EB-5 Visa Bulletin Archive

What the arrows mean

▲ (green, +days) means the final action date moved forward, allowing more petitioners to proceed. ▼ (red, -days) means retrogression occurred and the date moved backward. ● means no change from the previous month.

Final action date vs. dates for filing

Final action dates determine when you can actually receive your visa or adjust status. Dates for filing determine when you can submit your I-485 or DS-260 application. The dates for filing chart is typically more advanced (favorable) than the final action date chart.

Seasonal patterns

The State Department tends to advance dates more aggressively early in the fiscal year (October through March) as it estimates annual visa demand. Movement often slows or reverses in the second half (April through September) as the annual visa limit approaches.

"Current" vs. a date

"Current" means there is no backlog for that country. A date (e.g., Sep 1, 2016) means only petitioners with a priority date before that date can proceed. The further back the date, the longer the wait.