| Family-Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Feb 1, 2011↑ 10 days | Feb 1, 2011↑ 10 days | Feb 1, 2011↑ 10 days | Apr 1, 1996 | Jan 1, 2005↓ 2 years |
| F2A | Dec 22, 2015↑ 1 month | Dec 22, 2015↑ 1 month | Dec 22, 2015↑ 1 month | Nov 15, 2015↑ 14 days | Dec 22, 2015↑ 1 month |
| F2B | Nov 22, 2010↑ 7 days | Nov 22, 2010↑ 7 days | Nov 22, 2010↑ 7 days | Jul 22, 1996 | Jul 1, 2006↓ 6 months |
| F3 | Sep 8, 2005↑ 24 days | Sep 8, 2005↑ 24 days | Sep 8, 2005↑ 24 days | May 22, 1995↑ 14 days | Mar 8, 1995↑ 7 days |
| F4 | Jun 8, 2004↑ 17 days | Jun 8, 2004↑ 17 days | Nov 22, 2003↑ 1 month | Oct 8, 1997 | Aug 1, 1994↑ 2 months |
| Family-Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Jan 1, 2012 | Jan 1, 2012 | Jan 1, 2012 | Nov 1, 1996 | Oct 1, 2007 |
| F2A | Nov 1, 2016 | Nov 1, 2016 | Nov 1, 2016 | Nov 1, 2016 | Nov 1, 2016 |
| F2B | Sep 1, 2011 | Sep 1, 2011 | Sep 1, 2011 | Jan 1, 1997 | Sep 1, 2007 |
| F3 | Dec 1, 2005 | Dec 1, 2005 | Dec 1, 2005 | Oct 1, 1995 | Jun 15, 1995 |
| F4 | Nov 15, 2004 | Nov 15, 2004 | Jun 22, 2004 | Feb 8, 1998 | Mar 1, 1995 |
| Employment-based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 2nd | Current | Jul 1, 2013 | Current | Nov 1, 2008 | Current | Current |
| 3rd | Current | Mar 8, 2014 | Current | Oct 15, 2006 | Current | Jan 15, 2016 |
| Other Workers | Current | Jul 1, 2006 | Current | Oct 15, 2006 | Current | Jan 15, 2016 |
| 4th | Current | Current | Nov 8, 2015 | Current | Apr 22, 2016 | Current |
| Certain Religious Workers | Current | Current | Nov 8, 2015 | Current | Apr 22, 2016 | Current |
| 5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) | Current | Jul 15, 2014 | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 5th Regional Center (I5 and R5) | Current | Jul 15, 2014 | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| Employment-based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 2nd | Current | Nov 15, 2013 | Current | Feb 8, 2009 | Current | Current |
| 3rd | Current | Sep 1, 2015 | Current | Jan 1, 2008 | Current | Aug 1, 2016 |
| Other Workers | Current | Jun 1, 2008 | Current | Jan 1, 2008 | Current | Aug 1, 2016 |
| 4th | Current | Current | Apr 15, 2016 | Current | Current | Current |
| Certain Religious Workers | Current | Current | Apr 15, 2016 | Current | Current | Current |
| 5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) | Current | Oct 1, 2014 | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 5th Regional Center (I5 and R5) | Current | Oct 1, 2014 | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 10,000 | Except: Egypt: 6,200 Ethiopia: 6,300 |
| ASIA | 2,500 | Except: Iran: 2,100 Nepal: 2,000 |
| EUROPE | 6,000 | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 4 | |
| OCEANIA | 400 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 425 |
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 13,000 | Except: Egypt: 8,300 Ethiopia: 9,200 |
| ASIA | 3,400 | Except: Iran: 2,800 Nepal: 2,650 |
| EUROPE | 8,200 | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 5 | |
| OCEANIA | 475 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 500 |
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.