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Enter your priority date, preference category, and country of chargeability. We instantly compare it against the current U.S. State Department Visa Bulletin and tell you if you're current, backlogged, or unavailable.
The U.S. Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin monthly. It lists the current cutoff date (called the "Final Action Date") for each preference category. If your priority date is on or before the cutoff, you're "current" — the visa number is available and your case can move forward. Otherwise you're waiting in line.
Every category has separate cutoffs for beneficiaries from China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines because those countries hit the annual per-country cap and have their own longer lines. Everyone else falls under "All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed" — the shorter line.
On your Form I-797 receipt notice (from USCIS) after filing I-130 (family) or I-140 (employment). For labor-cert-required EB cases, it's the date the ETA-9089 was received by DOL.
Final Action Dates (FAD) is the date at which USCIS or a consulate can actually approve you and give you the green card. Dates for Filing (DFF) is an earlier date that lets you submit documents but not yet be adjudicated. USCIS decides each month which chart to honor. This checker shows both when available.
Sometimes. If your spouse was born in a country with shorter waits, you can charge your case to that country instead. Ask your attorney about eligibility.
"Current" (shown as "C" in the bulletin) means the visa number is immediately available — no more waiting in line for that category and country. You can proceed with adjustment of status or consular processing right away.
This happens when the annual visa cap for a category is hit before the fiscal year ends. Numbers usually reopen at the start of the next fiscal year (October 1). Your priority date is preserved — you just wait longer.
Sign up (free) → save your priority date on a real case → get an automated email on the 15th of every month showing your status. Also unlocks the full I-130 / I-140 / AoS filing workflow, document reader, and attorney review.