Priority date checker

Legal information only. This tool uses estimated trends, not the actual published Visa Bulletin, which is released monthly by the State Department and can shift unexpectedly. Always confirm against the official current bulletin before relying on this for filing decisions. See our full disclaimer.

Priority date status checker

Your priority date

Visa category

Country of birth

Which bulletin chart applies to you?

Your priority date status

Get help confirming your exact status

This checker uses general trends, not the live official Visa Bulletin. An immigration attorney can confirm your exact status against this month's published bulletin and advise on next steps.

What does it mean for a priority date to be "current"?

Your priority date is current when it falls before the cutoff date published in that month's Visa Bulletin for your specific category and country. Once current, you can take your next step, either filing for adjustment of status if you're in the US, or moving forward with consular processing if you're abroad. Being current isn't permanent. A date that's current one month can retrogress, meaning the cutoff moves backward, in a later month if demand in that category spikes.

Two different charts can apply depending on the category and the specific month: final action dates, which is when a green card can actually be approved, and dates for filing, which is sometimes used to allow earlier filing of the adjustment application itself. USCIS announces each month which chart applies for adjustment of status filings. If you're not sure which category you're even in, our visa eligibility screener can help confirm that first.

How priority dates move over time

Cutoff dates generally move forward over time as USCIS works through the backlog, but the pace varies widely by category and country, and isn't linear. Some months see large jumps, others see little to no movement at all, and occasionally a cutoff moves backward. This is why a single-point trend estimate, like the one this tool provides, is useful for general planning but can't replace checking the actual monthly bulletin as your date approaches. Once your case is moving, our green card timeline tracker can help estimate total remaining wait.

What to do once your priority date becomes current

Once current, you typically have a limited window to act, especially for consular processing cases where the National Visa Center will request final documents and schedule an interview. For adjustment of status cases in the US, you can file form I-485 as soon as your date is current under whichever chart USCIS has designated that month. Missing the window when a date is current can mean waiting for it to become current again later, so timing matters.

Why some categories never show a cutoff date

Categories with no annual numerical cap, like immediate relatives of US citizens, are always listed as current because there's no backlog to track. If your category and country combination shows "current" every month, you can generally proceed as soon as your underlying petition is approved, without waiting on Visa Bulletin movement at all.

Frequently asked questions about priority dates

Final action dates show when a green card can actually be approved and issued. Dates for filing, when USCIS authorizes their use for a given month, show when you can submit your adjustment of status application even though final approval comes later. USCIS decides month to month which chart applies to adjustment of status filings, so checking the current month's guidance matters.

Yes, this is called retrogression. It happens when more applicants in a category and country become eligible than there are visas available for that fiscal year, often seen in the months leading up to September, the end of the government's fiscal year. If your date retrogresses before your case is fully processed, you wait again until it becomes current.

For employment-based cases, you can sometimes retain your original priority date when moving to a new underlying petition, known as priority date retention, as long as the earlier petition was approved and not revoked for fraud or willful misrepresentation. For family-based cases, switching categories, such as a child aging out of one category into another, has its own specific retention rules under the Child Status Protection Act.

The State Department publishes a new Visa Bulletin every month, typically in the second or third week, covering the upcoming month. It lists final action dates and, when applicable, dates for filing for every family and employment-based category broken out by country. Checking each new bulletin as your date approaches is the only reliable way to track real movement.

Act promptly. If you're in the US, gather your adjustment of status documents and consider filing form I-485 if your category's chart is open for filing that month. If you're abroad, expect the National Visa Center to begin requesting documents and scheduling an interview. Since a current date isn't guaranteed to stay current, delaying action carries real risk of losing your place if the date later retrogresses.