What Is a Priority Date?
A priority date is a date that marks your place in the employment-based green card queue. Think of it as your spot in line. The earlier your priority date, the longer you have been waiting and the closer you are to receiving your green card.
For EB-2 and EB-3 categories, your priority date is established when your employer files the PERM labor certification application with the DOL. For EB-1 categories (which do not require PERM), the priority date is established when the I-140 petition is filed with USCIS.
The US government issues a limited number of employment-based green cards each fiscal year (140,000 total, allocated across five preference categories and further divided by country of birth). For countries that use more than their allocation, applicants must wait until their priority date becomes “current” — meaning enough visas have been issued to applicants with earlier priority dates that it is now your turn.
Check where your category stands right now. The tracker below shows the latest Visa Bulletin cut-off dates for all EB categories and countries of birth, updated monthly from the Department of State.
Reading the Visa Bulletin
Every month, the US Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin (shown in the Priority Date Tracker above). It contains cut-off dates for each employment-based preference category (EB-1 through EB-5) and for each country of chargeability (primarily India, China, Mexico, Philippines, and “All Other Countries”).
If your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date shown in the Visa Bulletin for your category and country of birth, your date is said to be “current.” If the Visa Bulletin shows “C” for your category and country, all priority dates in that category are current and there is no backlog. If it shows “U”, no visas are being issued in that category (Unavailable).
Two Charts — Final Action Dates vs Dates for Filing
The Visa Bulletin contains two charts. Understanding the difference is critical:
- The date by which USCIS can actually approve your green card and issue a visa number
- Your priority date must be before this date to complete your green card
- This is the definitive “current” determination
- Always applies unless USCIS specifically announces Dates for Filing also apply
- An earlier set of dates that allows you to file your I-485 before final action dates are reached
- Filing when Dates for Filing are current gives you EAD, Advance Parole, and other benefits while waiting
- Only applies when USCIS explicitly announces it is accepting applications based on Chart B
- Not always available — USCIS announces monthly whether Chart B can be used
Why Different Countries Have Different Dates
US immigration law limits how many green cards can go to nationals from any single country — no more than 7% of the total annual employment-based green card quota. For countries whose nationals file far more green card applications than the 7% limit allows (India, China), enormous backlogs develop. For most other countries, the number of applicants is well within the 7% limit, and priority dates are current or nearly current.
| Country Group | EB-1 Wait | EB-2 Wait | EB-3 Wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Countries | Minimal or none | Minimal or none | Minimal or none |
| China (mainland born) | 1–3 years | 5–10 years | 5–10 years |
| India | 2–5 years | Multi-decade | Multi-decade |
| Mexico | Minimal | Minimal | Some backlog |
| Philippines | Minimal | Minimal | Some backlog |
Retrogression — When Dates Move Backward
Priority dates can retrogress — move to an earlier date than the previous month. This happens when USCIS has issued too many visas in a category and needs to slow down. Retrogression can be sudden and significant, sometimes moving dates back by months or years overnight.
If you are in the Dates for Filing window (Chart B) and dates retrogress before your I-485 is approved, your case remains pending but cannot be approved until your date becomes current again under Final Action Dates. Your EAD and Advance Parole remain valid during this period.
What to Do While Waiting
- Maintain valid status. Applicants must maintain valid nonimmigrant status (H-1B, L-1, etc.) while waiting for your priority date. Do not let your status lapse.
- Protect your I-140. Once your I-140 is approved, it provides H-1B extension benefits and priority date preservation. Maintaining communication with the employer about the green card status.
- Monitor the Visa Bulletin monthly. Use the Priority Date Tracker above to see the latest priority date movements each month.
- Consider EB-1A if eligible. EB-1A has much better priority dates for India and China-born applicants. If your credentials support it, it may be worth pursuing in parallel.
- File I-485 as soon as possible when current. Once your priority date becomes current and USCIS accepts Chart B filing, file your I-485 promptly to receive EAD and Advance Parole benefits.
India and China-Born Applicants — Specifics
For India-born applicants in EB-2 and EB-3, the current wait time estimates are measured in decades. The precise wait depends on how many new India-born applicants enter the queue each year versus how many visas become available. See Guide G-24 for a detailed analysis of the India backlog.
For China-born applicants, EB-2 and EB-3 backlogs are significant (5–10+ years) but generally less severe than India. EB-1 (including EB-1A and EB-1C) has notably better dates for both India and China-born applicants. See Guide G-25 for China backlog specifics.