Priority Date
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Start with the date on your notice

Priority date: the line you’re standing in

A priority date helps place many family- and employment-based immigration cases in the Visa Bulletin queue. It is not a case-status update and does not establish a timeline.

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American flag at an airport · source · Unsplash License

Where to find a priority date

For many petitions, the date is printed on Form I-797, Notice of Action. Look for a field labeled “Priority Date.” The document and date rules vary by case type, so use the notice and official agency instructions that apply to your petition.

Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing

The Visa Bulletin publishes both charts. A Final Action Date is the cutoff used to determine when a visa number may be available for final action. A Dates for Filing cutoff is an earlier filing-stage chart when applicants are permitted to use it. USCIS specifies which chart adjustment-of-status applicants may use each month.

Do not treat a favorable comparison on one chart as permission to file. Check the current month’s USCIS chart selection and your case-specific instructions.

What “current” means here

This site compares the date you enter with cutoff dates in a bulletin. If the date is on or before a dated cutoff, or the category is marked “C” (current), the checker reports current for that chart. A “U” (unavailable) entry is reported as unavailable. That comparison does not establish eligibility or forecast a case outcome.

Try the checker

Compare your date with the latest bulletin, or review how the Visa Bulletin works.

Questions people ask

Where do I find my priority date?

For many family- and employment-based petitions, the priority date appears on Form I-797, Notice of Action. The applicable document and field can vary by petition type; review your own notice and official USCIS guidance.

Does “current” mean my green card is approved?

No. A current cutoff only means the date comparison shown here is satisfied for that chart. Other eligibility, filing, and case-processing requirements still apply.

Which Visa Bulletin chart should I use?

The bulletin publishes Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing. USCIS announces which chart adjustment-of-status applicants may use for each month. Check the current USCIS chart notice before relying on either table.

Not legal advice. Read the official Visa Bulletin and USCIS chart guidance.