What is Visa Bulletin? How to read correctly to know if the profile has been turned in yet

Visa Bulletin is a visa bulletin published monthly by the US Department of State. This is an important document that helps the sponsor know whether his or her application has been processed or still has to wait.

Why is Visa Bulletin important?

For priority categories such as F2A, F2B, F3 and F4, the number of visas each year is limited. When the number of applications is greater than the number of visas issued, the applicant must wait according to the priority date.

Two important tables to know

Table A – Final Action Dates

• Used to determine whether the application can be granted a visa or not.

Table B – Dates for Filing

• Used to determine whether or not applications can be submitted to NVC within certain times.

Correct reading

For example:

• F3 profile has Priority Date: August 15, 2013
• Current month Visa Bulletin for F3: September 22, 2013

Because August 15, 2013 is earlier than September 22, 2013, the file is current and it is time to process.

If your priority date is later than the date in the Visa Bulletin, your application will still have to wait.

Common errors

• Mistakenly comparing table A and table B
• Wrong year comparison
• Do not pay attention to national regions
• Confusion between priority date and USCIS approval date

As Visa Bulletin moves forward

You should:

• Follow notifications from NVC
• Prepare civil documents
• Check passport validity
• Calculate CSPA age for accompanying person

When Visa Bulletin retreats

Postponing the date does not mean the file is destroyed. This is a normal phenomenon when visa demand increases higher than expected.

What does CaseTracker Auto support?

• Update Visa Bulletin monthly
• Automatic comparison with Priority Date
• Notification when profile is available
• Track the change history of each aspect

Conclusion

Understanding the Visa Bulletin correctly is an important step to know whether the application is current or not. You should simultaneously monitor Priority Date, Final Action Dates table and notifications from NVC to prepare documents on time.