. Retrogression is when priority dates move backward if there are more green card applications than the State Department or the USCIS expected. Although not incredibly common, it can occur, especially around September, which is the end of the government fiscal year.
Keep in mind that there may be advanced warnings on the visa bulletin if a retrogression is expected. However, this is not always the case, which is why it is strongly recommended that you apply for a green card the minute one becomes available to you to avoid unexpectedly moving backward.
Hire an Immigration Attorney Today
Do you need help reading your employment-based visa priority date? Contact us today at U.S. Immigration Law Counsel at 800-666-4996 to speak with an immigration attorney about your situation. We will deal with the government, so you don’t have to!
FAQ:
What does it mean when my priority date becomes current?
This is simply a term that means your priority date has moved to the front of the wait line, and a green card has become available, so you can move forward with the application process. Your priority date may also be marked as current if you have no wait time, such as for the family preference category.
Why do visa bulletin dates change every month?
The visa bulletin dates are updated monthly so that they can accurately reflect any changes in availability and visa demand. Because of this, sometimes the bulletin will not change at all, while at other times, the priority dates may move forward or backward.
