What is the Visa Bulletin?
The Visa Bulletin is issued every month by the Department of State. It shows which green card applications can be filed, and which filed applications can move forward to green card issuance, based on when the labor certification (LC) was filed. The Visa Bulletin also lets you estimate how long it will take before you get your green card.

Why does the Visa Bulletin exist?

There is a numerical cap on the number of green cards that can be issued each year, and this number is further divided by the different categories and country caps. Only 10,000 EB-3 Other Workers green cards can be issued each year. Because there is a higher demand than available supply, there is a backlog.

What is the priority date?

The priority date is the date your LC was filed. Think of the priority date as your place in line, because it determines when your green card application can be filed and when your green card can be issued.

What is the cut-off date?

The dates you see on the Visa Bulletin are called cut-off dates. Your priority date must be before the cut-off date on the Visa Bulletin to file the I-485 application.

What is retrogression?

Usually, the Visa Bulletin’s cut-off dates move forward over time. When there are more applications for a green card category than the government was expecting, the cut-off dates may move backwards. Retrogression is the cut-off date in the Visa Bulletin moving backwards due to increase in demand. BDV's Government Relations Team responds to Retrogression in several ways, which you can read about here.