The Visa Bulletin

USCIS, in coordination with the Department of State, is responsible for revising the procedures for determining visa availability.

The purpose of revising these procedures is to better align with the procedures used by the State Department for foreign nationals seeking to become U.S. permanent residents.

The State Department publishes the Visa Bulletin on a monthly basis, usually around two weeks in advance.

The Priority Date refers to the date when the ETA 9089 (employment-based labor certification), I-140 (employment-based immigrant petition), or I-130 (family-based immigrant petition) is filed.

The Preference Category indicates the level of priority assigned to an immigration case. It is determined by factors such as the type of family relationship or employment sponsorship.

The Country of Chargeability refers to either the country of birth or the country of birth of the petitioner's spouse (if applicable).

"Dates for Filing" indicate when a case can be filed, while "Final Action Dates" indicate when a case can be approved. USCIS publishes specific instructions on which chart to use for filing based on these dates.