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Visa Bulletin

September 2018

Your priority date must be earlier than the date shown.

Month
2018
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA-mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Apr 8, 2011↓ 30 daysApr 8, 2011↓ 30 daysApr 8, 2011↓ 30 daysAug 1, 1997Nov 15, 2006↑ 3 months
F2AJul 22, 2016Jul 22, 2016Jul 22, 2016Jul 1, 2016Jul 22, 2016
F2BNov 1, 2011↑ 10 daysNov 1, 2011↑ 10 daysNov 1, 2011↑ 10 daysApr 22, 1997↑ 21 daysApr 22, 2007↑ 2 months
F3May 1, 2006↓ 1 monthMay 1, 2006↓ 1 monthMay 1, 2006↓ 1 monthDec 22, 1995↑ 21 daysJun 1, 1995↑ 1 month
F4Jan 8, 2005↑ 17 daysJan 8, 2005↑ 17 daysApr 8, 2004↑ 17 daysJan 15, 1998Jun 1, 1995↑ 1 month

Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Mar 8, 2012Mar 8, 2012Mar 8, 2012Sep 1, 1998Feb 15, 2008
F2ADec 1, 2017Dec 1, 2017Dec 1, 2017Dec 1, 2017Dec 1, 2017
F2BMar 22, 2014↑ 2 yr 2 moMar 22, 2014↑ 2 yr 2 moMar 22, 2014↑ 2 yr 2 moJun 8, 1997Dec 15, 2007
F3Sep 22, 2006Sep 22, 2006Sep 22, 2006Oct 8, 1998Aug 1, 1995
F4May 1, 2005May 1, 2005Jan 1, 2005Jun 1, 1998Dec 1, 1995

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornEL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURASINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINESVIETNAM
1stJun 1, 2016↑ 1 monthJan 1, 2012Jun 1, 2016↑ 1 monthJan 1, 2012Jun 1, 2016↑ 1 monthJun 1, 2016↑ 1 monthJun 1, 2016↑ 1 month
2ndJan 1, 2013No longer currentJan 1, 2013↓ 2 yr 2 moJan 1, 2013No longer currentJan 1, 2007↓ 2 yr 2 moJan 1, 2013No longer currentJan 1, 2013No longer currentJan 1, 2013No longer current
3rdNov 1, 2016No longer currentNov 1, 2014↑ 4 monthsNov 1, 2016No longer currentJan 1, 2003↓ 6 yearsNov 1, 2016No longer currentNov 1, 2016↓ 7 monthsNov 1, 2016No longer current
Other WorkersNov 1, 2016No longer currentMay 1, 2007Nov 1, 2016No longer currentJan 1, 2003↓ 6 yearsNov 1, 2016No longer currentNov 1, 2016↓ 7 monthsNov 1, 2016No longer current
4thCurrentCurrentFeb 15, 2016↑ 7 daysFeb 15, 2016↑ 7 daysFeb 15, 2016↑ 7 daysCurrentCurrent
Certain Religious WorkersCurrentCurrentFeb 15, 2016↑ 7 daysFeb 15, 2016↑ 7 daysFeb 15, 2016↑ 7 daysCurrentCurrent
5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5)CurrentAug 8, 2014↑ 7 daysCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentAug 8, 2014↑ 7 days
5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)CurrentAug 8, 2014↑ 7 daysCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentAug 8, 2014↑ 7 days

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornEL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURASINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
1stCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
2ndCurrentApr 1, 2015CurrentMay 22, 2009CurrentCurrent
3rdCurrentJan 1, 2016CurrentMay 1, 2009CurrentJul 1, 2017
Other WorkersCurrentJun 1, 2008CurrentMay 1, 2009CurrentJul 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
AFRICA39,500
ASIACURRENT
EUROPE25,775
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)CURRENT
OCEANIA1,450
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN1,715

RegionAll DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA2,750Except: Egypt 1,900
ASIA1,000Except: Iran 800 Nepal 600
EUROPE2,000
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)4
OCEANIA100
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN150

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.