How the Visa Bulletin Works: Your Complete 2026 Guide

When my company started the green card process for me, I thought I had a handle on things. I'd been through visa applications before. How hard could it be to check my place in line?

Then I opened the Visa Bulletin for the first time.

Rows of dates that didn't match up. Two separate charts with different numbers. Category codes like "EB-2" and "F2A" with no explanation. I spent way too long trying to figure out which chart I was even supposed to look at.

Here's the thing: my priority date was already current. I could have filed right away. But I didn't know that because I couldn't make sense of what I was reading. Was I supposed to look at Chart A or Chart B? Did "current" mean I was good to go, or was there another step? Why did India have its own column when I wasn't even from India?

Nobody handed me a guide. I pieced it together from forum posts, outdated blog articles, and a lot of second-guessing myself. I almost delayed filing because I wasn't confident I was reading the bulletin correctly.

That's time and stress I didn't need to waste.

So I wrote the guide I wish I'd had. This post walks you through everything: what the bulletin is, how to find your priority date, the difference between the two charts, and what each visa category means for your wait time. We'll also cover why applicants from India and China face longer waits, what happens when dates move backward, and exactly what you should do when your date becomes current.

Let's get into it.

What is the Visa Bulletin and why it matters

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly update from the U.S. Department of State. It sets the pace for immigrant visas, both for people applying at consulates abroad and those filing inside the United States.

Think of it as a queue management system. There are only so many green cards available each year. The bulletin tells you which cases can move forward this month based on when they entered the line.

The bulletin contains two separate charts:

Chart A (Final Action Dates) shows when a green card can actually be approved and issued. If your priority date is earlier than the date shown, you're eligible for final approval.

Chart B (Dates for Filing) shows when you can submit your application to get into the system early. This lets you file paperwork and start building your case, even if final approval isn't available yet.

Each month, USCIS publishes a separate announcement telling applicants inside the U.S. which chart to use for Adjustment of Status filings. You need to check both the DOS bulletin and the USCIS announcement to know your options.

The Visa Bulletin is published around the middle of each month and applies to the following month. So a bulletin released in mid-January will be the "February" bulletin.

The bulletin covers both family-sponsored and employment-based categories. Each category has its own row, with columns for different countries. Some countries have their own dates because demand is higher than the annual limit allows.

How to find your priority date

Your priority date is your place in line. It's the single most important date in your immigration case.

For family-based cases, your priority date is typically the day USCIS received your I-130 petition. You can find this on your I-797 approval notice.

For employment-based cases, it depends on which category you're in:

• PERM labor certification cases: Your priority date is when the Department of Labor received your PERM application
• Cases without PERM (like EB-1A or NIW): Your priority date is when USCIS received your I-140 petition

Look at your I-797 Notice of Action. There's a field labeled "Priority Date" that shows exactly what date applies to your case.

If your petition is still pending and hasn't been approved yet, you won't have a confirmed priority date to track. You'll need to wait for approval before you can meaningfully use the bulletin.

Where to find your priority date on the I-797

The I-797 is the notice USCIS sends when they receive or approve a petition. Look for:

• The "Priority Date" field, usually in the middle section of the notice
• The receipt date, which may be your priority date for some case types
• The petition type (I-130 for family, I-140 for employment)

If you've lost your I-797 or can't find the date, you can check your case status online through the USCIS case status tool or create a myUSCIS account to access your case history.

Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing: which chart matters

This is where most people get confused. The bulletin has two charts, and they often show different dates.

Chart A: Final Action Dates

This chart tells you when a green card can actually be issued. If your priority date is earlier than the date shown in your category and country column, you can receive final approval.

For people outside the U.S. doing consular processing, Chart A is what matters for scheduling your visa interview.

For people inside the U.S. filing Adjustment of Status, Chart A determines when USCIS can approve your I-485 and issue your green card.

Chart B: Dates for Filing

This chart tells you when you can submit your application early. The dates are usually more advanced (further into the future) than Chart A.

If you're inside the U.S., Chart B might let you file your I-485 sooner. This is a big deal because once you file I-485, you can usually apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole for travel. You get these benefits while waiting for Chart A to catch up for final approval.

How USCIS decides which chart you can use

Here's the catch: USCIS doesn't always allow Chart B filings.

Each month, USCIS publishes a separate announcement stating whether Adjustment of Status applicants can use Chart B or must wait for Chart A. This varies by category (employment-based vs. family-based) and can change month to month.

Always check the USCIS website for the current month's filing chart determination before submitting any application. If USCIS says "use Final Action Dates," then Chart B doesn't help you that month.

For consular processing, the National Visa Center (NVC) uses Chart B to determine when you can submit documents and pay fees. But your actual interview won't be scheduled until Chart A is current.

Employment-based visa categories explained

Employment-based green cards are divided into five preference categories, called EB-1 through EB-5. Each has different requirements and different wait times.

EB-1: Priority workers

EB-1 is for people at the top of their field. It includes:

• EB-1A: Individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics
• EB-1B: Outstanding professors and researchers
• EB-1C: Multinational managers and executives

EB-1 cases don't require PERM labor certification, which speeds things up. For most countries, EB-1 is current or moves quickly. The exception is India and China, where backlogs have developed.

EB-2: Advanced degrees and exceptional ability

EB-2 includes:

• Workers with advanced degrees (master's or higher, or bachelor's plus 5 years experience)
• Workers with exceptional ability in their field
• National Interest Waiver (NIW) cases, which don't need employer sponsorship

Most EB-2 cases require PERM labor certification from an employer. NIW is the exception, letting individuals self-petition.

EB-2 has significant backlogs for India and China. Worldwide applicants typically see faster movement.

EB-3: Skilled workers and professionals

EB-3 covers:

• Skilled workers with at least two years of training or experience
• Professionals with bachelor's degrees
• Other workers (unskilled labor requiring less than two years of experience)

All EB-3 cases require PERM labor certification. The "Other Workers" subcategory (sometimes called EB-3 Other or EW) has its own row in the bulletin and often moves more slowly.

EB-2 vs. EB-3: which category moves faster?

This is one of the most common questions, and the answer keeps changing.

For India specifically, there have been periods where EB-3 moved faster than EB-2. This led many applicants to consider "downgrading" from EB-2 to EB-3. The strategy involves filing a new PERM and I-140 in EB-3 while keeping the EB-2 case as a backup.

Whether this makes sense depends on:

• Your current priority date in EB-2
• How the two categories are moving relative to each other
• How long a new PERM/I-140 would take
• Your risk tolerance for having your priority date in a category that might reverse course

There's no universal answer. Watch the trends over several months before making a decision, and consider consulting an immigration attorney if you're thinking about this strategy.

EB-4 and EB-5: Special categories

EB-4 includes special immigrants like religious workers, certain broadcasters, Iraqi/Afghan translators, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) beneficiaries. SIJS has faced significant backlogs in recent years.

EB-5 is for immigrant investors who invest $800,000 to $1,050,000 (depending on the area) in a U.S. business that creates jobs. EB-5 has reserved and unreserved subcategories, with reserved visas for rural areas, high unemployment areas, and infrastructure projects sometimes moving faster.

Family-based visa categories and wait times

Family-based immigration has its own preference system. One important distinction: immediate relatives of U.S. citizens don't use the Visa Bulletin at all.

Immediate relatives: no wait required

If you're the spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent of a U.S. citizen, you're an "immediate relative." There's no annual limit for immediate relatives, which means no line to wait in. The Visa Bulletin doesn't apply to you.

You can file I-485 (if in the U.S.) or begin consular processing right away once your I-130 is approved.

Preference categories F1 through F4

Everyone else in the family system falls into preference categories:

F1: Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens (21 and older)

F2A: Spouses and unmarried children (under 21) of lawful permanent residents

F2B: Unmarried adult children (21 and older) of lawful permanent residents

F3: Married adult children of U.S. citizens

F4: Siblings of adult U.S. citizens

Wait times vary dramatically by category and country. F2A typically moves fastest. F4, especially for high-demand countries, can mean waits of 20+ years.

Family category wait times by country

The bulletin shows different dates for Mexico, Philippines, and sometimes other countries because demand from these countries exceeds annual limits. India and China, which dominate employment-based backlogs, don't have the same level of backlog in most family categories.

If you're in an F4 case from the Philippines, for example, expect priority dates from the early 2000s or even earlier. The wait is genuinely multi-decade.

Why India and China face longer waits

You'll notice India and China have their own columns in the employment-based charts. The dates are often years behind the "All Chargeability Areas" column. Why?

The 7% per-country limit

By law, no single country can receive more than 7% of the employment-based green cards issued each year. This cap was designed to ensure geographic diversity in immigration.

The problem: demand from India and China far exceeds 7% of available visas. There are simply more qualified applicants from these countries than the annual cap allows.

The result is a backlog. Applicants from India and China wait years (sometimes decades) longer than applicants from other countries with the same priority date and category.

Current backlog estimates

The backlog for EB-2 India is measured in years, not months. Applicants with priority dates from 2012-2013 are only now becoming current in some months.

EB-3 India has similar delays. China faces backlogs too, though generally not as severe as India.

For worldwide applicants (anyone not from India, China, Mexico, or Philippines for the relevant category), most employment-based categories move much faster, often showing as "Current" or with recent dates.

If you want to understand the backlog situation better and what legislation might change it, check out our green card backlog analysis.

Cross-chargeability: using your spouse's country

Here's something many applicants don't know: your chargeability is based on your country of birth, not your current citizenship or residence.

But if you're married, you may be able to use your spouse's country of birth instead. This is called cross-chargeability.

Example: You were born in India, but your spouse was born in Canada. If cross-chargeability applies, you could be charged to Canada's quota, which has no backlog for most categories.

Cross-chargeability has specific rules:

• Both spouses must be immigrating together
• You can't use it if your spouse isn't applying for a green card
• It must be claimed at the appropriate time in the process

This isn't a loophole. It's written into the law. But many applicants either don't know about it or don't realize it could apply to their situation.

How to read the Visa Bulletin step by step

Let's walk through exactly how to use the bulletin each month.

Step 1: Identify your preference category

Are you employment-based or family-based? Which subcategory?

For employment: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, or EB-5?

For family: Immediate relative (no bulletin needed), F1, F2A, F2B, F3, or F4?

If you're unsure, look at your I-140 or I-130 approval notice. It will state the category.

Step 2: Find your chargeability country

Your chargeability is your country of birth, not citizenship or current residence.

Look at the column headers in the bulletin. Most categories show:

• All Chargeability Areas (worldwide)
• China (mainland born)
• India
• Mexico
• Philippines

Some categories only show certain countries if there's no backlog for others.

Step 3: Compare your priority date to the chart

Find the intersection of your category row and your country column.

• If the chart shows a date, your priority date must be earlier than that date to be current
• If the chart shows "C" (Current), everyone in that category/country is current regardless of priority date
• If the chart shows "U" (Unavailable), no one in that category/country can proceed that month

Understanding "current" correctly

This trips people up constantly: if the chart shows April 1, 2013, and your priority date is April 1, 2013, you are not current. Your date must be earlier than the listed date.

If your priority date is March 31, 2013, you're current. April 1, 2013 or later? Not yet.

What happens when dates move backward (retrogression)

The bulletin doesn't always move forward. Sometimes dates move backward. This is called retrogression.

Why retrogression happens

Each fiscal year (October through September), there's a fixed number of green cards available. The Department of State tries to distribute them evenly throughout the year.

If more people become current and file applications than expected, DOS might advance dates too quickly. When they realize the year's supply is running out, they pull dates back.

End of fiscal year (August and September bulletins) is especially volatile. DOS might make large adjustments to use remaining visas or prevent overshooting the limit.

What retrogression means for pending cases

If you've already filed I-485 and your priority date retrogresses:

• USCIS cannot approve your I-485 until your date is current again
• Your case sits in a holding pattern
• But you can usually continue renewing your EAD and Advance Parole while waiting
• You don't lose your place in line

If you haven't filed yet and were planning to use Chart B:

• Retrogression might close your filing window
• You'll need to wait for dates to advance again
• This is frustrating but normal for oversubscribed categories

Preparing for retrogression

The best defense is filing as soon as you're eligible. Once your I-485 is pending:

• Keep your work authorization current through EAD renewals
• Maintain valid travel documents through Advance Parole
• Keep job evidence updated (pay stubs, employment verification letters)
• Stay in valid status or authorized employment

If you're in an H-1B/H-4 situation, avoiding H-4 EAD application mistakes becomes especially important during wait periods.

What to expect in 2026: Visa Bulletin trends

Predicting bulletin movement is not an exact science. The Department of State responds to filing patterns, and those patterns change based on economic conditions, policy changes, and individual decisions.

That said, some patterns are worth watching.

Historical movement by category

Looking at past years helps set expectations:

• EB-1 worldwide: Generally current or close to current, with occasional brief retrogression
• EB-1 India/China: Has developed multi-year backlogs in recent years
• EB-2 India: Moves very slowly, often just a few weeks per month. Multi-year waits are standard
• EB-2 worldwide: Usually current or with recent dates
• EB-3 India: Has sometimes moved faster than EB-2, prompting downgrade strategies
• Family categories: Move slowly but predictably for most countries. Mexico and Philippines face the longest waits

Fiscal year patterns

Each October starts a new fiscal year with fresh visa numbers. You might see:

• Dates advance in October-November as new numbers become available
• Steady movement through mid-year
• Volatility in August-September as DOS manages remaining numbers

What we're watching in 2026

Recent legislative proposals like the Dignity Act could change country caps if passed. Any immigration bill that addresses backlogs would significantly affect bulletin movement.

Until legislation passes, expect incremental changes rather than dramatic shifts. Plan based on current movement patterns, not hoped-for reforms.

When your priority date becomes current: next steps

This is what you've been waiting for. Your date is finally current. What now?

Adjustment of Status (inside the U.S.)

If you're in the United States, you'll file Form I-485 along with supporting documents. Most people also file:

• I-765 for Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
• I-131 for Advance Parole (travel document)

These "combo card" applications let you work and travel while your I-485 is pending.

Before filing, make sure you:

1. Confirm which chart USCIS is accepting this month
2. Complete your medical exam (Form I-693) from a USCIS-designated civil surgeon
3. Gather all required documents (birth certificates, passport copies, photos, employment letters)
4. Calculate your filing fees correctly

For help with USCIS fees and payment methods, see our guide on how to pay USCIS filing fees.

Consular processing (outside the U.S.)

If you're abroad, you'll work with the National Visa Center (NVC) to:

1. Pay the immigrant visa fee
2. Submit Form DS-260 (immigrant visa application)
3. Upload civil documents
4. Complete medical exam with a panel physician

Once NVC determines you're "documentarily qualified" and your Chart A date is current, they'll schedule your interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Documents to prepare now

Don't wait until your date is current to start gathering documents. Get ahead by collecting:

• Birth certificates (with translations if not in English)
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Divorce decrees for any prior marriages
• Passport biographical pages
• Employment verification letters (for employment-based cases)
• Tax returns and W-2s from recent years
• Evidence of lawful status maintenance
• Passport-style photos meeting USCIS specifications

For employment-based cases, you may also need letters from your employer confirming the job offer still exists at the approved salary and location.

Protecting children from aging out: CSPA basics

The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) is designed to prevent children from "aging out" of eligibility while waiting in line with their parents.

How CSPA works

When a child turns 21, they normally lose derivative beneficiary status and would need their own petition. CSPA provides protection by "freezing" a child's age under certain conditions.

The CSPA age is calculated as:

Child's biological age on the date visa becomes available minus days the petition was pending

If the result is under 21, the child remains a derivative beneficiary.

The August 2025 policy change

This is important: USCIS changed how CSPA calculations work in August 2025.

Previously, there was a question about whether to use Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing for CSPA calculations. The policy change clarified that Final Action Dates (Chart A) are used for determining when a visa became "available" for CSPA purposes.

If your child is approaching 21 and you're planning around CSPA, this matters. Consult with an immigration attorney if you have concerns about your child's eligibility.

The "sought to acquire" requirement

CSPA protection also requires that the child "sought to acquire" lawful permanent resident status within one year of a visa becoming available. This typically means filing I-485 or taking action toward consular processing within that window.

Missing this deadline can cost CSPA protection even if the age calculation would otherwise qualify.

Monthly tracking checklist

Use this checklist each month when the new bulletin is released:

Step 1 (2 minutes): Go to the DOS Visa Bulletin page. Find your table (employment or family) and locate your category row and country column. Screenshot your row.

Step 2 (1 minute): Check the USCIS announcement for which chart Adjustment of Status applicants should use this month.

Step 3 (3 minutes): Compare the new cutoff date with your priority date. Calculate how far you are (in months or years). Note whether dates advanced, stayed the same, or retrogressed.

Step 4 (if within 6 months): If you're within about 6 months of being current, start preparing:

• Schedule your medical exam
• Gather civil documents
• Confirm employer support (for employment-based cases)
• Budget for filing fees

Step 5 (as needed): If you see significant movement or concerning patterns, verify with official sources before taking action. Don't make decisions based on forum speculation.

Putting it all together

The Visa Bulletin isn't complicated once you understand the pieces. Your priority date is your place in line. The charts tell you when that place reaches the front. Two charts exist because the system lets some people file early while waiting for final approval.

Country backlogs happen because demand exceeds the 7% per-country cap. Retrogression happens when the government needs to slow things down to stay within annual limits.

Your job is to know your category, know your priority date, and check the bulletin monthly. When you're getting close, prepare your documents. When you're current, be ready to file immediately.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by immigration paperwork, you're not alone. Thousands of people navigate these forms every month. The key is accuracy and timing.

For help preparing forms like I-539 for status changes or EAD applications, Immiva walks you through each question in plain English and catches common mistakes before you file. It's designed for people who want to handle straightforward cases without paying lawyer fees for basic form preparation.

Start by understanding your place in line. Then prepare so you're ready when your turn comes.