us travel bulletin

How To Read the U.S. Visa Bulletin

Many green card applicants will have to wait for an immigrant visa to become available before they can file their green card applications with the U.S. government. The visa bulletin is a monthly update that the U.S. government provides to keep green card applicants who have to wait for visas informed about whether the time is right to submit their green card applications. In this article, we explain in more detail what the visa bulletin is and how green card caps come to play, how to read the visa bulletin, and what visa retrogressions are.

Written by Jonathan Petts .  Updated November 22, 2022

What Is the Visa Bulletin?

The U.S. Department of State issues the Visa Bulletin each month. The Visa Bulletin shows you when you may proceed with your green card application based on when you originally filed your  Form I-130 : Petition for Alien Relative. Once you have submitted Form I-130, you’ll be able to check the visa bulletin to figure out the wait time for continuing your green card application.

Spouses, parents, and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of U.S. citizens who are applying for a green card do not have to wait for a visa number to become available. This means you don't need to read the Visa Bulletin if you are in these categories.

Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of U.S. green cardholders, however, will have to wait 12-18 months for their green card. Applicants from other categories will face varying green card wait times, which can range from years to even decades sometimes. Reading the Visa Bulletin is how you'll know what the current wait time is for your preference category and application type.

Green Card Caps, Backlogs, and the Visa Bulletin

The U.S. government places a limit on the number of green cards and visas issued each year. The Visa Bulletin allows the government to manage its backlog of green card and visa applications for foreign nationals. Each year, the government offers around 366,000 green cards, with quotas for specific applicant categories. Approximately 226,000 green cards go to  family-based green card  applicants and 140,000 go to employment-based green card applicants.

The U.S. government also limits available green cards by country of origin. No country can account for over 7% of all green cards in each category. Applicants from high-population countries such as China, El Salvador, India, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the Philippines may face significant backlogs in the processing of their green card applications.

How To Read the Visa Bulletin

To read the visa bulletin correctly, you’ll first need to familiarize yourself with some important terms and procedures.

Understanding Important Terms

First, you need to understand what some of the most important Visa Bulletin terms mean:

Priority date: A priority date is the date that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives your Form I-130. This date may determine your wait time for a green card. USCIS lists your priority date on the Form I-797 they sent you notifying you of USCIS’s approval of your Form I-130 petition.

Current: Your priority date will switch to “current” status when there is no backlog and no wait time for your green card. Your priority date becomes “current” once USCIS has a green card available for you.

Chargeability area: The chargeability area is your country of birth. USCIS uses this information to count your green card toward the quota for your foreign nation.

Immediate relative: An immediate relative is a U.S. citizen’s spouse, parent, or child (under the age of 21). Family-based green card applicants will fall under this category.

Cut-off date: The cut-off date is the boundary on which priority date holders are eligible to begin applying for green cards. If the cut-off date listed is on or after your priority date, you now have eligibility to apply.

Understanding Preference Categories

Next, you’ll need to understand how U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) organizes green card applications for family-based applicants and identify which category your application falls under. You, your  parent(s) , or your  children  may be pursuing green cards based on a familial connection to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

USCIS uses four major preference cases to divide applications: ‍

The F1 (first preference) category: The cap for the F1 category is 23,400 green cards each year. This category applies to unmarried adults (aged 21 and over) who are the children of U.S. citizens

The F2 (second preference) category: The cap for the F2 category is 114,200 green cards each year. This category applies to spouses and unmarried children of U.S. green cardholders. The F2 category has two different subcategories.

The F2A subcategory: The cap for the F2A subcategory is 87,934 green cards each year. This subcategory applies to the spouses and unmarried minor children (under the age of 21) of U.S. green cardholders. The wait time for this category is much shorter than for other family-based preference categories. 75 percent of the green cards in the F2A subcategory are exempt from the country caps.

The F2B subcategory: The cap for the F2B subcategory is 26,266 green cards each year. This subcategory applies to unmarried adult children (aged 21 and over) of U.S. green cardholders.

The F3 (third preference) category: The cap for the F3 category is 23,400 green cards each year. This category applies to married children of U.S. citizens, regardless of their age.

The F4 (fourth preference) category: The cap for the F4 category is 65,000 green cards each year. This category applies to brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens.

Reading Date Charts

Once you have identified your priority date and preference category, you can now move on to read the “dates for filing” chart . This chart will tell you which green card applicants living outside of the United States may now submit their applications with the National Visa Center (NVC), although a green card won’t yet be ready for them. These applicants will be able to work on gathering and submitting all necessary documents for their application earlier. 

Another chart, the “ final action dates” chart , tells you which priority dates are current. Cut-off dates in the dates for filing chart are a bit later (between 1-10 months later) than those in the final action dates chart. The NVC does this so that, if you’re applying from outside the United States, you can focus on assembling your applications in advance. Once your priority date appears in the final action dates chart, the NVC will have all of your materials ready to consider.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) directs the dates for filing chart toward those applying for green cards from outside of the United States through a local U.S. consulate or embassy (consular processing). USCIS also maintains a page on its  website  for green card applicants living in the United States. This page describes whether green card applicants in the United States can submit their applications based on the dates for filing chart on the visa bulletin or whether they must follow the dates listed on their final action dates chart instead.

If you are a green card applicant living in the United States, you can start an  adjustment of status  application through  Form I-485 : Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status while simultaneously applying for a work permit ( Employment Authorization ) or travel permit ( Advance Parole  document). These benefits can allow you to work in the United States or travel abroad while waiting for your green card application decision.

A Note on Country-Specific Columns

You’ll also see that there are columns for certain countries including China, El Salvador, India, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the Philippines. You should be aware that, for applicants from these countries, wait times for green cards can take much longer. The annual demand for green cards from these countries always exceeds the official 7% cap from each country, so there can be a lot of backlogs.

If applying from the F2A preference subcategory, however, spouses from China, El Salvador, India, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the Philippines may only need to wait a few additional weeks to receive their green cards. Most green card applications in the F2A subcategory are exempt from the country cap. Other relatives from these countries may face wait times of years to over a decade depending on their unique circumstances.

What Is a Visa Retrogression?

Typically, cut-off dates for the visa bulletin continue to move forward. But sometimes U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State get more  green card applications  for certain categories in a month than they had expected. When this happens, the cut-off dates for the next month may move backward. USCIS calls this a “visa retrogression.” Visa retrogressions happen most commonly in September, which is the end of the government’s fiscal year. Visa retrogressions can come either with an advance warning or unexpectedly.

Since visa retrogressions may happen at any time, you should be prepared to file your green card application as soon as the bulletin says a green card is available for you. If you don’t file your application during a month when a green card is available for you, you may face a retrogression in the next month and have to wait even longer to complete your application.

If you have already filed your application and USCIS announces a visa retrogression, they will hold your application until they can next review it at their earliest convenience. Make sure to keep your contact information, such as your address , up to date with USCIS.

If you have not yet filed your green card application and USCIS announces a visa retrogression, you’ll need to wait until your priority date becomes current to continue filing your application.

Continue reading and learning!

• (888) 777-9102
• Learning Center

• How It Works
• All Packages & Pricing
• I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
• I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé
• I-130 Petition for Alien Relative
• I-131 Application for Travel Document
• I-485 Adjustment of Status Application
• I-751 Remove Conditions on Residence
• I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
• I-821D DACA Application Package
• I-864 Affidavit of Support
• N-400 Application for Naturalization
• N-565 Application to Replace Citizenship Document
• Citizenship Through Naturalization
• Citizenship Through Parents
• Apply For Citizenship (N-400)
• Apply for Certificate of Citizenship (N-600)
• Replace Citizenship Document (N-565)
• Apply for a Green Card
• Green Card Renewal
• Green Card Replacement
• Renew or Replace Green Card (I-90)
• Remove Conditions on Green Card (I-751)
• Green Card through Adjustment of Status
• Adjustment of Status Application (I-485)
• Affidavit of Support (I-864)
• Employment Authorization (I-765)
• Advance Parole Application (I-131)
• Adjustment of Status Fee
• Family-Based Immigration Explained
• Search the Learning Center
• Request Support
• Find an Immigration Attorney

Home » How the Visa Bulletin Works

How the Visa Bulletin Works

Immediate relatives (spouses, parents and unmarried children under age 21 of U.S. citizens) have an unlimited number of immigrant visas (green cards) available. But most other family-based immigrant visas have a wait. The U.S. Department of State publishes a monthly visa bulletin that lets you know when it’s time to claim your green card. Here's how the visa bulletin works:

U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin Explained

What is the visa bulletin.

The family-based immigration process starts with a U.S. citizen or permanent resident filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative , on behalf of a foreign family member. Because the number of intending immigrants generally exceeds the available immigrant visas, there is virtually always a wait for family preference categories. In this situation, the Department of State issues immigrant visas (green cards) in a first-come, first-serve manner for each category.

If you are in a family preference category, it’s important to understand that an approved I-130 petition does not mean you may come to the United States. The approved I-130 petition means that USCIS has confirmed you have a qualifying relationship and you’ve established your place in line for a visa. The visa bulletin tells you when the visa is actually available to use.

In fact, it is the priority date that specifies your specific place in line. You have reached the front of the line when your priority date becomes "current." The U.S. Department of State publishes a monthly visa bulletin that lists the priority dates which have become current. In other words, these are the priority dates that now have an immigrant visa available to be claimed. You must review the U.S. Department of State’s visa bulletin to determine if your immigrant petition is current. When an immigrant petition is current, you can apply for a green card.

To read the visa bulletin, you’ll need to know two things:

Determine Your Priority Date

Where do i find my priority date.

The numerical limit for family preference immigrant visas creates a wait list. The beneficiary’s “place in line” is designated with a priority date. The filing date of the I-130 petition becomes the beneficiary's priority date. When USCIS accepts Form I-130, they will also assign a priority date.

Locating your priority date is fairly easy. Review the I-797 Notice of Action (I-130 Receipt Notice) that USCIS mails after they received Form I-130 for processing. Alternatively, you may use the Approval Notice that USCIS sends after approving the petition. The priority date is in the top section of the document. In the example below, a red circle identifies the priority date.

Determine Your Family Preference Category

What are the visa bulletin categories.

Your family preference category is based on your relationship with the petitioner. Different relationships are given different priority for an immigrant visa. If an I-130 petition was filed on your behalf, the petitioner is either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident family member. Determining your family preference category is fairly easy. View the list below to determine your preference category.

Unmarried, adult sons and daughters (age 21 or over) of U.S. citizens

Spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) of permanent residents

Unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents

Married sons and daughters (any age) of U.S. citizens

Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens

If you don't see your relationship type above, you may be an immediate relative . Immediate relatives include the spouse, parent, or unmarried child (under age 21) of U.S. citizens. There is no annual limit on the number of immigrant visas issued to immediate relatives each year. Thus, there is no wait, and they are not included on the visa bulletin. Immediate relatives can move forward with the application.

Read the Visa Bulletin

Which visa bulletin chart do i use.

Once you know your priority date and your preference category, proceed to the U.S. State Department's website to find the monthly visa bulletin. Select the "Current Visa Bulletin." Forward to "Family-Sponsored Preferences" to see a table similar to the sample below. Find your family preference category and compare your priority date to the date listed. If your priority date comes before the date listed, your immigrant visa is current.

Most people can view the column labeled “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.” But if your country of nationality is China, India, Mexico or Philippines, use the respective column for those dates. Now you know how to read the visa bulletin.

A. FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES

The first chart is for “final action dates.” An immigrant visa is actually available if a priority date comes before the date listed in this chart.

Sample Chart for Final Action Dates

B. dates for filing family-sponsored visa applications.

This second chart indicates when the intending immigrant can apply for an immigrant visa. Specifically, the applicant may file an adjustment of status application provided that the applicant’s priority date is before the date listed in the visa bulletin’s filing dates chart. If the intending immigrant will be applying through the consular process, the National Visa Center uses this chart to start the process. (They will notify the intending immigrant when to submit an application for an immigrant visa.)

Sample Chart for Filing Dates

When the priority date is current and the I-130 is approved, beneficiaries may generally proceed with the immigrant visa application. Again, individuals in the United States through a lawful entry may be able to adjust status. If eligible, the beneficiary may initiate the application by filing the adjustment of status application package with USCIS. However, any individual outside the United States will need to apply via consular processing. The National Visa Center will contact the beneficiary when they are ready. Learn how to apply.

Visa Bulletin Examples

Do you have examples of how the visa bulletin works, visa retrogression, why is the visa bulletin not moving.

Sometimes the priority dates on a visa bulletin don't change from the previous month. Worse yet, sometimes the dates can actually move the wrong way. This is called visa retrogression.

Generally, the cut-off dates on the visa bulletin move forward in time. But sometimes they go backwards. Visa retrogression occurs when more people apply for a visa in a particular category or country than there are visas available for that month. Retrogression typically occurs toward the end of the fiscal year as visa issuance approaches the annual category, or per-country limitations. Sometimes a priority date that meets the cut-off date one month will not meet the cut-off date the next month. When the new fiscal year begins on October 1, a new supply of visas is made available and usually, but not always, returns the dates to where they were before retrogression.

Where to Check Visa Bulletin

How do i get monthly updates.

Now that you understand how the visa bulletin works, you'll need to monitor it on a regular basis. The U.S. Department of State publishes a monthly bulletin for employment-based and diversity visa categories as well. Book mark the State Department website below.

My priority date is current. What's the next step?

If your I-130 petition is now current, you may apply for permanent residence (green card) in the United States. There are two basic ways to apply for your green card: consular processing or adjustment of status.

If you are currently outside the United States, the only path for immigrating to the U.S. is consular processing. Consular processing refers to the process of applying for an immigrant visa (green card) through the U.S. embassy or consular office in a foreign country. Consular processing is the most common path to obtain a green card.

In fact, the National Visa Center will contact the petitioner and beneficiary shortly before the visa becomes available. They'll ask you to submit the immigrant fee, apply for the immigrant visa, submit Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support), and attend a medical exam. Once they obtained these additional documents, the NVC can transfer your case to the U.S. embassy or consulate for an interview.

If you are currently inside the United States, you may be able to adjust status. Adjustment of status is the term used to describe a change from nonimmigrant status to permanent residence (green card holder). U.S. immigration law allows nonimmigrants to adjust status if the individual lawfully entered the U.S. and meets certain requirements.

Only a very limited group of people can adjust status. The most common scenarios include immediate relatives, individuals who entered with a K-1 visa and married a U.S. citizen, asylees, refugees, or those who arrived on an employment visa (e.g. H-1B) and the employer sponsored them for a green card. All green card applicants that don’t qualify for adjustment of status must use the consular processing path.

Your immigrant visa will be available to claim for one year. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 203(g) provides that the Secretary of State shall terminate the registration (petition) of any foreign national who fails to apply for an immigrant visa within one year of notice of visa availability. The Department of State may reinstate the petition if, within two years of notice of visa availability, the foreign national establishes that the failure to apply was for reasons beyond the their control. Therefore, if you do not respond to notices from the NVC within one year, you risk termination of your petition under this section of law and would lose the benefits of that petition, such as your priority date.

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Use Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) to start the immigration process for a family member. Each year, USCIS rejects or denies thousands of I-130 petitions. Rejections and denials delay the process and can cost you money. Therefore, it's important to get it right.

* Data based on USCIS Forms Data and Lockbox Rejection Data .

How CitizenPath Helps You Prepare the I-130 Petition

How do i prepare form i-130.

CitizenPath's affordable, online service makes it easy to prepare Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. Designed by immigration lawyers, the Immigrant Visa Petition Package helps you eliminate the common errors that create delays, rejections and even denials. That's because the service alerts you when your answer to a question may be a problem. You'll also get customized filing instructions based on your situation. It's a powerful, do-it-yourself tool that puts you in control. And we've got your back -- CitizenPath provides live customer support and provides a money-back guarantee that USCIS will approve the petition. Get started >>

What Customers Say About CitizenPath

Immigration Form Guides Form I-90       Form I-129F       Form I-130       Form I-131       Form I-131A       Form I-134       Form I-485       Form I-751       Form I-765       Form I-821D       Form I-864       Form N-400       Form N-565       Form N-600

Sign Up to Receive Free Monthly Information for Your Immigration Journey

© Copyright 2013-2024, CitizenPath, LLC. All rights reserved. CitizenPath is a private company that provides self-directed immigration services at your direction. We are not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. The information provided in this site is not legal advice, but general information on issues commonly encountered in immigration. CitizenPath is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney or law firm. Your access to and use of this site is subject to additional Terms of Use .

Immigration help for your business

• News & Reports
• Guides: Individual immigration

How to Read the Visa Bulletin to Find Your Priority Date

In this guide.

• Green Card Backlogs and the Visa Bulletin
• How to Read the Visa Bulletin
• What About Spouses of U.S. Citizens?
• Important Terms in the Visa Bulletin
• Related Information

What Is the Visa Bulletin?

If you or your family member is a green card holder and you’re planning on applying for a green card, you’ve probably heard about the Visa Bulletin .

The visa bulletin is issued every month by the Department of State . It shows which green card applications can move forward, based on when the I-130 petition that starts the green card process was originally filed. It also lets you estimate how long it will take before you will be able to get your green card, based on how quickly the “line” is moving now. Once your I-130 petition has been filed, you’ll be able to check the visa bulletin and watch your place in line move forward.

Boundless publishes the numbers for the most recent Visa Bulletin here . In addition, Boundless offers premium green card support without the high price tag. Learn more today.

Everything you need to know about this important monthly update is explained below, but here’s the bottom line for family members seeking green cards:

• If you’re the spouse, parent, or unmarried child (under age 21) of a U.S. citizen, you don’t even need to read the visa bulletin—there’s no green card backlog or wait time for you!
• If you’re the spouse or unmarried child (under age 21) of a U.S. green card holder, you’ll have to wait extra 12-18 months for your green card to become available.
• If you’re in a different category, your green card wait time may vary — from years to decades.
• Boundless publishes the most recent wait times here .

For more details about family-based immigration, see our guide on Marriage-Based Green Cards.

Boundless helps you build a tailored visa plan for every step of the process, from forms to your immigration interview.

Learn what we do for you

The visa bulletin exists because Congress caps the number of green cards that can be issued each year. The number of people who are seeking green cards has consistently exceeded this annual limit, creating a backlog—in fact, several backlogs.

There are currently 366,000 green cards available annually, but that total is broken down into a complex category system, with a specific quota for each category. The two broadest categories are family-based green cards (226,000), which include marriage-based green cards , and employment-based green cards (140,000).

In addition to setting an overall limit on the number of green cards that can be issued per year, Congress also limits the number of available green cards based on country of origin. Under this annual “country cap,” no single country of origin can account for more than 7% of the green cards in any particular category.

That’s no big deal for a country like, say, Belgium (population 11 million)—in fact, no European or African countries generate enough green card demand to bump up against the country cap. But there are substantial backlogs facing the many green card seekers from China (population 1.4 billion), India (population 1.3 billion), Mexico (population 129 million), and the Philippines (population 105 million).

The caps on family-based green cards are broken down into four primary “preference categories”.

F1 (first preference) : Unmarried adults (age 21 and over) who are children of U.S. citizens. The cap for this category is 23,400 green cards per year.

F2 (second preference): Spouses and unmarried children of green card holders. The overall cap for this category is 114,200 green cards per year, but it’s split into two sub-categories:

• F2A : Spouses and unmarried minor children (under age 21) of green card holders. If you are a green card holder who has applied for a green card for your spouse, this is the category you’ll need to watch when you check the visa bulletin. 77% of the second category quota goes towards this F2A sub-category (that’s 87,934 green cards per year).
• F2B : Unmarried adult children (age 21 and over) of green card holders. 23% of the second category quota goes towards this F2B sub-category (that’s 26,266 green cards per year).

F3 (third preference): Married children of U.S. citizens, regardless of age. The cap for this category is 23,400 green cards per year.

F4 (fourth preference): Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. The cap for this category is 65,000 green cards per year.

What Makes the F2A Category Special?

Important f2a update (march 24, 2023):.

The April 2023 Visa Bulletin saw a significant change to the F-2A family-based category (Spouses and Unmarried Children (Under Age 21) of U.S. Green Card Holders). Due to a growing backlog of cases in this category, the “Final Action Dates” for F-2A applications are no longer “current” for the first time in several years. However, the “Dates for Filing” have remained current for the F-2A category, meaning spouses and unmarried children of U.S. green card holders can still file their green card applications for now. This is likely to increase wait times for green cards under the F-2A category. Boundless will continue to track this closely — stay tuned for future updates on our monthly Visa Bulletin report .

If you look at the visa bulletin, you’ll notice that the wait for a green card is much shorter for the F2A category than it is for any other family-based preference category. That is good news if you’re the spouse of a U.S. green card holder!

There are two reasons that this category moves the fastest. First of all, it has the largest quota, at 87,934 green cards. In addition, 75% of the green cards within the F2A category are exempt from that country cap described above. So the country of origin for a spouse seeking a green card is much less important than for a green card applicant in another category.

There is no cap on the number of green cards available for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, defined as spouses, parents, and unmarried minor children (under age 21). Since there is no annual limit, there is no backlog, no line to wait in, and nothing to see in the visa bulletin. Spouses of U.S. citizens can apply for a green card as soon as their I-130 petition is approved.

Important Terms in the Visa Bulletin

• Priority date: This is the date that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received your I-130 petition. Think of this date as your place in the green card line. You can find your priority date on the I-797 form mailed by USCIS approving your I-130 petition.
• Current : In the context of the visa bulletin, “current” means no backlog and no wait time for a green card. A particular priority date becomes “current” once it reaches the front of the line and a green card is available. Or an entire preference category can be “current” if there’s no backlog and no wait time within that category.
• Chargeability area : This is the green card applicant’s country of birth. (Remember the country cap? Your own green card will be “charged” toward the annual quota of green cards available to citizens of your country of birth.)
• Immediate relative : A spouse, parent, or child (under age 21) of a U.S. citizen.
• Cut-off date : The dates you see on the visa bulletin tables are called “cut-off dates.” Think of this date as the front of the green card line. Green card applicants with priority dates prior to the cut-off date can submit their green card applications. Green card applicants with priority dates after the cut-off date have to keep waiting.

Section A: Final Action Dates

The “final action dates” chart shows which priority dates have reached the front of the line. These green card applications are ready for approval right now.

Section B: Dates For Filing

The “dates for filing” chart shows which green card applicants who are living outside of the United States should go ahead and submit their application with the National Visa Center (NVC) —even though a green card is not ready just yet. The cut-off dates in the “dates for filing” chart are slightly later (1-10 months) than those in the “final action dates” chart, which allows green card applicants to file their applications that much sooner.

The “dates for filing” chart is primarily directed at people who will be applying for a green card from outside the United States, but USCIS publishes a page called “ when to file your adjustment of status application ” every month that indicates whether green card applicants living in the United States can submit their green card application based on the visa bulletin’s “dates for filing” chart or whether they need to wait to meet the dates in the “final action dates” chart.

Why Do These Different Dates Matter?

For green card applicants living outside the United States, the “dates for filing” chart allows you to get an early start on assembling and submitting all the required documents to the National Visa Center (NVC). This sets the ball rolling, and ensures that the NVC has everything ready once your priority date appears in the “final action dates” chart and a green card is available to you.

For green card applicants living in the United States, the “dates for filing” chart opens the door to additional benefits. That’s because when filing a green card application with USCIS (technically an I-485 form for “adjustment of status”), you can simultaneously apply for a work permit (employment authorization document) and travel permit (advance parole document). For applicants who intend to work in the United States or travel outside the United States while waiting for their green card applications to be processed, these additional benefits can be invaluable.

Country-Specific Columns

You’ll notice that the visa bulletin has separate columns for China , India , Mexico , and the Philippines . The wait time for a green card is often longer—and sometimes much longer—for citizens of these four countries, because their annual demand for green cards exceeds the 7% “country cap” described above. This means that practically speaking, there are separate backlogs and green card lines for each of these four countries, which also vary by green card category.

Remember, however, that the F2A category is special? You’ll notice that the wait for a green card for spouses of U.S. green card holders is generally about the same regardless of the country of origin, because most green card applications in this category are exempt from the country cap. That means spouses from China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines only have to wait a few extra weeks (if at all) for their green cards—compared with years or even more than a decade for other relatives from these countries.

What is Retrogression?

Usually the visa bulletin’s cut-off dates move forward over time, pushing green card seekers ahead in line…but not always. When there are more applications for a green card category in a given month than USCIS or the State Department was expecting, the cut-off dates for the subsequent month might move backwards. This is called a “visa retrogression,” and it’s most common around September (the end of the government’s fiscal year).

Sometimes the visa bulletin will provide advance warning of an upcoming retrogression, giving green card applicants some time to prepare. But sometimes the visa bulletin announces a completely unexpected visa retrogression, which is an unpleasant surprise for applicants who were expecting to move forward in line, not backward. That’s why it is a good idea to prepare all the documents needed for your green card application ahead of time, and be ready to file as quickly as possible once the visa bulletin shows that a green card is available to you. By failing to file in a month when a green card is available, you risk facing a surprise retrogression in the next visa bulletin, which would close your window of opportunity for filing a green card application.

If you’ve already filed your green card application and there’s a visa retrogression, USCIS or the State Department will hold your application until you get back to the front of the line. You don’t need to do anything other than ensure that your contact information is up to date.

If you haven’t yet filed your green card application and there’s a visa retrogression, the result is the same—you’ll have to wait until you get back to the front of the line before filing. (Or, to use the visa bulletin’s terms, until your priority date becomes current again.)

Want to learn more about what’s happening with green card backlogs and wait times? Every month, Boundless releases visa bulletin explainers that demystify this process and show trends over time.

The final action dates in the visa bulletin are cutoff dates that determine whether an individual can proceed with their immigrant visa or adjustment of status application. If an individual’s priority date is earlier than the final action date for their category, they can move forward with their application. If their priority date is later, they must wait until it becomes current before proceeding. The final action dates are determined based on visa availability and can change monthly.

The priority date is the date when the petition for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status is filed with the USCIS. It serves as a person’s place in line for visa availability. The priority date is crucial because it is used to determine when an individual can proceed with their application based on the final action dates listed in the Visa Bulletin. An earlier priority date generally gives an individual a better chance of advancing in the immigration process.

The Visa Bulletin is organized into two main sections: family-sponsored preferences and employment-based preferences. Each section contains different categories and chargeability areas (countries). The Visa Bulletin includes charts that show the final action dates, which determine visa availability, as well as charts for filing dates, which indicate when individuals may start the application process but not necessarily proceed to the final stages. The Visa Bulletin also provides other relevant information, such as visa number usage and any changes or updates to the visa availability.

Start planning your immigration journey today with Boundless.

Lean what we do for you

Answer a 5-minute questionnaire and we’ll guide you through your visa options. Get started today .

Article Contents

Apply for your visa with boundless., unlimited live support. lawyer review. money-back guarantee., which service.

Looks like you were working on a application just now. Applicants typically only require one service at a time.

You unlocked a $50 discount!

Congrats! Because your friend referred you, your application with Boundless is discounted. Start the application with Boundless within the next 14 days, and you'll save $50.

Cracking The Code: A Guide To Understanding The Us Visa Travel Bulletin

• Last updated May 05, 2024
• Difficulty Advanced

• Category Travel

You've finally received the long-awaited job offer in the United States, but before you can pack your bags and embark on this new adventure, you need to go through the complex process of obtaining a visa. One of the most baffling aspects of this process is deciphering the Visa Travel Bulletin, a document that determines when you can actually enter the country. Fear not, as we delve into the intricacies of this guide in Cracking the Code: A Guide to Understanding the US Visa Travel Bulletin, providing you with a roadmap to navigate the labyrinthine world of immigration. Get ready to unlock the secrets of the Visa Travel Bulletin and gain a deeper understanding of the U.S. visa system.

What You'll Learn

The purpose of the us visa travel bulletin.

• How the US Visa Travel Bulletin Works?

Understanding the Visa Bulletin Categories

Tips for monitoring and interpreting the us visa travel bulletin.

The US Visa Travel Bulletin is an important tool that helps individuals determine whether they are eligible to apply for a US visa. It provides information on the availability of immigrant visas, also known as Green Cards, based on a specific category and country of chargeability. The bulletin is published monthly by the US Department of State and is commonly referred to as the "Visa Bulletin."

The Visa Bulletin is divided into two sections: the Final Action Dates chart and the Dates for Filing chart. The Final Action Dates chart shows the cutoff dates for visa applications that can be processed and approved immediately. On the other hand, the Dates for Filing chart provides an opportunity for individuals to file their visa applications, even if their priority date is not yet current.

The main purpose of the Visa Bulletin is to establish priority among visa applicants. Priority dates are assigned to each applicant based on the category and country of chargeability. These dates serve as a reference point for determining the availability of visa numbers. If an applicant's priority date is earlier than the cutoff date listed on the Visa Bulletin, they are considered eligible to proceed with their visa application.

It's important to understand that the Visa Bulletin doesn't guarantee immediate visa availability. The availability of visas is subject to statutory limitations and annual quotas set by the US government. The Visa Bulletin provides a snapshot of the demand for visas in a given category and country, allowing applicants to estimate how long they may have to wait before their visa becomes available.

To use the Visa Bulletin effectively, you need to determine your priority date and compare it to the cutoff dates listed in the bulletin. If your priority date is earlier than the cutoff date, it means that visa numbers are available, and you may proceed with your visa application. If your priority date is later than the cutoff date, you will have to wait until your priority date becomes current before you can proceed with your application.

It's important to note that the cutoff dates listed in the Visa Bulletin may change from month to month due to fluctuations in visa demand and availability. Therefore, it's crucial to regularly check the bulletin to stay updated on the latest visa availability information.

In conclusion, the US Visa Travel Bulletin serves as a valuable resource for individuals looking to understand the availability of immigrant visas. By understanding the purpose of the bulletin and how to interpret the cutoff dates, applicants can determine when to proceed with their visa applications and plan their immigration journey accordingly.

Traveling to Greenland with a Schengen Visa: What You Need to Know

You may want to see also

How the US Visa Travel Bulletin Works

The US Visa Travel Bulletin is a valuable resource for anyone planning to apply for an immigrant visa to the United States. It provides information about the availability of visa numbers for each category of immigrant visa, which can determine how long applicants must wait before they can proceed with the final steps of the immigration process. Understanding how the Visa Travel Bulletin works is crucial for planning your immigration journey. In this blog post, we will explain the key components of the Visa Travel Bulletin and how to interpret them.

The Visa Travel Bulletin is published by the US Department of State every month and is divided into several sections. The most important sections for visa applicants are the Final Action Dates and the Dates for Filing Applications. These sections list the priority dates for each category of immigrant visa, which are crucial for determining when an applicant can proceed with the final steps of their immigration process.

The Final Action Dates section lists the priority dates that are currently eligible for visa issuance. If your priority date is earlier than the listed date for your visa category and country of chargeability, it means that a visa number is available, and you can proceed with the final steps of your immigration process. On the other hand, if your priority date is later than the listed date, it means that visa numbers are not currently available, and you must wait until your priority date becomes current.

The Dates for Filing Applications section lists the priority dates that are currently eligible for filing an application for an immigrant visa. This means that even though a visa number may not be available yet, you can still submit your application and start preparing for the final steps of the process. It is important to note that filing an application does not guarantee immediate visa processing. The actual processing of the application will only occur once visa numbers become available based on the Final Action Dates.

To determine your priority date, you need to refer to the Visa Bulletin that was in effect when your Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) or Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) was filed. The priority date is the date USCIS received the petition, and it is essential to track your priority date and compare it to the Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing Applications in the Visa Bulletin.

It is worth noting that the Visa Bulletin separates employment-based visa categories from family-based visa categories and assigns different priority date cutoffs for each. The priority dates for family-based cases are usually based on the date the I-130 petition was filed, while employment-based cases are based on the date the I-140 petition was filed.

To understand how the Visa Travel Bulletin may affect your immigration process, you should monitor the monthly updates. The priority dates can sometimes move forward, indicating that visa numbers are becoming available, or they can retrogress, meaning that the availability of visa numbers for a particular category and country may be exhausted for that month.

If your priority date becomes current based on the Final Action Dates, you should consult with your immigration attorney or employer, as they will guide you on the next steps, such as submitting the required documents and attending the visa interview.

In summary, the Visa Travel Bulletin is a crucial tool for understanding the availability of visa numbers and planning your immigration journey to the United States. By familiarizing yourself with the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications sections, tracking your priority date, and staying informed about updates, you can efficiently navigate the immigration process and make informed decisions about your future.

Understanding the Option to Delay Landing and Travel on a Visitor Visa

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication released by the U.S. Department of State that provides valuable information about the availability of immigrant visa numbers. It plays a crucial role in determining when an individual can proceed with their green card application process. However, the Visa Bulletin can be confusing for many people due to its complicated categorization system. In this article, we will break down the different visa bulletin categories to help you better understand how the system works.

Family-sponsored preference categories:

• F1: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
• F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
• F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years old or older) of Permanent Residents
• F3: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
• F4: Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens

Employment-based preference categories:

• EB1: Priority Workers (including individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives and managers)
• EB2: Advanced Degree Professionals and Individuals with Exceptional Ability
• EB3: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
• EB4: Special Immigrants (including religious workers, certain broadcasters, and employees of international organizations)
• EB5: Immigrant Investors

Diversity Visa category:

DV: Individuals from countries with historically low levels of immigration to the United States participate in the Diversity Visa Program, also known as the Green Card Lottery.

Each of these categories has its own separate queue, and the Visa Bulletin determines the cutoff dates for each one. The cutoff dates are divided into two sections - Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications.

Final Action Dates: These are the dates when immigrant visas can be issued to those who have a priority date earlier than the listed date. If your priority date falls on or before the listed date, you can proceed with the next steps of the green card application process.

Dates for Filing Applications: These dates indicate when individuals can submit their green card applications, usually a few months before the Final Action Dates. It allows applicants to start preparing their documentation and filings in advance.

It is important to note that the cutoff dates can move forward or backward from one month to another, depending on various factors such as visa demand and country-specific limitations.

To find out which category and visa bulletin chart applies to you, you need to know your priority date. The priority date is the date when the petition on behalf of the beneficiary was filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

To determine your priority date, refer to the receipt notice or approval notice you received from USCIS when your visa petition was filed.

Once you have your priority date, you can compare it to the cutoff dates in the Visa Bulletin to see if your category is current or if you need to wait for further movement.

Remember, the Visa Bulletin is subject to change each month, so it is important to stay updated and check the bulletin regularly to track any changes that may impact your case. Consulting an immigration attorney or an experienced professional can also provide you with valuable guidance throughout the process.

Traveling to the Dominican Republic with a US Visa: What You Need to Know

The US Visa Travel Bulletin is a monthly publication that provides valuable information about the availability of immigrant visas for individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States. It is published by the Department of State and is a crucial resource for those who are waiting for their visa applications to be processed.

Monitoring and interpreting the US Visa Travel Bulletin can be a bit overwhelming, especially for those who are new to the immigration process. However, by following these tips, you can stay informed and better understand the visa availability and processing times:

• Regularly check the Bulletin: The US Visa Travel Bulletin is published every month, usually around the middle of the month. Make it a habit to check the bulletin as soon as it is released to stay updated on the visa availability for your category and country of chargeability.
• Understand the Visa Bulletin Format: The Visa Bulletin is organized into two main sections – Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing. The Final Action Dates section indicates the dates when visas are available for final issuance, while the Dates for Filing section shows when applicants can submit their visa applications. It is important to understand which section applies to your specific situation.
• Identify Your Priority Date: Your priority date is the date when your visa petition was filed. This date determines your place in line for visa processing. Compare your priority date with the Final Action Dates listed in the Visa Bulletin to see if visas are currently available for your category and country of chargeability.
• Determine Your Visa Category and Country of Chargeability: Each visa category and country combination has its own set of visa availability rules. Make sure you know which category you fall under and the country to which you are chargeable. This information will help you locate the relevant visa availability chart in the Visa Bulletin.
• Track Visa Bulletin Movements: The Visa Bulletin includes a "C" beside a date if the category is current, meaning visas are immediately available for that category and country combination. If the date in the Visa Bulletin is earlier than your priority date, it indicates that visas are currently available for your category and you can proceed with your visa application.
• Understand Visa Bulletin Retrogression: Sometimes, the demand for certain visa categories exceeds the available supply, resulting in retrogression. This means that the Final Action Dates may move backward, and individuals with earlier priority dates may have to wait longer for visa issuance. Keep a close eye on any retrogression announcements in the Visa Bulletin to manage your expectations.
• Seek Legal Advice if Needed: If you are finding it challenging to understand or interpret the Visa Bulletin, it may be wise to consult an immigration attorney or a qualified immigration professional. They can help you understand the specific implications of the Visa Bulletin for your case and provide guidance on the best course of action.

By following these tips, you can effectively monitor and interpret the US Visa Travel Bulletin, staying informed about visa availability and processing times. Remember, patience is key in the immigration process, and understanding the Visa Bulletin is a crucial step in the journey toward obtaining your immigrant visa.

Exploring the World: Discover the Possibilities of Travel on a Student Visa

Frequently asked questions.

The US Visa Travel Bulletin is a publication released monthly by the US Department of State that provides information regarding the availability of immigrant visa numbers for various categories and countries. It is used to determine when individuals can apply for or be issued an immigrant visa.

Understanding the US Visa Travel Bulletin can be challenging, but it is essential to determine visa availability. The bulletin is organized into charts that list visa categories and cutoff dates. The cutoff dates indicate the priority dates for which visa numbers are currently available. By comparing the cutoff dates with your priority date, you can determine if your visa is available for processing.

The cutoff dates in the US Visa Travel Bulletin are meant to control the issuance of immigrant visas based on the availability of visa numbers. These dates indicate the priority dates for which visas are currently available. If your priority date falls on or before the published cutoff date, you are eligible to apply for or be issued an immigrant visa. However, if your priority date is later than the cutoff date, you will need to wait until your priority date becomes current before proceeding with your visa application.

• Cagri Burak Author Reviewer Traveller

• Merve Nussman Author Reviewer Traveller

It is awesome. Thank you for your feedback!

We are sorry. Plesae let us know what went wrong?

We will update our content. Thank you for your feedback!

Leave a comment

Travel photos, related posts.

Why Travel History Plays a Critical Role in Obtaining a Schengen Visa

• May 07, 2024

Understanding the Visa Requirements for Travel to Taiwan

• May 06, 2024

Traveling to Dublin with a Schengen Visa: What You Need to Know

• Mar 21, 2024

How Much Does a Travel Visa Cost?

Exploring the Possibility: Have Humans Traveled Beyond Our Solar System?

• May 08, 2024

Exploring the World: Traveling While F2 Visa Application Is in Process

• Mar 26, 2024

You must turn on JavaScript in order to use this website.

You are using an outdated browser and some features of this website may not work correctly. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Traveling with dogs to the US? The new rules you’ll need to follow

FILE - A trainer walks with a service dog through the Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport while taking part of a training exercise, Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Newark, N.J. All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least 6 months old and microchipped, according to new government rules published Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The new rules were prompted by concerns about dogs coming from countries where rabies is common, and applies to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups as well as pets traveling with their U.S. owners. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

FILE - This undated electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows rabies virions, dark and bullet-shaped, within an infected tissue sample. All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least 6 months old and microchipped, according to new government rules published Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The new rules were prompted by concerns about dogs coming from countries where rabies is common, and applies to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups as well as pets traveling with their U.S. owners. (F. A. Murphy/CDC via AP, File)

• Copy Link copied

NEW YORK (AP) — All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least 6 months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies, according to new government rules published Wednesday.

The new rules require vaccination for dogs that have been in countries where rabies is common. The update applies to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups as well as pets traveling with their U.S. owners.

“This new regulation is going to address the current challenges that we’re facing,” said Emily Pieracci, a rabies expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who was involved in drafting the updated regulations.

The CDC posted the new rules in the federal register on Wednesday. They take effect Aug. 1 when a temporary 2021 order expires. That order suspended bringing in dogs from more than 100 countries where rabies is still a problem.

The new rules require all dogs entering the U.S. to be at least 6 months, old enough to be vaccinated if required and for the shots to take effect; have a microchip placed under their skin with a code that can be used to verify rabies vaccination; and have completed a new CDC import form.

There may be additional restrictions and requirements based on where the dog was the previous six months, which may include blood testing from CDC-approved labs.

The CDC regulations were last updated in 1956, and a lot has changed, Pieracci said. More people travel internationally with their pets, and more rescue groups and breeders have set up overseas operations to meet the demand for pets, she said. Now, about 1 million dogs enter the U.S. each year.

Dogs were once common carriers of the rabies virus in the U.S. but the type that normally circulates in dogs was eliminated through vaccinations in the 1970s. The virus invades the central nervous system and is usually a fatal disease in animals and humans. It’s most commonly spread through a bite from an infected animal. There is no cure for it once symptoms begin.

Four rabid dogs have been identified entering the U.S. since 2015, and officials worried more might get through. CDC officials also were seeing an increase of incomplete or fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates and more puppies denied entry because they weren’t old enough to be fully vaccinated.

A draft version of the updated regulations last year drew a range of public comments.

Angela Passman, owner of a Dallas company that helps people move their pets internationally, supports the new rules. It can especially tricky for families that buy or adopt a dog while overseas and then try to bring it to the U.S., she said. The update means little change from how things have been handled in recent years, she said.

“It’s more work for the pet owner, but the end result is a good thing,” said Passman, who is a board member for the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association.

But Jennifer Skiff said some of the changes are unwarranted and too costly. She works for Animal Wellness Action, a Washington group focused on preventing animal cruelty that helps organizations import animals. She said those groups work with diplomats and military personnel who have had trouble meeting requirements, and was a reason some owners were forced to leave their dogs behind.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Create Account

When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: July 2022

Are you seeking to adjust your status and become a U.S. permanent resident under a family-sponsored or employment-based preference immigrant visa? If you have not yet had a relative or employer file an immigrant visa petition on your behalf, please learn more about the Adjustment of Status Filing Process . If you already have a petition filed or approved on your behalf, you may have to wait for an available visa in your category (if applicable) before you can file your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status . This page will help you determine when to file your adjustment of status application.

When to File

Use the Visa Bulletin charts below to determine when to file your adjustment of status application.

To use the charts:

• Find your visa type in the first column (on the left) of the appropriate chart (Family-sponsored or Employment-based).
• Stay in that row and move directly to the right to find the corresponding date under the country of your birth (as listed in the boldface columns across the top).
• If the date on the chart is current (“C”), or your priority date is earlier than the date on the chart, you may file your adjustment of status application, if otherwise eligible to do so.
•  “U” means unauthorized; for example, numbers are not authorized for issuance.

Your priority date is generally the date when your relative or employer properly filed the immigrant visa petition on your behalf with USCIS. If a labor certification is required to be filed with your immigrant visa petition, the priority date is the date the labor certification application was accepted for processing by the Department of Labor.

About the Visa Bulletin

DOS publishes current immigrant visa availability information in a monthly Visa Bulletin . The Visa Bulletin indicates when statutorily limited visas are available for issuance to prospective immigrants based on their individual priority date.

On Nov. 20, 2014, the Secretary of Homeland Security directed USCIS to work with DOS to:

• Ensure that all immigrant visas authorized by Congress are issued to eligible individuals when there is sufficient demand for such visas, and
• Improve the Visa Bulletin system for determining when immigrant visas are available to applicants during the fiscal year.

Additionally, in July 2015, the Administration issued its report on Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century (PDF) . This report included detailed recommendations to revise and update the monthly Visa Bulletin to better estimate immigrant visa availability and provide needed predictability to nonimmigrant workers seeking permanent residency.

USCIS, in coordination with DOS, revised the procedures for determining visa availability for applicants waiting to file for adjustment of status. The revised process will better align with procedures DOS uses for noncitizens who seek to become U.S. permanent residents by applying for immigrant visas at U.S. consulates and embassies abroad.

This revised process will enhance DOS’s ability to more accurately predict overall immigrant visa demand in determining the cut-off dates for the Visa Bulletin. This will help ensure that the maximum number of immigrant visas are issued annually as intended by Congress, and minimize month-to-month fluctuations in Visa Bulletin final action dates. Additional goals are outlined in the White House report, Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century (PDF) .

New Visa Bulletin Charts

The Visa Bulletin will now have two different charts because of the revised procedures. DOS will post two charts per visa preference category in the DOS Visa Bulletin. The charts are:

• Application Final Action Dates (dates when visas may finally be issued); and
• Dates for Filing Applications (earliest dates when applicants may be able to apply).

When USCIS determines there are immigrant visas available for the filing of additional adjustment of status applications, the Dates for Filing Applications chart may be used to determine when to file an adjustment of status application with USCIS. Otherwise, the Application Final Action Dates chart must be used to determine when to file an adjustment of status application with USCIS.

In coordination with the DOS, USCIS will monitor visa numbers each month and post the relevant chart on this page under When to File.

Determining Visa Availability

USCIS considers several factors to determine if there is a greater supply of visas than the demand for those visas. To determine visa availability, USCIS will compare the number of visas available for the remainder of the fiscal year with:

• Documentarily qualified visa applications reported by DOS;
• Pending adjustment of status applications reported by USCIS; and
• Historical drop off rate of applicants for adjustment of status (for example, denials, withdrawals and abandonments)

In Rancho Cucamonga, Silent Book Club meets quietly (mostly)

M ay 9—Books in hand, more than a dozen of us gathered at a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf last week for a meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga chapter of the Silent Book Club.

At the appointed start time, rather than read, we talked. Say what?

The first 30 minutes, it turns out, are set aside for sharing about our books. So are the final 30 minutes. In between, we read for 60 minutes. The schedule was designed as a buffer for people arriving late — it was a Monday at 6 p.m., after all — and ordering drinks. Makes sense.

At the Twentynine Palms chapter — whose first meeting, on a Sunday, your book-lovin' columnist, by coincidence of travel planning, was in town to attend — we read for one hour, then had an hour to tell the group about our book if we cared to.

Different strokes for different nerds. Or something like that.

What's a Silent Book Club? The point is to escape the usual book-club strictures: the tyranny of other members' questionable choices or the pressure of formulating or defending opinions during the discussion.

Instead, you simply bring a book to enjoy among your fellow readers. Maybe you'll make a friend or pick up a book recommendation. If nothing else, you've notched an hour of uninterrupted reading.

This may invite jokes.

"I've seen this type of silent reading before," Ron Vander Molen of Pomona cracked on my Facebook page. "Weren't they called libraries?"

I'd give him a rimshot, but this is quiet time.

Of course I'm the last person to discourage visiting a library. But let's note that libraries don't serve refreshments, unless the water fountain counts. And fellow patrons, if they're indeed reading rather than studying or browsing or napping, might not appreciate your walking over and whispering, "May I tell you about my book?"

At the Rancho Cucamonga Coffee Bean on April 29, we occupied a communal table and spilled over to adjacent tables. Most of the attendees were in their 20s and 30s. The chapter has been meeting monthly since December.

As in the desert, my book was "Swann's Way," the first novel in Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time" series, otherwise known as "Remembrance of Things Past." It was a book I had owned for years and had always meant to start one day. And now I had.

Before taking a seat, I ordered an iced tea from a barista. At the register, I was amused to see among the impulse choices a snack that was absolutely appropriate for Proust: a little package of madeleines.

In "Swann's Way," the adult narrator eats a madeleine soaked in tea, a treat he'd been given as a boy by his aunt, and the experience awakens a flood of childhood memories. Proust's madeleines are still invoked for a taste, smell or sound that calls up long-forgotten memories.

What the heck, I bought the madeleines.

A perfect pairing: a package of madeleines and Marcel Proust's "Swann's Way," in which one of the cookies provides the narrator with an epiphany. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

At the start, we each held up our book in turn and talked about what we were reading. Most of the members had modern novels, as they probably should. It was with some sheepishness that when my turn came to speak, I held up "Swann's Way."

Said one impressed fellow reader: "I'm not intellectual enough to read that."

I replied, "We'll see if I'm intellectual enough to read it." People smiled.

We collected and stacked our books, including a tablet and a phone, for a group photo. Then, at 6:30, the club leader announced: "We're super laidback, but you can start reading now if you want to." We did.

At least the young members did, opening their books and reading silently at the communal table. Newcomers on either side of me at the secondary tables conversed quietly. They were middle-aged and older. Perhaps they don't have the attention span of our nation's young people.

Seeking quiet, I relocated to a cozy chair in the corner. That was an imperfect solution too. The coffeehouse's piped-in music seemed louder over here.

Should I have brought earplugs to Silent Book Club?

Blotting out distractions as best I could, for an hour I immersed myself in a difficult, but warm and rewarding, book. Occasionally I dunked a factory-produced madeleine in my cup of peach iced tea. Perhaps Proust would have appreciated my effort.

By the end of my second Silent Book Club, I was up to page 74. As I hadn't read any of "Swann's Way" in the previous 13 years, this was progress.

Meeting over, I chatted with chapter founder Laina Gallegos, a modest young woman who says the club is a group effort, not really hers.

"It's nice to see that it's growing," Gallegos told me. "At least our people are finding us. This is our best turnout so far."

Gallegos was reading Emily Henry's "Funny Story," a current bestseller described as "a shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common." Shimmering and joyful are adjectives rarely applied to Proust.

One heartening thing about this meet-up is how we colonized a space. For an hour, customers entered and took in the sight of more than a dozen people with their noses in a book. It made a statement (while perhaps raising questions).

Did we normalize the act of reading? That's a heavy lift. But reading communally was, if not shimmering, at least joyful.

Now, about future events.

The Rancho Cucamonga meetings will move outdoors, and to a new location. That's the patio of the Haven City Market food hall, 8443 Haven Ave., from 6 to 8 p.m. the next two Mondays, May 13 and 20.

Meanwhile, the Inland Empire's other two Silent Book Club chapters have announced dates and places for their next meetings.

Redlands will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. May 19 and June 9, both times at Escape Craft Brewery's downtown location, 440 Oriental Ave. That chapter began April 21, just as the one in Twentynine Palms did.

And speaking of that desert chapter, its second meet-up takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 26 at Twentynine Palms Public Cemetery, 5350 Encelia Ave.

That will be indoors with air conditioning, the organizers say on Instagram. They add that a cemetery might be "the perfect place for silent reading."

As long as there's no sound system blasting funeral music.

David Allen shimmers Friday, Sunday and Wednesday. Email [email protected] , phone 909-483-9339, like davidallencolumnist on Facebook and follow @davidallen909 on Twitter.

(c)2024 the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, Calif.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Federal Register

The daily journal of the united states government, request access.

Due to aggressive automated scraping of FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov, programmatic access to these sites is limited to access to our extensive developer APIs.

If you are human user receiving this message, we can add your IP address to a set of IPs that can access FederalRegister.gov & eCFR.gov; complete the CAPTCHA (bot test) below and click "Request Access". This process will be necessary for each IP address you wish to access the site from, requests are valid for approximately one quarter (three months) after which the process may need to be repeated.

An official website of the United States government.

If you want to request a wider IP range, first request access for your current IP, and then use the "Site Feedback" button found in the lower left-hand side to make the request.

International travelers to the US will be able to skip proof of COVID vaccine, WH says

The Biden administration will lift the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for inbound international air travelers on Friday.

"As we continue to monitor the evolving state of COVID-19 and the emergence of virus variants, we have the tools to detect and respond to the potential emergence of a variant of high consequence," President Joe Biden said in a proclamation Tuesday. "Considering the progress that we have made, and based on the latest guidance from our public health experts, I have determined that we no longer need the international air travel restrictions that I imposed in October 2021."

Biden announced the change last week , along with the end of vaccine requirements for federal employees and contractors, foreign nationals at the land border and others. The requirement for air travelers will lift at midnight Thursday as the coronavirus public health emergency ends. Biden previously  signed a bill ending the COVID national emergency  in April.

So, what does that mean for travelers? Here's what we know.

Summer travel is expensive: Here's why flight prices heat up when the weather does

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Why are travel refunds taking so long? Here are some tips to get your money back

Is there still a vaccine requirement for international travelers coming to the US?

Not as of later this week.

Currently, all "non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants traveling to the United States by air" must show proof of vaccination with limited exceptions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's  website .

Industry group the U.S. Travel Association, which had called on the Biden administration to  end the vaccine requirement  for inbound international visitors and argued the rule was an impediment to tourism, applauded the change when it was announced last week.

“Today’s action to lift the vaccine requirement eases a significant entry barrier for many global travelers, moving our industry and country forward," Geoff Freeman, the organization's President and CEO, said in a statement last week. He also called on the federal government to "ensure U.S. airports and other ports of entry are appropriately staffed with Customs and Border Protection officers to meet the growing demand for entry."

The U.S.  lifted a requirement  that air travelers coming from China show proof of a negative COVID test in March. The policy took effect in January amid a surge of cases in China.

The U.S.  dropped its COVID testing rule  for international flyers in June.

Do travelers need a vaccine to cross the Mexico or Canada borders to the US?

The Department of Homeland Security also said in a news release that it will no longer require non-U.S. travelers coming into the country by land or at ferry terminals to be fully vaccinated or show proof of their vaccination status.

Do US travelers need to be vaccinated against COVID to travel internationally?

That depends. Many destinations have dropped their vaccination and testing requirements for travel, though some still have rules in place. The Philippines, for example, still requires travelers to be fully vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID test in order to visit, according to the  U.S. Embassy in the Philippines .

AI, self-service are taking over travel: Will everything become a DIY experience?

The CDC also recommends travelers be up to date on their COVID vaccinations before leaving the country. The agency defines up to date as having one updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine for people age 6 and up, which "protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5," according to its  website .

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

Update April 12, 2024

Information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

• Travel Advisories |
• Contact Us |
• MyTravelGov |

Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates

Travel.state.gov, congressional liaison, special issuance agency, u.s. passports, international travel, intercountry adoption, international parental child abduction, records and authentications, popular links, travel advisories, mytravelgov, stay connected, legal resources, legal information, info for u.s. law enforcement, replace or certify documents, u.s. visa law & policy.

Judicial Assistance Country Information

Share this page:

The Visa Bulletin

Visa Statistics

Laws & Regulations

Accepting, Serving in, or Performing Duties of a Position with the Government of a Foreign State - Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Sectioin 349(a)(4)

Loss of U.S. Nationality and Service in the Armed Forces of a Foreign State - Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Section 349(a)(3)

Visa Bulletin For October 2023

Number 82 Volume X Washington, D.C

View as Printer Friendly PDF

A. STATUTORY NUMBERS FOR PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT VISAS

This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during October  for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.

Unless otherwise indicated on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at  www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo , individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with USCIS must use the “Final Action Dates” charts below for determining when they can file such applications. When USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for the fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, USCIS will state on its website that applicants may instead use the “Dates for Filing Visa Applications” charts in this Bulletin. 

1.  Procedures for determining dates. Consular officers are required to report to the Department of State documentarily qualified applicants for numerically limited visas; USCIS reports applicants for adjustment of status. Allocations in the charts below were made, to the extent possible, in chronological order of reported priority dates, for demand received by September 8th . If not all demand could be satisfied, the category or foreign state in which demand was excessive was deemed oversubscribed. The final action date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who could not be reached within the numerical limits. If it becomes necessary during the monthly allocation process to retrogress a final action date, supplemental requests for numbers will be honored only if the priority date falls within the new final action date announced in this bulletin. If at any time an annual limit were reached, it would be necessary to immediately make the preference category “unavailable”, and no further requests for numbers would be honored.

2.  The fiscal year 2024 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants determined in accordance with Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is 226,000.  The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000.  Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620.  The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320.

3.  INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa issuances will exceed the per-country limit. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas:  CHINA-mainland born, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES. 

4.  Section 203(a) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Family-sponsored immigrant visas as follows: 

FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES

First : ( F1 ) Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens:  23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.

Second : Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents:  114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, plus any unused first preference numbers:

A. ( F2A ) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents:  77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;

B. ( F2B ) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents:  23% of the overall second preference limitation.

Third : ( F3 ) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens:  23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.

Fourth : ( F4 ) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens:  65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.

A.   FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES

On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); "C" means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and "U" means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.)

For October, F2A numbers  EXEMPT from per-country limit  are authorized for issuance to applicants from all countries with priority dates  earlier  than 01FEB19. F2A numbers  SUBJECT to per-country limit  are authorized for issuance to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO , with priority dates beginning 01FEB19 and earlier than 08FEB19. All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit.

B.  DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS

The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart below may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file applications, regardless of priority date.

The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.

Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 4.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. 

5.  Section 203(b) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Employment-based immigrant visas as follows: 

EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES

First :  Priority Workers:  28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.

Second :  Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability:  28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.

Third :  Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers:  28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to "*Other Workers".

Fourth :  Certain Special Immigrants:  7.1% of the worldwide level.

Fifth :  Employment Creation:  7.1% of the worldwide level, of which 32% are reserved as follows: 20% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in a rural area; 10% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in a high unemployment area; and 2% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in infrastructure projects. The remaining 68% are unreserved and are allotted for all other qualified immigrants.

A.  FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

*Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category: Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. Since the EW final action date reached November 19, 1997 during Fiscal Year 2001, the reduction in the EW annual limit to 5,000 began in Fiscal Year 2002. For Fiscal Year 2024 this reduction will be limited to approximately 150.

B.  DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS

The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file, regardless of priority date.

Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 5.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. 

B .   DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years.  The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program.  This will result in reduction of the DV-2024 annual limit to approximately 54,850.  DV visas are divided among six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year.

For October , immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2024 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers  BELOW  the specified allocation cut-off number:

Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2024 program ends as of September 30, 2024. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2024 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2024 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2024. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2024 cannot be taken for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30.

C.   THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANT CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN NOVEMBER

For November , immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2024 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers  BELOW  the specified allocation cut-off number:

D.   SCHEDULED EXPIRATION OF THE EMPLOYMENT FOURTH PREFERENCE (SR) RELIGIOUS WORKERS CATEGORY

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, enacted on December 29, 2022, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until September 30, 2023.  No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight September 29, 2023.  Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until September 29, 2023, and all individuals seeking admission in the non-minister special immigrant category must be admitted (repeat admitted) into the United States no later than midnight September 29, 2023.

The SR category is listed as “Unavailable” for all countries for October.  In the event there is legislative action extending the category, it is likely it will become available effective immediately. If extended, the category will be subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.

E.   EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA AVAILABILITY FOR FY-2024

Final action dates across most employment-based visa categories have advanced, reflecting new visa numbers available for FY-2024.  Date advancements reflect an intention to keep visa issuance within quarterly limits in accordance with INA sections 201(a)(2) and 203(g), with potential date advancements throughout the fiscal year.  However, actual date movements will be dependent on visa demand and issuance patterns throughout FY-2024.

F.   FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV

Department of State Publication 9514

CA/VO: September 8, 2023

External Link

You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.

Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.

You are about to visit: