What is a priority date in the permanent residence process? How do I find the Visa Bulletin?
In the permanent resident process, the priority date is the date the first petition/application was filed on behalf of the foreign national (i.e., either the labor certification application or the I-140 Immigrant Visa Petition). If the foreign national has a priority date on or before the cut-off date listed in the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin, then he or she is currently eligible for a visa as part of the permanent resident process. The foreign national cannot move onto the final step in the permanent residence process (i.e., I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) until the priority date is current. If the cut-off date retrogresses after the I-485 application is filed, USCIS will resume processing of the application only after the priority date again becomes current. For more information, please see: Department of State Visa Bulletin.
