The Visa Bulletin: What It Is and Who Needs It

What the Visa Bulletin does

The Department of State uses a person's priority date to determine their place in the visa queue. USCIS explains that a visa is immediately available when the priority date is earlier than the cut-off date shown for the applicant's preference category and country of chargeability, which is usually the country of birth.^[1]

USCIS also notes that there are limits on the percentage of visas that can be allotted by country of chargeability, which is why the bulletin has separate columns for different countries.^[1]

The Visa Bulletin from the Department of State carries two charts: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing. The bulletin's own heading for the second chart reads “Dates for Filing … Visa Applications”, and this guide uses the shorter name. USCIS says which of the two applicants use for filing.^{[5], [4]}

Who needs it

• Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens: not needed to find out whether a visa is available, because USCIS states those visas are unlimited and always available.
• Applicants in the family preference categories F1, F2A, F2B, F3 and F4: needed, because they depend on visa availability and a priority date.
• Applicants in employment-based preference categories: needed, because they also depend on a priority date.

Sources:^{[1], [2], [3]}

It changes every month

The step-by-step guide to reading the bulletin is linked below. It explains the columns, the two charts and the letters C and U without repeating any current date.

Guides in this topic

• How to Read the Visa Bulletin

  A step-by-step guide to reading the Department of State Visa Bulletin: priority dates, the two charts, what C and U mean, and which chart USCIS says to use.

Where to check the current official information

Official pages to consult directly. They are listed so you can check the latest details; they are not among the sources this guide was written from.

• Visa Bulletin (U.S. Department of State)

  U.S. Department of State — The monthly bulletin itself, with the current cut-off dates. Open the most recent month listed there.

• USCIS: Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin

  USCIS — States which chart applicants must use for the current month.

Sources checked

Official sources this page was written from, in order of authority. See our sources policy.

1. [1] Visa Availability and Priority Dates

   USCIS · Official source · Checked October 3, 2026 · Source last updated January 24, 2025

   Supports: priority dates, cut-off dates, country limits and unlimited immediate-relative visas

2. [2] Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants

   USCIS · Official source · Checked October 3, 2026 · Source last updated July 8, 2025

   Supports: the family preference categories

3. [3] I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

   USCIS · Official source · Checked October 3, 2026 · Source last updated September 18, 2026

   Supports: employment-based preference categories exist and filing depends on visa availability

4. [4] Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin

   USCIS · Official source · Checked October 3, 2026 · Source last updated October 1, 2026

   Supports: USCIS designates one chart monthly

5. [5] Visa Bulletin For October 2026

   U.S. Department of State · Official source · Checked October 3, 2026

   Supports: the Visa Bulletin carries Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing