How the Visa Bulletin Works (2025 Guide for Immigrants)

If you’ve ever checked the Visa bulletin and thought, “What am I looking at?”—you’re not alone. Each month, the Department of State publishes two charts that decide when green-card cases can move: Final Action Dates (who can actually receive a green card now) and Dates for Filing (who can go ahead and file paperwork). USCIS then announces which chart applicants inside the U.S. must follow for the month. Learn the basics once, and the bulletin turns from alphabet soup into a simple calendar for your case. In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how the Visa bulletin works, how to read the tables, what priority dates and cutoff dates mean, and what to do when your date becomes current—or slides backward due to retrogression. We’ll also share a monthly checklist and link out to official sources so you can double-check everything in minutes. Whether you’re family-sponsored or employment-based, this is the down-to-earth playbook you can actually use.

Start here — The Visa Bulletin in one minute

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly post by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). It sets the pace for immigrant visas—both for people processing at consulates abroad and for many applicants filing inside the U.S. The bulletin has two core charts: Chart A (Final Action Dates) shows when a green card can be approved; Chart B (Dates for Filing) shows when you may submit your application early to get into the queue. USCIS separately posts a one-pager each month that specifies which chart AOS applicants must use. Bookmark both: DOS for the dates, and USCIS for which chart applies to you that month.

What the bulletin includes: family-sponsored categories (F1–F4) and employment-based categories (EB-1–EB-5), each with rows for oversubscribed countries (for example, India, China, Mexico, Philippines) and a worldwide column. Footnotes in each bulletin explain special moves like retrogression or DV lottery notes.

DOS also maintains historical “Comprehensive Lists of Final Action Dates” so you can spot trends across years.\

Priority dates, categories, and country limits — the building blocks

Your priority date is your place in line. For family cases, it’s the day USCIS receives the I-130. For most employment cases, it’s the PERM filing date (or I-140 filing date if no PERM). When the bulletin’s cutoff date passes your priority date, you’re current. That’s the core idea.

Family vs. employment preferences. Family categories include F1 (adult unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens), F2A (spouses/children of permanent residents), F2B (adult unmarried sons/daughters of LPRs), F3 (married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens), and F4 (siblings of U.S. citizens). Employment categories range from EB-1 (priority workers) to EB-5 (investors). Understanding which line you’re in determines which row you’ll read.

Country limits and chargeability. By law, no single country can use more than a set share of the worldwide annual total, so high-demand countries build deeper backlogs. That’s why India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines often have different dates. When demand surges, DOS can move dates backward—retrogression—to stay within limits. If that happens after you file, your case can pause until visas are available again.

If you’re following country-specific news (like India EB categories), skim monthly recaps to keep expectations realistic. They won’t change the rules, but they help you plan.

How to read the monthly tables (with real examples)

Here’s the one rule that makes the Visa bulletin click: if your priority date is earlier than the date in your row, you qualify under that chart. If the box shows “C” (current), everyone in that row qualifies; “U” means unavailable. The family table and employment table work the same way.

Example 1 (Family):

Say you filed an F2B petition (adult unmarried son/daughter of an LPR) with a priority date of December 20, 2007, and you’re chargeable to Mexico. If the Final Action Dates chart shows December 15, 2007, for F2B Mexico, you’re not yet current; if next month it advances to December 22, 2007, you become current on that chart. (Context: for November 2025, F2B Mexico Final Action = 15DEC07; the “Dates for Filing” cutoff is 15MAY09.)

Example 2 (Employment):

You’re EB-2, chargeable to India, with a priority date of November 15, 2013. If Chart A (Final Action) shows April 1, 2013, you’re a few months away; if Chart B (Dates for Filing) shows December 1, 2013, and USCIS says to use Chart B this month, you can file AOS and secure benefits like EAD/AP while you wait for final action. (For November 2025: EB-2 India Final Action = 01APR13; Dates for Filing = 01DEC13. USCIS designated Dates for Filing for November 2025 AOS filings.)

Don’t skip the footnotes. DOS notes often flag “category may become unavailable” or explain why dates moved. End-of-fiscal-year bulletins (September) can be especially volatile as agencies reconcile remaining visa numbers.

Keep a simple spreadsheet with your category, country, and priority date. Update the listed cutoff monthly. If you see a three-month jump, get your medical exam and fee strategy lined up so you can file immediately when eligible. See Immiva’s walkthroughs on USCIS filing fees and biometrics to prep efficiently: how to pay USCIS filing fees and biometrics appointment 101.

Filing strategy — what to do when your date is current (or close)

Inside the U.S. (Adjustment of Status). Each month, USCIS tells you whether to follow Final Action or Filing dates. If your row is current on the applicable chart, you can submit Form I-485 and, in most cases, I-765 (EAD) and I-131 (Advance Parole) together. Double-check the USCIS page before you hit “send”—this is posted monthly and sometimes flips between charts.

Outside the U.S. (Consular Processing). The National Visa Center (NVC) lets you assemble documents when your date meets Dates for Filing, then schedules the interview once Final Action is current and you’re documentarily qualified. Their step-by-step PDF shows exactly where to click and which chart to read.

Avoid last-minute scrambles.

• Medical exam: For AOS, plan the I-693 medical so it’s valid when you file/when USCIS adjudicates. DOS also requires panel physician exams before consular interviews.
• Fees & forms: Verify fees and the latest forms; tiny mistakes cause rejections. Immiva’s guides keep it practical: how to pay USCIS fees and I-539 extension/change of status.
• Biometrics: If your window is open and you get a biometrics date that clashes with travel, you can usually reschedule—do it right. See Immiva: postpone biometrics.

Many articles stop at “file when current.” We suggest building a 60-day readiness plan: gather civil docs, confirm employer support letters (for EB), budget fees, and pre-book medicals in a 2-week window once movement looks likely. That way, you can file the same week the gate opens.

When dates move backward: staying ready through retrogression

What is retrogression? When demand outstrips the annual supply, DOS may move the cutoff date backward to stay within visa number limits. Cases can temporarily stall until the category becomes available again. This is normal—even if frustrating—and is explained in Nolo’s primer and DOS monthly notes.

If you already filed AOS and then retrogression hits: USCIS will hold final approval, but your pending I-485 often lets you keep EAD/AP renewals rolling. If you haven’t filed yet and only Chart B was your path, a switch to Chart A may close the filing window—watch that monthly USCIS page closely.

Who is most affected?Oversubscribed countries and high-demand categories (for example, EB-2/EB-3 India and China) see the most turbulence, especially near the fiscal year end. Tracking month-to-month commentary helps set expectations.

Practical moves while you wait:

• Keep job evidence current (pay stubs, EVLs) for EB cases.
• Maintain a valid status or work authorization via your EAD; if you’re in H-4, avoid common I-765 mistakes (see Immiva’s H-4 EAD pitfalls).
• If you’re consular, stay documentarily qualified at NVC so your case jumps to the front once numbers free up.

Special cases & FAQs the bulletin doesn’t spell out

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents) are not capped—there’s no line to track in the Visa bulletin for them. Everyone else in the family and employment categories must check the charts.

DV Lottery cutoff numbers appear in the same bulletin but look different: they’re numbers by region/country rather than dates; if your case number is lower than the listed cutoff, you can proceed.

SIJS (EB-4) youth use the EB-4 row. Their priority date is typically the I-360 filing date; advocates should read Chart A (for visa availability) and Chart B (for filing) carefully.

NVC welcome letter timing.NVC sends a welcome when your date is current on the filing chart or expected to be current within about a year—then you log into CEAC, pay fees, and upload documents.

Understanding your A-Number (what is an A-Number) and finding your green card number (where to find it). For travel planning, check the six-month passport rule myth vs. reality (Six-Month Club guide).

Monthly checklist & tools

• Step 1 (2 minutes): Open DOS’s Current Visa Bulletin; find your table and row. Screenshot your row each month.
• Step 2 (1 minute): Open USCIS “Adjustment of Status Filing Charts” to see which chart applies. If it says “use Dates for Filing,” you might file earlier.
• Step 3 (5 minutes): Compare the new cutoff with your priority date; mark how far you are (months/years). Use DOS’s historical lists to watch trends.
• Step 4 (2 minutes): If within 6 months of current, line up medicals, fees, and supporting docs. For AOS, confirm fee/payment options (ACH/online) and prep for biometrics. Pay USCIS fees • Biometrics guide.
• Step 5 (as needed): If you see talk of freezes or big jumps for your country/category, don’t panic—verify with the official bulletin and then plan.

Treat each fiscal year (Oct–Sept) as a season. Early fall often brings resets; late summer can bring either sprint finishes or slowdowns as DOS manages the remaining numbers. Watching the pattern matters as much as watching one month.

Conclusion

The Visa bulletin isn’t meant to be mysterious—it’s a status board for immigrant visa lines. Once you know your category, country of chargeability, and priority date, the tables tell a clear story: Are you filing now, or getting close? Pair that with USCIS’s monthly “which chart to use” post, and you’ll know exactly when to send your I-485 or when to expect NVC to move your case. Backlogs and retrogression will still sting, especially in oversubscribed categories, but you’ll make smarter decisions with less guesswork—lining up medicals, budgeting fees, and planning travel and work with fewer surprises. Keep your eye on official sources, set a recurring reminder, and give yourself a short checklist to run each month. When your date turns current, be ready on day one. And if you want a second set of eyes on timing, forms, or strategy, Immiva can help you prepare documents, avoid common mistakes, and keep momentum—so you can spend less time refreshing dates and more time getting on with your life. Start with our guides on fees, biometrics, and green card backlogs, and check back for monthly updates tailored to real-world timelines.