Not legal advice
How to read the Visa Bulletin
The Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletinevery month. It has two charts, one for family-sponsored categories and one for employment-based categories, each broken out by country of chargeability.
Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing
Final Action Dates is the chart that controls when a case can actually be approved or a visa issued: your priority date has to be earlier than the listed date.Dates for Filing is a separate, usually later, chart some categories are allowed to file against ahead of final action — it lets an applicant submit paperwork and get an earlier place in line for medical exams and biometrics, without meaning the case can be approved yet. USCIS states, on its own Visa Bulletin information page, which chart applies each month for adjustment of status.
Categories and countries
Family-sponsored categories are F1 through F4. Employment-based categories are EB-1 through EB-5, with EB-3 split into a main row and an "Other Workers" row, and EB-5 split into an unreserved row and three set-aside rows (rural, high-unemployment, infrastructure) under the FY2022 EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act. Each category is listed for "All Chargeability Areas" (everywhere not listed separately) and, when a country's demand is high enough to need its own cutoff, for China, India, Mexico, or the Philippines.
Questions attorneys ask
What are the two charts in the Visa Bulletin?
Final Action Dates: your case can be approved, or your immigrant visa issued, once your priority date is earlier than the listed date. Dates for Filing: an earlier, more permissive date some categories can use to submit their adjustment-of-status or immigrant-visa application before Final Action Dates catches up. USCIS announces each month which chart applicants may file against.
What does "C" mean on a Visa Bulletin chart?
"C" means current: there is no backlog for that category and country, and any priority date qualifies.
What does "U" mean on a Visa Bulletin chart?
"U" means unavailable: no visas are being issued in that category and country this month, regardless of priority date.
Check the current bulletin and your priority date ·Priority date vs. cutoff date ·What retrogression means