How to Read the Visa Bulletin for EB-1A Visa

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication by the U.S. Department of State that dictates when employment-based green cards are available. Because annual limits apply to the number of permanent resident visas issued, understanding the Visa Bulletin for EB-1A visa is essential for knowing when you can file your adjustment of status application and when your green card can be officially approved.

What Is a Priority Date?

Your priority date establishes your place in line for a green card. For an EB-1A applicant, this is the exact date USCIS officially received your I-140 petition. You can find this date on your I-797 receipt or approval notice.

This date does not change. You will continuously compare your priority date to the dates listed in the monthly Visa Bulletin to see if your case is ready to move forward. To ensure you have the correct evidence prepared when establishing this date, it is highly recommended to review exactly what documents are needed for an EB-1A visa application in the US.

How Does Country Chargeability Work?

U.S. immigration law caps the number of green cards issued to individuals from any single country at roughly 7% of the total annual supply. Your wait time in the Visa Bulletin is determined by your country of birth, not your current citizenship or country of residence.

Because demand from countries like India and China significantly exceeds this 7% cap, applicants born in those countries experience much longer wait times and separate backlogs. Applicants born in countries with lower immigration demand typically see their categories advance much faster.

What Is the Difference Between Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates?

The Visa Bulletin provides two separate charts each month to track different stages of the green card process:

Chart Name	What It Means for You	The "Real World" Equivalent
Dates for Filing	Tell you if you are allowed to submit your final I-485 adjustment of status paperwork.	Being allowed to enter the waiting room and fill out your intake forms.
Final Action Dates	Tells you if the government is legally allowed to print and issue your physical Green Card.	The doctor is finally ready to see you.

Dates for Filing of Employment-based Visa Applications 

Employment- based	All Chargeability Areas	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	01DEC23	01DEC23	C	C
2nd	C	01JAN22	15JAN15	C	C
3rd	C	01JAN22	15JAN15	C	01JAN24
Other Workers	01AUG22	01OCT19	15JAN15	01AUG22	01AUG22
4th	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23
Certain Religious Workers	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)	C	01OCT16	01MAY24	C	C

Source: USCIS Visa Bulletin For April 2026

USCIS announces on its website each month which of these two charts applicants may use for filing purposes.

What Does "Current" (C) Mean?

When the Visa Bulletin shows a "C" for your specific category and birth country, the category is considered current. This means there is no backlog or waitlist. You can file your adjustment of status application or have your green card approved immediately, regardless of your priority date.

When Is the Visa Bulletin Published?

The Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin roughly two to three weeks before it takes effect. For example, the bulletin for October is typically released between September 8th and September 15th. This gives applicants a brief window to prepare their adjustment of status or consular paperwork if they see their priority date is about to become current in the upcoming month.

What Is Retrogression?

Retrogression occurs when the cutoff dates in the Visa Bulletin move backward instead of forward. This happens when the government determines that visa demand has exceeded the available supply for a given period.

If retrogression occurs:

• If you already filed your I-485: Your application remains pending with USCIS until your priority date becomes current again.

• If you have not filed: You are temporarily blocked from submitting your application until the cutoff dates advance past your priority date.

Retrogression strictly affects visa availability and timing; it has no impact on the legal qualifications or the overall merits of your case.

Does Premium Processing Speed Up the Visa Bulletin Wait?

A common misconception is that paying for Premium Processing will get you a green card faster. While Premium Processing guarantees a 15-day processing time for the I-140 petition itself, it has no effect on the Visa Bulletin. Your priority date is still based on the day USCIS received your application, and you must still wait in the same country-based line as everyone else. Premium processing secures your I-140 approval quickly, but it does not let you skip the visa backlog.

How Does the Visa Bulletin Affect Consular Processing?

If you are applying from outside the United States, you will go through Consular Processing rather than filing an I-485 for Adjustment of Status. In this scenario, the National Visa Center (NVC) relies on the Visa Bulletin to manage your case. The NVC generally uses the "Dates for Filing" chart to notify you to pay fees and submit civil documents. However, your local U.S. embassy or consulate cannot schedule your final interview or issue the visa until your priority date is current under the "Final Action Dates" chart.

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Have doubts about the Visa Bulletin for the EB-1A Visa? Contact a Focused Attorney

Tracking the Visa Bulletin for the EB-1A visa is a mandatory part of the green card timeline. By monitoring your priority date against the monthly charts, you can accurately predict your processing sequence. Because immigration policies and wait times shift frequently, working with an experienced EB-1A visa attorney such as Wayne Gill can help you execute your filing strategy at the exact right time and avoid administrative delays.