Reading the Visa Bulletin, one question at a time
The mechanics of the monthly bulletin: what each cell means, when it comes out, where the old ones are, and what it changes for your family.
- What do "C" and "U" mean in the Visa Bulletin?"C" means current: no wait for that category and country. "U" means unavailable: no visas can be used this month. What each means for your case.
- When does the next Visa Bulletin come out?The Visa Bulletin for a month is usually published around the middle of the month before. There is no fixed release day. How to know the minute it is out.
- Where can I find past Visa Bulletins?Every past Visa Bulletin is on travel.state.gov, filed by fiscal year. How the archive is organized and how to pull a category's movement history.
- What do the notes at the bottom of the Visa Bulletin mean?Below the charts, each bulletin has lettered sections with notes: movement explanations, warnings of retrogression, program expirations. What to read.
- How does the Visa Bulletin work if my case is at the National Visa Center?For consular processing, the Dates for Filing chart tells you when NVC lets you submit documents, and the Final Action chart decides interview scheduling.
- How does the Visa Bulletin affect my child's CSPA age?USCIS computes CSPA age from when a visa becomes available under the Final Action Dates chart, minus the time the petition was pending. With the formula.
- Do my spouse and children use my priority date in the Visa Bulletin?A spouse and unmarried children under 21 who come with the principal applicant use the principal's category, priority date and chargeability.
- What happens to my pending I-485 if the Visa Bulletin goes backward?If your Final Action Date goes back after you filed, your I-485 stays pending. USCIS cannot approve it until your date is current again.
What to do next: get your Visa Bulletin alert
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