Immigrant Visas

Priority Dates

Because of the numerical limitation on annual issuance of visas, Family-Based Preference and Employment-Based Preference categories are subject to waiting periods. The date that the petition was filed is called its priority date. A petition cannot be processed until its priority date is current. This means the priority date of a given petition must be before the current cutoff date listed for the appropriate category. Current priority date cutoff dates can be viewed at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html. The Department of State also has available a recorded message with visa cut-off dates which can be heard at (202) 663-1541. The website and telephone recording are both updated monthly.