Visa Retrogression

These materials are provided solely for informational purposes and are not legal advice. Transmission of these materials is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Readers should not act upon the information contained in these FAQs without first seeking advice from a qualified attorney.

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What is a “Priority Date?”

The Immigration and Nationality Act sets limits on how many green card visas may be issued each Fiscal Year (October 1 through September 30) in all visa preference categories (i.e., EB-1, EB-2, EB-3). The law mandates that no one country may have more than a specific percentage of the total number of visas available annually. If these limits are exceeded in a particular category, for a particular country, a waiting list is created and applicants are placed on the list according to the date of their case filing. This date is called a "Priority Date."

If your category is employment-based and requires a labor certification, the priority date is established on the date a labor certification is filed with the Department of Labor. If your category is employment-based but does not require a labor certification, then the priority date is established on the date the USCIS receives the Form I-140 Immigrant Visa Petition. However, the priority date does not attach to your case until the I-140 has been approved.

What are the different employment-based preference categories?

Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1)

Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2)

Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3)

Other Workers (also EB-3)

What does EB-1 mean?

Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1) includes: (1) Persons with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business and athletics (persons who have risen to the top of their profession); (2) Outstanding professors and researchers; and (3) Multi-national executives and managers.

What does EB-2 mean?

Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) includes:

(1) Members of professions holding advanced degrees (Master’s or Ph.D.) The position must be one that requires a Master’s degree or Ph.D. to perform the duties. The degree held by the individual does not determine whether or not a position is EB-2; rather, it is the company’s job requirements. Additionally, the immigration regulations provide that a job which requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree PLUS five years of progressively responsible experience will be considered equivalent to a Master’s level position and will qualify for EB-2; and

(2) Persons of exceptional ability in the sciences, art or business. Persons of exceptional ability are those who have a degree of expertise above that which is ordinarily expected.

What does EB-3 mean?

Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3) includes: (1) Professionals and skilled workers (bachelor's degree or two years of training required for the position.

What does “Other Workers” mean?

Other Workers include positions that require less than two years of experience.

Why is the priority date important?

In order for an individual to obtain an immigrant visa, a visa number must be available to you. This is referred to as the priority date being "current." The priority date is current if there is no backlog in the category, or if the priority date is on or before the date listed as current in the State Department's monthly Visa Bulletin. This Bulletin is accessible here. You may sign up online to have the Visa Bulletin automatically e-mailed to you by the State Department each month.

I have an I-140 approval based on my previous employer’s approved labor certification. Now I work for a different employer who is filing a labor certification.  What is my priority date?

The Priority Date is determined by the USCIS. We will know the Priority Date upon issuance of an I-140 Petition Approval Notice. If the new employer’s Form I-140 is filed with evidence of an earlier priority date (ie, the previous employer’s I-140 approval notice), it is likely you will receive the earlier Priority Date. 

What is the difference between the visa category being “U” (unavailable) and “MM/DD/YY” (quota backlog)?

Unavailable means that there are no more visas available at all for the month. If there is a date noted (e.g. 07-01-12), it is considered to be the cut-off date, and that means that there is a “quota backlog.” Only individuals who have a priority date earlier than the cut-off date may move forward with the permanent resident process.

What does “C” mean?

“Current” – this means that there is no quota backlog in this category.

What does it mean to be “Current”?

If there is a “C” in your employment-based category on the Visa Bulletin, then there is no quota backlog and you may proceed with your I-485 adjustment of status application.

If the visa bulletin shows a date of 06-01-12 and my priority date is 06-01-12, is my priority date current?

No. In order for the priority date to be current, it must be a date prior to the date published in the visa bulletin.

How often do the backlogs change and will they improve?

Each month, the State Department issues the visa bulletin, usually in the middle of the month.  When the bulletin is issued, it will provide information that will take effect on the first day of the following month. (i.e., on 10-09-14, the DOS released the dates effective as of 11-01-14). Depending on the availability of immigrant visas, the priority dates in each category and for each country can change each month. However, please note that the priority dates can also stay the same. They can move very slowly or progress by several months or years. They can move forward or backward. Therefore, there is no way to anticipate what the priority date will be in a future month or when a category will become current.

The cut-off date is January 1, 2011. Does that mean I should subtract the number of days between today and the cut-off date to determine my wait time?

No. It all depends on how many visas are used. Please see the answer to the previous question.

Visa availability is based on country. Is that country of citizenship or country of birth?

Your country of birth is what determines your country of chargeability.

My spouse was born in a different country than I was. Since the I-485 is based on my employment, does my spouse’s country of birth help me?

Your spouse’s country of birth may also be used to determine chargeability. For instance, if you were born in India, but your spouse was born in France and there is a quota backlog for India, but no quota backlog for France in your preference category, you and your spouse may proceed with your immigrant process based on your spouse’s country of birth.

Both my wife and I were born in India and my priority date is not current. Our child was born in the United Kingdom and the priority date for that country is current. Can we use our child’s country of birth for eligibility?

No. You can use your spouse’s country of birth for eligibility. However, your child’s country of birth cannot be used.

I have heard that only those individuals from India and China are subject to quota backlogs. I was not born in one of those countries. Do quota backlogs apply to me?

Yes. Quota backlogs can apply to everyone, regardless of where they are from. While the backlogs have typically affected some countries more than others, all applicants can be impacted.

My employer has a labor certification pending on my behalf.  Do quota backlogs affect the processing of the application?

No. The labor certification process is not affected by quota backlogs.

The labor certification filed on my behalf was approved. Can the company still file the I-140 petition if the priority date is not current?

Yes. The filing and adjudication of an I-140 is not affected by the quota backlogs.

My I-485 was already approved. However, my dependent’s application is still pending and my priority date is no longer current. Is my dependent’s application affected by the quota backlog since my application is approved?

Yes. Even through your case was approved, your dependent’s application is still based on your priority date. The USCIS cannot approve the dependent’s application until the priority date is current.

The I-140 and I-485 were concurrently filed and both are pending at USCIS. Will the I-140 be processed if the priority date is no longer current and the I-485 cannot be approved?

Yes. The USCIS will continue to process the I-140.  It can be approved regardless of a backlog.

Can I inquire regarding the status of an I-485 currently pending at USCIS if I am subject to a quota backlog?

No. Under USCIS guidelines, inquiries may not be made on a case unless the priority date is current.

Can I still obtain EAD cards and Advance Parole documents if my I-485 is pending and I am now subject to a quota backlog?

Yes. As long as you have a pending I-485 application at USCIS, you are eligible to apply for and receive EAD and AP documents.

My adjustment application is pending and I recently married. Can I add my spouse to the application (i.e. can my spouse file his/her I-485) if my priority date is not current?

No. In order to file a new I-485 (add a dependent to the pending application), the priority date must be current.  This is because the USCIS must know that there is a visa number available for the I-485 applicant. 

My fingerprints have already been taken. However, due to the quota backlog, they may expire. Will USCIS require me to redo my fingerprints?

It is possible. USCIS will review the fingerprints at the time that they are ready to complete the adjudication of the I-485. If the results have expired, they will send out a new fingerprint appointment notice.

If I am not able to file the I-485 due to quota backlogs, is there another way for my H-4 spouse to obtain work authorization?

Yes, H-4 spouses may obtain employment authorization in certain circumstances. Please see our FAQs on H-4 spousal work authorization for more information.

If the I-140 petition filed on my behalf is still pending and my priority date becomes current, may I file my adjustment application?

Yes, for most EB categories, if you have an I-140 Petition pending and your Priority Date becomes current, you and your dependents may file your adjustment applications as long as the Priority Date remains current.

I am running out of H-1B time. What will happen to my H-1B status if the quota backlog holds up my green card application?

The AC21 legislation provided some relief in this area. If you have an approved I-140 and you are unable to proceed with the I-485 due to quota backlogs, the company is eligible to apply for extension of H-1B time, in increments of three years, on your behalf. Your dependents’ H-4 status may also be extended. If you are not the beneficiary of an approved I-140 petition, you may still be able to obtain extensions, in one year increments, as long as the labor certification or I-140 petition have been pending more than 365 days.

If I am not able to file the I-485 and then I lose my job or change jobs, does AC21 portability protect me?

No. In order to take advantage of AC21 portability, the I-140 Petition must be approved and the I-485 must be filed and pending over 180 days.

(updated 12/2022)