Understanding the Visa Bulletin is crucial for anyone applying for a green card through adjustment of status in the United States. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) relies on the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin to manage the availability of immigrant visas. This page explains how to use the Visa Bulletin to determine when you can file your adjustment of status application.
The Visa Bulletin, published monthly by the Department of State, outlines the availability of immigrant visas. For each fiscal year, there’s a limit on the number of immigrant visas that can be issued. When demand exceeds the supply, visa categories become “oversubscribed,” and the Visa Bulletin uses priority dates to manage visa processing.
To guide adjustment of status applicants, USCIS uses two charts within the Visa Bulletin: Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates. The chart you should use depends on whether there are enough visas available for all known applicants in a particular category.
Generally, if there are more visas available than applicants, USCIS will announce on this page that you can use the Dates for Filing chart. This chart allows certain applicants to file their adjustment of status applications earlier. However, if visa demand is high, USCIS will direct you to use the Final Action Dates chart. This chart indicates when a visa is actually available and when USCIS can make a final decision on your application.
It’s important to note that in some instances, even when USCIS is generally using the Final Action Dates chart, a particular visa category might be “current” on the Final Action Dates chart. This means there are enough visas immediately available in that category. In such cases, or if the cutoff date on the Final Action Dates chart is later than the Dates for Filing chart, applicants in that specific immigrant visa category can use the Final Action Dates chart for filing that month.
USCIS anticipates announcing which chart to use each month within one week of the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin publication. We will update this page with clear guidance and links to the relevant chart in the Visa Bulletin. Always check this page monthly for the most up-to-date information before filing your adjustment of status application.
Current Month’s Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
For Family-Sponsored Filings: For all family-sponsored preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for February 2025.
For Employment-Based Preference Filings: For all employment-based preference categories, you must use the Final Action Dates chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for February 2025.
Next Month’s Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
For Family-Sponsored Filings: For all family-sponsored preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for March 2025.
For Employment-Based Preference Filings: For all employment-based preference categories, you must use the Final Action Dates chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for March 2025.
Previous Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
