US Visa Bulletin: A Crucial Tool for Green Card Applicants

The US Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication that provides cutoff dates for different categories of immigrant visas. It's essential for thousands of people waiting for a US Green Card, especially when the number of applicants exceeds the available visa numbers.

The bulletin works as a queue-status system for Green Card applicants, determining their position in the immigration queue based on their Priority Date. This date is crucial, and it helps applicants understand whether they have reached a stage at which they can take the next relevant step in their case.

However, not all applicants need to check the Visa Bulletin. It mainly affects people applying for Green Cards under employment-based and family-sponsored categories that are subject to annual numerical limits. Employment-based categories include EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, and EB-5, while family-sponsored preference categories include F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4.