What is a Priority Date?
A Priority Date is essentially your place in line for a Green Card.
A priority date is a crucial concept in the U.S. immigration process, particularly for those applying for green cards. Here's an explanation of priority dates:
What is a Priority Date?
A priority date is essentially your place in line for a green card. It's the date that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) considers you to have officially declared your intent to apply for permanent residency.
How Priority Dates are Established?
The priority date is determined differently depending on the type of immigration petition:
- For family-sponsored immigrants: It's the date USCIS receives the Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative).
- For employment-based immigrants:
- If a labor certification is required, it's the date the Department of Labor accepts the labor certification application for processing.
- If no labor certification is required, it's the date USCIS receives the Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker)1.
- For special immigrants, including religious workers: It's the date USCIS receives Form I-360 (Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant).
Purpose of Priority Dates
Priority dates are necessary because there are annual limits on the number of immigrant visas (green cards) available in various categories. For instance:
- Family-based petitions (excluding immediate relatives) are limited to 226,000 per year.
- Employment-based petitions are capped at 140,000 per year.
When demand exceeds the available visas, a waiting list forms, and priority dates determine an applicant's place in line1.
Visa Bulletin and Current Priority Dates
The U.S. Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin that shows which priority dates are currently being processed. This allows applicants to estimate when they might be able to apply for their green card.
Importance of Priority Dates
Your priority date becomes crucial when:
- Determining when you can file for adjustment of status (Form I-485) or an immigrant visa.
- Assessing your place in line for a green card.
- Understanding how long you might need to wait before your application can be processed.
Remember, having a current priority date doesn't guarantee immediate processing. It simply means you're eligible to move forward with your application. Understanding your priority date and how to read the Visa Bulletin is essential for navigating the U.S. immigration process effectively.
