Navigating the Visa Bulletin can be challenging, but we’re here to help! Our latest guide breaks down each step, from identifying your visa category to understanding priority and final action dates. Stay informed and take control of your immigration journey! 🌎✈️
1️⃣ How to identify your visa category
The Visa Bulletin is divided into several categories based on the type of visa being sought:
EB-1: Priority workers (e.g., executives, researchers).
EB-2: Professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability.
EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers.
EB-4: Certain special immigrants (e.g., religious workers).
EB-5: Immigrant investors.
Knowing your category is the first step in understanding where you stand in the visa queue.
2️⃣ What priority dates mean
Your priority date is the date when your Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers) was filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This date determines your place in line for a visa, and it’s essential for tracking your application.
Your visa will only be processed when your priority date becomes “current.”
3️⃣ How to read the Final Action Date chart
Final Action Dates:
This chart shows when your visa can be processed. If your priority date is earlier than the listed date for your category and country, you can move forward with your green card process.
Dates for Filing:
This chart shows when you can submit your visa application, even if it’s not ready for final action. Filing early can help speed up your process once a visa is available.
4️⃣ Country-specific dates you need to know
Certain countries with high demand for U.S. visas have separate columns in the bulletin—India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines—due to longer processing times. If you’re from one of these countries, you’ll need to check the specific column for your category to understand when your priority date will be current.
For all other countries, the “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” column applies.
5️⃣ How to know when your date is “current”
Once your priority date is earlier than the date shown on either chart (Final Action or Dates for Filing), your application can move forward. This means:
You can either file your application or proceed with final visa processing.
Make sure to review your specific category and country.
6️⃣ What happens when your date becomes current
When your priority date is current on the Final Action Date chart, your visa can be issued, and you can proceed with the final steps for your green card application. This might include consular processing or adjustment of status, depending on whether you’re inside or outside the U.S.
If your date is current on the Dates for Filing chart, you can submit your visa application materials, but your green card might still take some time to be processed until the final action date becomes current
Understanding the Visa Bulletin is essential to managing your visa application and preparing for the next steps in your immigration journey. Keep checking the bulletin monthly, and reach out to professionals when in doubt—every step you take brings you closer to achieving your immigration goals.
Keeping up with the Visa Bulletin brings you one step closer to achieving your immigration goals. Check it monthly and reach out to our team for personalized guidance by emailing us at info@csi-professionals.com
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