Why dates move back
There is a yearly limit on green cards for each category and country. When more people apply than the limit allows, the State Department moves the cutoff back to slow things down.
What it means for your case
If your date was current and the cutoff moves back past it, your case waits again.
An application you already filed stays on file. It can be approved once your date is current again.
When dates recover
Dates often move forward again after a new fiscal year starts on October 1 and a new yearly supply of green cards opens. There is no set schedule.
How to keep track
Check the bulletin each month. Or ask Claude or ChatGPT with ImmigrationLayer connected. Each answer is dated and links to the bulletin it came from.
Ask about your own category and country
Connect ImmigrationLayer to Claude or ChatGPT. Each answer is dated and links to the bulletin it came from.
Get the full bulletin