Intro. The single most important timing question in adjustment of status is: is a visa available to me right now? You answer it by reading the U.S. Department of State's monthly Visa Bulletin and comparing it to your priority date. Dr. I-485 checks this for you during its eligibility step — but understanding it yourself helps you plan. This article explains priority dates, the two Visa Bulletin charts, concurrent filing, and the long backlogs facing India and China.
What is a priority date?
Your priority date is your place in line for a green card — generally the date USCIS received the petition that underlies your case (for many employment cases, the I-140, or an earlier labor certification). You keep this date, and a visa becomes available to you when the Visa Bulletin's cut-off for your category and country of chargeability reaches it.
The two charts
Each month the Visa Bulletin publishes two charts, and USCIS announces which one adjustment-of-status applicants may use:
Chart | Name | What it controls |
Chart A | Final Action Dates | When your green card can actually be approved (a visa number is available) |
Chart B | Dates for Filing | When you may submit your I-485 — often earlier than approval |
Chart B (Dates for Filing) is usually more permissive: it can let you file the I-485 — and get your EAD and Advance Parole — before a visa is available for final approval. Chart A (Final Action Dates) is when the green card itself can be granted. Each month, check the official USCIS page to see which chart is in effect for employment-based filings.
Reading a row
For each category (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, etc.) the bulletin shows a cut-off date by country. To read your row:
Find your preference category (e.g., EB-2).
Find your country of chargeability column.
Compare the listed cut-off date to your priority date.
If the cell says "C" (Current), your category is current — no backlog.
If your priority date is before the listed date, you're current.
If it's on or after the listed date, you wait.
Concurrent filing
When your category is current under the applicable chart, you may file your I-140 and I-485 concurrently — submitting the immigrant petition and the green card application together in one package. This is the fastest common path, and it's exactly the concurrent bundle (I-485 + I-765 + I-131) that Dr. I-485 prepares. If your priority date isn't current yet, you generally wait to file the I-485 until it is.
Country backlogs: India and China
Because of per-country limits, applicants charged to India and China in employment categories often face multi-year waits — sometimes many years in EB-2 and EB-3 — while most other countries may be current. Your priority date, category, and country together determine your wait. The bulletin can also move backward ("retrogress") in some months, so timing is worth watching.
How Dr. I-485 helps
During Phase 1, Dr. I-485's eligibility check confirms whether your priority date is current under the applicable chart before it generates your package — so you don't prepare and file prematurely. If you're not current yet, you'll know, and you can start free and pick up when your date arrives.
FAQ
Where do I find the Visa Bulletin? It's published monthly by the U.S. Department of State, with a companion USCIS page stating which chart adjustment applicants may use that month.
Which chart applies to me? Check the current USCIS "when to file" page for the month — USCIS specifies whether the Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates chart is in effect.
Can my green card be approved the moment I file? Only when your priority date is current under Final Action Dates (Chart A). Filing early under Chart B lets you obtain work and travel authorization sooner, but final approval waits for Chart A.
Dr. I-485 and QuickFiling are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. This article is general information, not individualized legal advice.
Related: Dr. I-485 FAQ · I-485, I-765 & I-131 Explained · Complete Guide: Filing Your I-485 with Dr. I-485
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