What is the Visa Bulletin?
The US Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin monthly. It shows which priority dates are current for each family and employment preference category and country, determining when applicants can move forward toward a green card.
Why do India and China wait longer?
Each country is limited to about 7 percent of the annual visas in each category. High-demand countries like India and China exceed that cap, creating long backlogs, especially in the EB-2 and EB-3 employment categories.
Do immediate relatives have to wait?
No. Spouses, parents, and unmarried minor children of US citizens are immediate relatives with no annual numerical limit, so they are not subject to Visa Bulletin backlogs.
Your priority date is the date USCIS received your petition. When your category and country priority date on the Visa Bulletin reaches your priority date, a visa number is available and you can proceed to the final stage.