The priority date in immigration is the exact date on which the U.S. Government received a petition filed on your behalf. That date sets your place in line in the immigration system: from that moment on, you are in a waiting list together with other applicants in your same category and country.
If you don’t know what the current priority date is or you don’t understand the Visa Bulletin, here we break it down step by step. At Lluis Law we help immigrants understand these dates and know when they can actually move forward with their Green Card.
Not knowing your date or not knowing how to compare it with the monthly Visa Bulletin can make you lose time or miss the chance to move ahead.
In the following lines you will learn how it is set, where to find it and why it is key to getting lawful permanent residence.
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What the immigration priority date actually means
The priority date is the day on which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the Department of Labor officially accepted your filing.
That date determines when you will be able to continue with your Green Card process.
Each year the number of immigrant visas is limited, which is why cases are processed in chronological order: the oldest first, and the most recent later.
Knowing your date and checking the Visa Bulletin every month is key to not losing your turn.
If the petition is family-based, the date is usually the day the Form I-130 was filed. That petition is the starting point of family-based immigration, where USCIS automatically assigns a priority date.
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens — spouse, unmarried children under 21 and parents — do not need to wait, because visas for them are always available.
Where your priority date comes from, depending on the type of case
The priority date is not the same for every immigrant. It depends on the type of filing you submitted to USCIS or the Department of Labor.
Below you will see how it is assigned in the most common situations.
Family cases
In the family preference categories subject to an annual cap (F1, F2A, F2B, F3 and F4), the date comes from the day USCIS received Form I-130. This is known as a family-based priority date or I-130 immigration priority date.
Employment-based cases
When the job requires a PERM labor certification, the priority date is the day the Department of Labor accepts that filing.
If PERM is not required, the date will be the day USCIS receives Form I-140. Here you can see the details of the PERM labor certification.
Cases under Section 245(i)
Individuals protected by this law keep their 245(i) priority date even if they later file a new petition.
That advantage can save years of waiting if the original filing was submitted before April 30, 2001 and met the legal requirements of the program.
Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ)
In SIJ cases, the date is set when USCIS receives Form I-360.
The child is placed on a list similar to the family preference one and must follow the dates published each month in the bulletin.
How to find your priority date at USCIS or at the NVC
Your USCIS priority date appears on the approval notice Form I-797 that USCIS sends you when it accepts your petition. On the top right you will see the field “Priority Date”. That is your date.
You can also check it in your online USCIS account or in the National Visa Center (NVC) account once the case has been transferred to the Department of State.
Both agencies use the same date: USCIS creates it and the NVC uses it to schedule your interview or receive your documents.
Every month, compare your date with the one published in the Visa Bulletin.
- If your date is the same or earlier, your case is already current.
- If it is later, there is no visa available yet.
When the bulletin shows the letter C, it means visas are available for everyone. If U appears, visas are temporarily unavailable.
For those preparing their Green Card, it is useful to know the options for adjustment of status, which allows you to complete the process inside the United States.
Difference between your priority date and the current date
Many immigrants ask what the current priority date is and how to read it. The difference is simple:
- Priority date: your personal date, assigned the day the petition was filed.
- Current date: the one the Department of State publishes every month in the Visa Bulletin priority date chart.
When both match or your date is earlier, your turn has arrived. If the bulletin is still showing an older date, you must wait until the next month.
Quick example: If your personal date is June 1, 2018 and the bulletin shows July 1, 2018, you can already move forward. If the bulletin shows May 1, 2018, your case is not ready yet.
These comparisons are made using the immigration priority date chart. Below you will find the current tables for this month so you can compare them with your own priority date.
If your process will take place outside the U.S., you can review how the ESTA authorization to travel to the United States works, where the required consular documentation is explained.
Immigration priority date tables – February 2026
Below you can consult the immigration priority date tables published in the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin. These dates tell you whether you can already move forward in your case or whether you must keep waiting.
How to read them:
- Find your category (F1, F2A, EB-2, etc.);
- Find your country;
- If your date is the same or earlier, your turn has come;
- If you see “C”, there are visas for everyone;
- If you see “U”, there are no visas this month.
These are the dates officially published for February 2026, so you can compare them with your own date.
Family-sponsored – Final Action Dates
If your date is here or earlier, your family-based immigrant visa can be approved.
| Category | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 – Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens | 08-NOV-2016 | 08-NOV-2016 | 08-NOV-2016 | 22-DEC-2006 | 01-MAR-2013 |
| F2A – Spouses and children of LPRs | 01-FEB-2024 | 01-FEB-2024 | 01-FEB-2024 | 01-FEB-2023 | 01-FEB-2024 |
| F2B – Unmarried sons/daughters (21+) of LPRs | 01-DEC-2016 | 01-DEC-2016 | 01-DEC-2016 | 15-FEB-2009 | 22-DEC-2012 |
| F3 – Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens | 08-SEP-2011 | 08-SEP-2011 | 08-SEP-2011 | 01-MAY-2001 | 01-MAR-2005 |
| F4 – Siblings of U.S. citizens | 08-JAN-2008 | 08-JAN-2008 | 01-NOV-2006 | 08-APR-2001 | 22-JUL-2006 |
Family-sponsored – Dates for Filing
Use this table only if USCIS said that “Dates for Filing” apply this month. It is used to send documents to the NVC or to prepare your adjustment.
| Category | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01-SEP-2017 | 01-SEP-2017 | 01-SEP-2017 | 01-DEC-2007 | 22-APR-2015 |
| F2A | 22-JAN-2026 | 22-JAN-2026 | 22-JAN-2026 | 22-JAN-2026 | 22-JAN-2026 |
| F2B | 15-MAR-2017 | 15-MAR-2017 | 15-MAR-2017 | 15-FEB-2010 | 01-OCT-2013 |
| F3 | 22-JUL-2012 | 22-JUL-2012 | 22-JUL-2012 | 01-JUL-2001 | 01-FEB-2006 |
| F4 | 01-MAR-2009 | 01-MAR-2009 | 15-DEC-2006 | 30-APR-2001 | 15-JAN-2008 |
Employment-based – Final Action Dates
If your Green Card is through employment, compare your date here.
| Category | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 01-FEB-2023 | 01-FEB-2023 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 01-APR-2024 | 01-SEP-2021 | 15-JUL-2013 | 01-APR-2024 | 01-APR-2024 |
| EB-3 | 01-JUN-2023 | 01-MAY-2021 | 15-NOV-2013 | 01-JUN-2023 | 01-JUN-2023 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 01-SEP-2021 | 08-DEC-2018 | 15-NOV-2013 | 01-SEP-2021 | 01-SEP-2021 |
| EB-4 | 01-JAN-2021 | 01-JAN-2021 | 01-JAN-2021 | 01-JAN-2021 | 01-JAN-2021 |
Employment-based – Dates for Filing
If USCIS says you can file even though your visa is not ready yet, use this table.
| Category | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 01-AUG-2023 | 01-AUG-2023 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 15-OCT-2024 | 01-JAN-2022 | 01-DEC-2013 | 15-OCT-2024 | 15-OCT-2024 |
| EB-3 | 01-OCT-2023 | 01-JAN-2022 | 15-AUG-2014 | 01-OCT-2023 | 01-OCT-2023 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 01-DEC-2021 | 01-OCT-2019 | 15-AUG-2014 | 01-DEC-2021 | 01-DEC-2021 |
| EB-4 | 15-MAR-2021 | 15-MAR-2021 | 15-MAR-2021 | 15-MAR-2021 | 15-MAR-2021 |
Official source: Visa Bulletin for February 2026 – U.S. Department of State
How to know what priority date they are processing
Many applicants ask what priority date they are on and what it means when the bulletin moves forward or backward. Simply put:
- When the bulletin moves forward, USCIS and the NVC are processing more recent cases.
- When it retrogresses, some cases are delayed temporarily due to high demand.
To avoid confusion, you only need to look at your own category and your own country in the charts.
If your date is before the cutoff, you can continue. If it is after, wait for the next bulletin.
You can check your progress every month on the official U.S. Department of State website (state.gov).
Family-based priority dates and special cases
The family-based priority date is the most common in immigration. It corresponds to the moment when a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident filed Form I-130 to petition for a relative.
From that day on, the beneficiary gets a place in the immigrant visa waiting line.
These dates are divided by categories:
- F1: unmarried sons and daughters (21+) of U.S. citizens.
- F2A: spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents.
- F2B: unmarried sons and daughters (21+) of lawful permanent residents.
- F3: married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
- F4: brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens.
Priority dates for siblings of U.S. citizens
This F4 category is usually the slowest, with waits over 10 years. For these cases it is very useful to review what a U.S. citizen can do to petition siblings.
Practical example: If your priority date is March 1, 2012 and the chart shows April 1, 2012, your immigrant visa is already available. If the chart shows an earlier date, you still have to wait.
Special cases: Section 245(i) and Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ)
There are filings that do not follow exactly the same order as regular family or employment petitions, but they still keep a priority date that lets them move faster than others.
The two most common are cases protected by Section 245(i) and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS).
Priority date under Section 245(i)
Those who qualified under Section 245(i) keep the original date of their old petition, even if later they change category or sponsor.
This is valuable because it allows them to keep an older spot and, in many cases, cut several years of waiting.
If you are not sure whether you still keep that benefit, you can first check the date of your old petition and then compare it with this month’s bulletin.
Here is a related resource: Change of status from visitor visa to Green Card
Priority date for SIJ (Special Immigrant Juvenile)
In SIJ cases, the priority date is set when USCIS receives Form I-360.
From that moment, the young person is placed in a list similar to the family preference one and must follow the dates published every month in the Visa Bulletin.
Sometimes these dates move forward quickly and other times they retrogress a bit, depending on the volume of filings.
Quick example:
If a minor filed the I-360 on January 10, 2021 and the bulletin shows February 1, 2021, the date is already current and the minor can file for adjustment of status or the next step that applies.
When the date is close or current, it is a good idea to check whether you can file Form I-485 or whether you have to follow consular processing, depending on whether you are inside or outside the U.S.
What to do when your priority date becomes current
When the bulletin says your case is “current”, it means your immigrant visa number is available.
At that point, you can continue with the immigration process depending on your situation:
If you are inside the United States:
- You can file Form I-485 and request adjustment of status. This allows you to obtain a Green Card without leaving the country. When your case is current, it is usually best to file the I-485 as soon as you are eligible and keep the case moving.
If you are outside the United States:
- The National Visa Center (NVC) will send you a notice to start consular processing. You will have to gather civil documents, complete forms, and attend the interview at the corresponding U.S. consulate.
For both scenarios, it is essential to confirm that your USCIS priority date matches the current date published in the bulletin.
If you are not sure, speak with an attorney before filing to avoid mistakes or delays. And if you want to see the full process, you can review this guide on how to get a Green Card.
Date retrogression and visa availability
Date retrogression is when the monthly bulletin moves dates backward. This can happen if visa demand exceeds the annual limit or if USCIS needs to reorganize visa numbers.
For example: if in October your date was current, but in November it retrogressed, your case may be temporarily on hold until the date becomes current again.
This does not mean you lost your place. It only means you must wait for the priority dates to be updated again.
Visa availability and priority dates change every month depending on:
- The applicant’s country of chargeability;
- The preference category (family or employment); and
- The number of visas pending issuance.
That is why it is recommended to check the Visa Bulletin every month.
Common mistakes with the priority date
Many applicants make mistakes that can delay their case for years. These are the most common:
- Not checking the bulletin every month. If you don’t act when your date is current, you can lose that month of progress and, in consular processing cases, the case can even be closed if you do not respond on time.
- Confusing “priority date” with “filing date”. The priority date shows your real turn; the filing date only lets you send documents to the NVC.
- Using the wrong tables. Each month it is indicated whether to use “Final Action Dates” or “Dates for Filing”.
- Not updating your address with USCIS. If the notice goes to an old address, you may never know your turn came.
If you already have an approved petition and want to avoid procedural mistakes, you can talk to an immigration lawyer specializing in deportation.
Frequently asked questions about the immigration priority date
These are the most common questions immigration attorneys receive about the priority date in immigration and the Visa Bulletin.
How do I find my USCIS priority date?
The date appears on your USCIS approval notice Form I-797. On the top right you will see the field “Priority Date”. You can also see it in your USCIS online account or in the National Visa Center portal if your case has been transferred.
What happens if my priority date retrogresses?
If the bulletin retrogresses, your case is paused temporarily until dates move forward again. You do not lose your turn; you just have to wait for the next monthly bulletin.
That is why it is important to check visa availability and priority dates every month.
What priority date are they currently on?
It depends on your country and your category. You can check it above in the translated immigration priority date tables or directly in the official U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin.
What is the current priority date?
The current date changes every month. If your personal date is the same or earlier than the one published in the bulletin for that month (for example, “February 2026”), your case is current and you can move forward in the process.
What do I do when my priority date is current?
You must act right away. If you are inside the United States, file Form I-485 for adjustment of status. If you are outside the country, the NVC will notify you to start consular processing. Review the section above “What to do when your priority date becomes current” for the full steps.
Still have questions? Our team of immigration lawyers in Los Angeles can review your case, confirm your date and guide you through the next steps to obtain your Green Card.
Steps to avoid losing your turn
The priority date is basically your place in line. If you monitor it month by month, you won’t miss opportunities.
To keep your case up to date and make the most of your turn, follow these recommendations:
- Check the Visa Bulletin at the beginning of every month.
- Always compare your date with your category and your country.
- If your date is current, act as soon as possible and follow USCIS or NVC instructions so your case does not get delayed.
- If the bulletin retrogresses, don’t panic: have your documents ready for the next movement.
- Keep all USCIS notices (I-797, approvals, appointments) because that is where your official date is.
- If you have any doubt, have an attorney review your case before you file.
At Lluis Law we help many immigrants who had an approved petition but did not know whether their priority date had already become current. We review their category, country and that month’s bulletin to tell them exactly what the next step is and to avoid denials for filing too early or after the deadline.
If your case is close to being current or you need help with a specific step after your I-130 was approved, here you can review Form I-130 Approved: What’s Next?
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