This date serves as the holder’s place in line, or queue, for a visa number to become available. Navigating Retrogression and Stagnation It is important to note that the priority date on the Visa Bulletin can move forward or backward.
Understanding Your Priority Date Queue Number and Its Current Status
The Interplay with the Visa Bulletin While the priority date is set by USCIS, whether a case can move forward is determined weekly by the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin. Each fiscal year, the US Congress caps the number of individuals who can receive permanent residency, or a green card, based on specific family or employment categories.
Therefore, an applicant might file a perfect petition today, but they cannot move forward until their specific priority date “currents,” or appears on the official list. To proceed with an adjustment of status or consular processing, the applicant’s priority date must be on or before the date listed in the bulletin.
Understanding How Queue Numbers Shift with Retrogression and Stagnation
When more people become eligible than there are visas available in a given month, the dates jump forward, a phenomenon known as retrogression. Beyond the Green Card Application.
More About What is priority date
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