Priority Date Calculator

by
Expert Reviewer: David Chen, Esq.
This calculator and its informational content are reviewed for accuracy in US immigration processing dates.

Use the **Priority Date Calculator** to determine the exact duration you have waited, or the remaining time until your petition’s Priority Date becomes “current” based on the latest Visa Bulletin’s Final Action Dates. This calculation is crucial for managing expectations in the preference immigration process.

Priority Date Calculator

Calculated Wait Duration

Priority Date Wait Time Formula

Wait Time (Y, M, D) = Current Visa Cut-Off Date – Your Priority Date

If (Your Priority Date < Current Visa Cut-Off Date), status is CURRENT.

Formula Source: Calculation based on USCIS/DOS Date Difference Protocols. (US Department of State Visa Bulletin Example, USCIS Policy Manual)

Variables Explained

  • Your Priority Date: The original filing date of your immigrant petition (e.g., I-130, I-140), which establishes your place in the visa queue.
  • Current Visa Cut-Off Date: The date published in the monthly Department of State Visa Bulletin (typically the Final Action Date), indicating which Priority Dates are now eligible for visa processing.
  • Calculated Wait Duration: The exact time difference (in Years, Months, and Days) between your filing date and the current date being processed by the government.

What is a Priority Date?

The Priority Date is a cornerstone of the U.S. family-sponsored and employment-based immigration system. It essentially functions as a timestamp that holds your place in line for an immigrant visa or green card. Because Congress limits the number of immigrant visas that can be issued each year by country and category, backlogs often form, particularly for high-demand countries.

Once your Priority Date is established (usually the date USCIS receives your petition), you must wait until your category and country-of-charge date becomes “current” according to the Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin. Only then can you proceed with filing the final green card application (Form I-485) or applying for an immigrant visa abroad.

This calculator provides a simple way to track this wait time, helping beneficiaries, petitioners, and legal teams monitor the progress of a petition against the latest government processing dates, providing clarity in an often complex and lengthy process.

How to Calculate Priority Date Wait Time (Example)

  1. Identify Your Priority Date: Locate the official notice of action (Form I-797) for your approved I-130 or I-140 petition. Assume your date is January 15, 2018.
  2. Check the Visa Bulletin: Look up the latest Final Action Date for your specific visa category (e.g., F2A, EB-3) and country. Assume the current cut-off date is October 1, 2020.
  3. Determine the Difference: Subtract your Priority Date from the Cut-Off Date to find the time the queue has advanced past your petition.
  4. Result Interpretation: In this example, the queue has moved 2 years, 8 months, and 16 days beyond your date. If the cut-off date were *before* your date (e.g., Cut-Off: Jan 1, 2017), it would indicate a remaining wait of 1 year and 14 days.

Related Immigration Tools

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does it mean if my Priority Date is “current”?

It means the Final Action Date on the Visa Bulletin is on or after your Priority Date. You can now move forward with filing your adjustment of status (I-485) application or proceed with consular processing.

Is the Priority Date the same as the Receipt Date?

No. The Receipt Date is simply the day the government received your application. The Priority Date is the date that officially secures your place in the visa waiting line and is determined by the filing of the petition (I-130 or I-140).

How often does the Visa Bulletin change?

The Visa Bulletin, which contains the cut-off dates used in this calculation, is published monthly by the U.S. Department of State (DOS).

Why did the cut-off date move backward (retrogression)?

Retrogression happens when the demand for visas in a particular category or country exceeds the supply for that fiscal year, requiring the DOS to move the cut-off date backward to slow down the flow of new applications.

V}

Leave a Comment