How do I read the US visa bulletin — final action date vs dates for filing?
TL;DR: The State Department's monthly Visa Bulletin publishes two charts per green card category: "Final Action Dates" (when your case can actually be approved) and "Dates for Filing" (an earlier date that may let you submit Form I-485 before final approval is possible). USCIS announces monthly which chart applies to adjustment-of-status filers; your priority date must be earlier than the listed date in your category and country of chargeability to move forward.
The claim
Most confusion around the visa bulletin comes from applicants checking only one chart — you actually need to know both, plus which one USCIS says you can use for filing this month.
The evidence
The Visa Bulletin, published monthly by the State Department's National Visa Center, has used this two-chart system since 2015. USCIS separately announces each month on its "Adjustment of Status Filing Charts" page which of the two charts (Final Action or Dates for Filing) applies to I-485 submissions for that month — it isn't always the more generous "Dates for Filing" chart.
Chart A vs Chart B
| Chart | What it means | When you'd use it |
|---|---|---|
| Final Action Dates ("Chart A") | The date by which USCIS/NVC can actually approve/issue your green card | Always controls final approval, regardless of which chart applies for filing |
| Dates for Filing ("Chart B") | An earlier, more generous cutoff that may let you file I-485 sooner | Only usable for filing in months USCIS specifically authorizes it |
Step by step
- Find your green card category (e.g., EB-2, EB-3, F2A) and your country of chargeability (usually country of birth) in the current bulletin.
- Check USCIS's monthly announcement for which chart (Final Action or Dates for Filing) applies to adjustment of status that month.
- Compare your priority date (the date your I-140 or I-130 was filed) to the listed date.
- If your priority date is earlier than the listed date, you're "current" and can file (or your case can be approved, for Final Action).
- Re-check monthly — dates can retrogress (move backward) as well as advance.
FAQ
What happens if my priority date retrogresses after I've already filed I-485? Your I-485 stays filed and pending; retrogression mainly affects whether new applicants at that priority-date range can file, and can delay your final approval and interim benefits renewal in some cases.
Why do India and China have longer waits than other countries? Per-country annual caps mean high-demand countries with large numbers of applicants in a category hit their yearly limit faster, creating longer backlogs than lower-demand countries in the same category.
Does being able to file under Dates for Filing guarantee approval? No — filing early under Dates for Filing only lets you submit I-485 and get some interim benefits (like EAD/AP) sooner; final approval still requires your priority date to be current under Final Action Dates.
Can EB-2 and EB-3 dates for the same country differ? Yes — it's common for EB-3 to be more current than EB-2 (or vice versa) for the same country in a given month, which is why some applicants "downgrade" between categories.
By Pinal Dave Last updated: 2026-07-25