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Visa Bulletin

March 2021

Your priority date must be earlier than the date shown.

Month
2017
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA-mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Sep 22, 2014↑ 7 daysSep 22, 2014↑ 7 daysSep 22, 2014↑ 7 daysFeb 8, 1998↑ 17 daysJan 8, 2012↑ 7 days
F2ACurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
F2BJul 22, 2015↑ 7 daysJul 22, 2015↑ 7 daysJul 22, 2015↑ 7 daysJul 15, 1999↑ 1 monthAug 15, 2011
F3Aug 1, 2008↑ 17 daysAug 1, 2008↑ 17 daysAug 1, 2008↑ 17 daysSep 15, 1996↑ 14 daysMar 8, 2002↑ 7 days
F4Oct 22, 2006↑ 7 daysOct 22, 2006↑ 7 daysMar 22, 2005↑ 7 daysJul 15, 1998↑ 7 daysMar 1, 2002↑ 28 days

Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Aug 8, 2015Aug 8, 2015Aug 8, 2015Mar 1, 2000Oct 22, 2012
F2AFeb 1, 2021↑ 1 monthFeb 1, 2021↑ 1 monthFeb 1, 2021↑ 1 monthFeb 1, 2021↑ 1 monthFeb 1, 2021↑ 1 month
F2BMay 22, 2016May 22, 2016May 22, 2016Dec 22, 1999Apr 15, 2012
F3Jun 22, 2009Jun 22, 2009Jun 22, 2009Sep 8, 2000Jan 8, 2003
F4Oct 1, 2007Oct 1, 2007Dec 1, 2005May 8, 1999Oct 1, 2002

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornEL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURASINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINESVIETNAM
1stCurrentAug 1, 2020↑ 7 monthsCurrentAug 1, 2020↑ 7 monthsCurrentCurrentCurrent
2ndCurrentJul 15, 2016↑ 30 daysCurrentJan 15, 2010↑ 3 monthsCurrentCurrentCurrent
3rdCurrentFeb 8, 2018↑ 1 monthCurrentJul 1, 2010↑ 3 monthsCurrentCurrentCurrent
Other WorkersCurrentMay 1, 2009↑ 30 daysCurrentJul 1, 2010↑ 3 monthsCurrentCurrentCurrent
4thCurrentCurrentJun 1, 2018↑ 2 monthsCurrentJan 1, 2019↑ 17 daysCurrentCurrent
Certain Religious WorkersCurrentCurrentJun 1, 2018↑ 2 monthsCurrentJan 1, 2019↑ 17 daysCurrentCurrent
5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5)CurrentAug 15, 2015CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentOct 22, 2017↑ 21 days
5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)CurrentAug 15, 2015CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentOct 22, 2017↑ 21 days

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornEL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURASINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
1stCurrentCurrentNow currentCurrentCurrentNow currentCurrentCurrent
2ndCurrentOct 1, 2016CurrentMay 15, 2011CurrentCurrent
3rdCurrentJun 1, 2018CurrentJan 1, 2014CurrentCurrent
Other WorkersCurrentJul 1, 2009CurrentJan 1, 2014CurrentCurrent
4thCurrentCurrentSep 1, 2018CurrentCurrentCurrent
Certain Religious WorkersCurrentCurrentSep 1, 2018CurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5)CurrentDec 15, 2015CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)CurrentDec 15, 2015CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent

RegionAll DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA14,000Except: Egypt 10,000
ASIA6,200Except: Iran 3,800 Nepal 4,200
EUROPE9,400
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)6
OCEANIA900
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN1,175

RegionAll DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA22,000Except: Egypt 13,000
ASIA9,000Except: Iran 4,700 Nepal 4,500
EUROPE12,000
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)7
OCEANIA1,100
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN1,400

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.