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Visa Bulletin

January 2019

Your priority date must be earlier than the date shown.

Month
2015
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA-mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Aug 22, 2011↑ 14 daysAug 22, 2011↑ 14 daysAug 22, 2011↑ 14 daysAug 1, 1997Mar 1, 2007↑ 14 days
F2ANov 8, 2016↑ 1 monthNov 8, 2016↑ 1 monthNov 8, 2016↑ 1 monthOct 15, 2016↑ 23 daysNov 8, 2016↑ 1 month
F2BMar 15, 2012↑ 29 daysMar 15, 2012↑ 29 daysMar 15, 2012↑ 29 daysJun 8, 1997Jun 22, 2007↑ 14 days
F3Aug 15, 2006↑ 14 daysAug 15, 2006↑ 14 daysAug 15, 2006↑ 14 daysDec 22, 1995Jul 22, 1995↑ 14 days
F4May 22, 2005↑ 30 daysMay 22, 2005↑ 30 daysJun 15, 2004↑ 7 daysFeb 8, 1998Sep 1, 1995↑ 2 months

Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Mar 8, 2012Mar 8, 2012Mar 8, 2012Aug 22, 1999↑ 4 monthsFeb 15, 2008
F2ADec 1, 2017Dec 1, 2017Dec 1, 2017Dec 1, 2017Dec 1, 2017
F2BMar 22, 2014Mar 22, 2014Mar 22, 2014Sep 8, 1997↑ 1 monthDec 15, 2007
F3Jan 8, 2007Jan 8, 2007Jan 8, 2007May 1, 2000↑ 7 monthsJun 1, 1997
F4May 15, 2006↑ 3 monthsMay 15, 2006↑ 3 monthsJan 1, 2005Oct 8, 1998↑ 23 daysApr 22, 1997

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornEL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURASINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINESVIETNAM
1stOct 1, 2017↑ 3 monthsDec 15, 2016↑ 3 monthsOct 1, 2017↑ 3 monthsDec 15, 2016↑ 3 monthsOct 1, 2017↑ 3 monthsOct 1, 2017↑ 3 monthsOct 1, 2017↑ 3 months
2ndCurrentAug 1, 2015↑ 1 monthCurrentApr 1, 2009CurrentCurrentCurrent
3rdCurrentJun 8, 2015CurrentMar 1, 2009CurrentJun 22, 2017↑ 7 daysCurrent
Other WorkersCurrentJul 1, 2007↑ 30 daysCurrentMar 1, 2009CurrentJun 22, 2017↑ 7 daysCurrent
4thCurrentCurrentFeb 22, 2016CurrentApr 15, 2017↑ 3 monthsCurrentCurrent
Certain Religious WorkersUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailable
5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5)CurrentSep 1, 2014↑ 10 daysCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentJun 1, 2016↑ 1 month
5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)UnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailable

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornEL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURASINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
1stJun 1, 2018Oct 1, 2017Jun 1, 2018Oct 1, 2017Jun 1, 2018Jun 1, 2018
2ndCurrentSep 8, 2015CurrentMay 22, 2009CurrentCurrent
3rdCurrentJan 1, 2016↑ 1 monthCurrentApr 1, 2010↑ 3 monthsCurrentAug 1, 2017
Other WorkersCurrentJun 1, 2008CurrentApr 1, 2010↑ 3 monthsCurrentAug 1, 2017
4thCurrentCurrentMay 1, 2016CurrentCurrentCurrent
Certain Religious WorkersCurrentCurrentMay 1, 2016CurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5)CurrentOct 1, 2014CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)CurrentOct 1, 2014CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent

RegionAll DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA13,100Except: Egypt 8,300
ASIA3,800Except: Iran 2,900 Nepal 2,150
EUROPE8,800
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)12
OCEANIA350
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN550

RegionAll DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA13,800Except: Egypt 9,500
ASIA4,400Except: Iran 3,400 Nepal 2,800
EUROPE10,000
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)12
OCEANIA450
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN625

Reading this: your priority date must be earlier than the date shown for your category and country of chargeability - the country you are charged to, which is usually your country of birth, not your nationality or where you live now. Your priority date is on your receipt notice: for a family petition it is the day the petition was filed, and for most employment cases the day the labour certification or the petition was filed.

Two tables, two jobs: Final Action Dates decide when a visa can actually be issued or a green card approved. Dates for Filing decide when you may send in your application. They move independently, and Dates for Filing are usually the later of the two. USCIS says each month which of the two applies to adjustment of status - being past the Dates for Filing cut-off does not mean a decision is close.

C and U: C is current - no cut-off, everyone in that category may proceed. U is unavailable - no visas at all in that category this month, whatever your priority date.

Movement is measured against the previous month - it describes what already happened. Cut-off dates can and do move backwards, and no figure here predicts next month.

Published by the Department of State. Confirm on travel.state.gov.

About the Visa Bulletin

What is a priority date?

The date that holds your place in line for a green card with a yearly limit. For most family cases it is the date USCIS received the I-130. For most employment cases it is the date the labor certification was filed, or the I-140 if none was needed. It is printed on your I-797 notice.

What is the difference between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing?

Final Action Dates say when a green card can be issued. Dates for Filing are earlier and say when you may submit your application. Each month USCIS says which of the two charts it accepts for adjustment of status inside the US.

What do C and U mean in the chart?

C means current: there is no wait in that category this month, so any priority date qualifies. U means unavailable: no visas can be issued in that category this month.

Can a date move backward?

Yes. When demand is higher than the visas left for the year, the State Department can move a cutoff date back. This is called retrogression, and it is most common near the end of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30.