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Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA-mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Jul 8, 2015Jul 8, 2015Jul 8, 2015Jan 1, 2002↑ 3 monthsMar 1, 2012
F2ANov 15, 2021↑ 5 monthsNov 15, 2021↑ 5 monthsNov 15, 2021↑ 5 monthsFeb 1, 2021↑ 3 monthsNov 15, 2021↑ 5 months
F2BApr 1, 2016Apr 1, 2016Apr 1, 2016Jul 8, 2004↑ 4 monthsOct 22, 2011
F3Mar 1, 2010↑ 2 monthsMar 1, 2010↑ 2 monthsMar 1, 2010↑ 2 monthsDec 1, 1999↑ 4 monthsAug 22, 2002↑ 21 days
F4Jul 22, 2007Jul 22, 2007Jan 15, 2006Feb 1, 2001↑ 10 daysDec 1, 2003↑ 3 months

Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Sep 1, 2017Sep 1, 2017Sep 1, 2017Apr 1, 2005Apr 22, 2015
F2ASep 1, 2023Sep 1, 2023Sep 1, 2023Sep 1, 2023Sep 1, 2023
F2BJan 1, 2017Jan 1, 2017Jan 1, 2017Nov 1, 2004↑ 2 monthsOct 1, 2013
F3Sep 1, 2010↑ 3 monthsSep 1, 2010↑ 3 monthsSep 1, 2010↑ 3 monthsJun 15, 2001Nov 8, 2003
F4Mar 1, 2008Mar 1, 2008Jun 15, 2006Apr 27, 2001↑ 5 daysJun 1, 2005

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
1stCurrentSep 1, 2022Mar 1, 2021CurrentCurrent
2ndJan 15, 2023Feb 1, 2020Apr 15, 2012Jan 15, 2023Jan 15, 2023
3rdNov 22, 2022Sep 1, 2020Aug 22, 2012↑ 7 daysNov 22, 2022Nov 22, 2022
Other WorkersOct 8, 2020Jan 1, 2017Aug 22, 2012↑ 7 daysOct 8, 2020May 1, 2020
4thNov 1, 2020Nov 1, 2020Nov 1, 2020Nov 1, 2020Nov 1, 2020
Certain Religious WorkersNov 1, 2020Nov 1, 2020Nov 1, 2020Nov 1, 2020Nov 1, 2020
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)CurrentDec 15, 2015Dec 1, 2020CurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: Rural (20%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
1stCurrentJan 1, 2023Apr 1, 2021CurrentCurrent
2ndFeb 15, 2023Jun 1, 2020May 15, 2012Feb 15, 2023Feb 15, 2023
3rdFeb 1, 2023Jul 1, 2021Sep 15, 2012Feb 1, 2023Jan 1, 2023
Other WorkersDec 15, 2020Jun 1, 2017Sep 15, 2012Dec 15, 2020May 15, 2020
4thDec 1, 2020Dec 1, 2020Dec 1, 2020Dec 1, 2020Dec 1, 2020
Certain Religious WorkersDec 1, 2020Dec 1, 2020Dec 1, 2020Dec 1, 2020Dec 1, 2020
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)CurrentJan 1, 2017Apr 1, 2022CurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: (Rural - 20%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment - 10%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure - 2%)CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent

RegionAll DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA57,000Except: Algeria 56,950 Egypt 32,000 Morocco 41,500
ASIA9,000Except: Iran 8,500 Nepal 8,500
EUROPE21,000Except: Russia 20,240 Uzbekistan 9,000
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)15
OCEANIA1,850
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN2,750

RegionAll DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA67,500Except: Algeria 67,250 Egypt 40,000 Morocco 52,000
ASIA13,000Except: Iran 10,250 Nepal 10,250
EUROPE27,500Except: Russia 24,750 Uzbekistan 12,000
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)20
OCEANIA2,000
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN3,000

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.