What Is The Visa Bulletin?

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication issued by the United States Department of State (DOS) that lists the availability of immigrant Visas for foreign nationals seeking to immigrate to the United States. It is an important resource for individuals and families who are waiting for their turn to apply for a Green Card, also known as permanent residency.

The Visa Bulletin is divided into two categories: family-sponsored Visas and employment-based Visas. The family-sponsored visas are for individuals who are sponsored by a family member who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, while employment-based Visas are for individuals who have been offered a job in the United States. More.

The Visa Bulletin is based on a system of quotas that limits the number of Visas that can be issued each year. These quotas are established by Congress and are based on the number of Visas that have been used in the past, as well as the current demand for Visas.

The Visa Bulletin is updated on a monthly basis and lists the dates when Visas become available. These dates are known as “priority dates.” Individuals who have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed in the Visa Bulletin are eligible to apply for a Green Card. The closer an individual’s priority date is to the current date, the faster they will be able to apply for a Green Card.

One of the key features of the Visa Bulletin is the “cut-off date,” which is the date that marks the end of the current month’s Visas availability. If an individual’s priority date is earlier than the cut-off date, they are eligible to apply for a Green Card. If their priority date is later than the cut-off date, they will have to wait until the next month’s Visa Bulletin is released to see if their priority date becomes current.

The Visa Bulletin also includes a “final action date” for each category of Visas. This date represents the last date when Visas were issued in that category. If an individual’s priority date is earlier than the final action date, they are likely to receive a Visa in the near future.

In addition to the family-sponsored and employment-based categories, the Visa Bulletin also includes a category for Diversity Visas, which are reserved for individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The Diversity Visa program is a lottery program that allows individuals from eligible countries to apply for a Green Card.

The Visa Bulletin is an important resource for individuals and families seeking to immigrate to the United States. It provides information on the availability of Visas and helps individuals understand the process for applying for a Green Card. By keeping track of the Visa Bulletin and understanding the priority dates and cut-off dates, individuals can better plan their immigration journey and take the necessary steps to apply for a Green Card.

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