Tools & Trends
Check your eligibility and explore historical data
Stay updated! Get notified when new visa bulletins are released.
Check your eligibility and explore historical data
A priority date is the date that establishes your place in line for a green card. For employment-based categories, it's typically the date your PERM labor certification was filed or, if no labor certification is required, the date your I-140 petition was filed.
The U.S. Department of State releases a new visa bulletin each month, typically around the middle of the month for the following month's dates.
Final Action Date is when your green card can be issued. Dates for Filing allows you to submit your adjustment of status application earlier, but doesn't mean immediate approval. USCIS announces monthly which chart to use.
Retrogression happens when demand for visas in a particular category or country exceeds the available supply. The State Department moves the cutoff date backward to slow down the number of applicants who can file, keeping the queue within annual visa limits set by Congress.
Use the Priority Date Checker on this page. Select your country, visa category (e.g., EB2, EB3), and enter your priority date. The tool will tell you if your date is current, meaning you are eligible to file or receive your green card based on the latest bulletin.