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Visa Bulletin

January 2020

Your priority date must be earlier than the date shown.

Month
2020
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA-mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Jul 15, 2013↑ 2 monthsJul 15, 2013↑ 2 monthsJul 15, 2013↑ 2 monthsAug 8, 1997Jan 15, 2009↑ 2 months
F2ACurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
F2BAug 8, 2014Aug 8, 2014Aug 8, 2014Aug 22, 1998Feb 1, 2009↑ 2 months
F3Nov 15, 2007↑ 7 daysNov 15, 2007↑ 7 daysNov 15, 2007↑ 7 daysMar 1, 1996↑ 8 daysJan 1, 1999↑ 4 months
F4Feb 1, 2007Feb 1, 2007Nov 8, 2004↑ 7 daysJan 8, 1998↑ 24 daysMar 1, 1999↑ 2 months

Family-SponsoredAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1Mar 15, 2014↑ 4 monthsMar 15, 2014↑ 4 monthsMar 15, 2014↑ 4 monthsNov 15, 1999Sep 15, 2009↑ 5 months
F2ANov 1, 2019↑ 1 monthNov 1, 2019↑ 1 monthNov 1, 2019↑ 1 monthNov 1, 2019↑ 1 monthNov 1, 2019↑ 1 month
F2BApr 8, 2015↑ 2 monthsApr 8, 2015↑ 2 monthsApr 8, 2015↑ 2 monthsApr 22, 1999Oct 1, 2009↑ 4 months
F3Jul 15, 2008↑ 2 monthsJul 15, 2008↑ 2 monthsJul 15, 2008↑ 2 monthsJul 15, 2000Sep 1, 1999↑ 6 months
F4Jul 22, 2007Jul 22, 2007Jul 8, 2005↑ 7 daysJan 1, 1999Nov 1, 1999↑ 5 months

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornEL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURASINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINESVIETNAM
1stOct 1, 2018↑ 3 monthsMay 22, 2017↑ 7 daysOct 1, 2018↑ 3 monthsJan 1, 2015Oct 1, 2018↑ 3 monthsOct 1, 2018↑ 3 monthsOct 1, 2018↑ 3 months
2ndCurrentJul 1, 2015↑ 9 daysCurrentMay 18, 2009↑ 3 daysCurrentCurrentCurrent
3rdCurrentDec 1, 2015↑ 30 daysCurrentJan 1, 2009CurrentMar 15, 2018↑ 14 daysCurrent
Other WorkersCurrentApr 1, 2008↑ 1 monthCurrentJan 1, 2009CurrentMar 15, 2018↑ 14 daysCurrent
4thCurrentCurrentJul 1, 2016CurrentAug 8, 2017↑ 17 daysCurrentCurrent
Certain Religious WorkersUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailable
5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5)CurrentNov 22, 2014↑ 7 daysCurrentMay 1, 2018↑ 4 monthsCurrentCurrentDec 8, 2016↑ 7 days
5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)UnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailable

Employment-basedAll Chargeability Areas Except Those ListedCHINA- mainland bornEL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURASINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
1stCurrentOct 1, 2017↑ 30 daysCurrentMar 15, 2017CurrentCurrent
2ndCurrentAug 1, 2016CurrentJul 1, 2009CurrentCurrent
3rdJan 1, 2019No longer currentMar 1, 2017Jan 1, 2019No longer currentFeb 1, 2010Jan 1, 2019No longer currentJan 1, 2019No longer current
Other WorkersJan 1, 2019No longer currentAug 1, 2008Jan 1, 2019No longer currentFeb 1, 2010Jan 1, 2019No longer currentJan 1, 2019No longer current
4thCurrentCurrentAug 15, 2016CurrentCurrentCurrent
Certain Religious WorkersCurrentCurrentAug 15, 2016CurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5)CurrentMay 15, 2015CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)CurrentMay 15, 2015CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent

RegionAll DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA19,000Except: Egypt 10,000
ASIA8,200Except: Iran 5,100 Nepal 6,500
EUROPE10,300
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)8
OCEANIA1,200
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN1,075

RegionAll DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
AFRICA25,000Except: Egypt 16,000
ASIA12,000Except: Iran 6,500 Nepal 7,575
EUROPE14,000
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS)8
OCEANIA1,350
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN1,150

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.