RESOURCES / FAQ
Immigration FAQ
Plain-language answers to common questions about U.S. immigration processes, terminology and official sources.
Is TR Immigration a law firm?
No. TR Immigration is an independent information platform. We publish news and analysis about immigration policy; we do not represent clients, evaluate cases, or provide legal advice.
Can I ask about my specific case?
We're not able to advise on individual cases. Our content explains policy and process in general terms. Licensed immigration attorneys and authorized accredited representatives provide case-specific legal assistance.
Where do your updates come from?
We work directly from primary sources, USCIS and State Department publications, the Federal Register, and federal court filings, rather than secondhand summaries.
What is the Visa Bulletin?
A monthly publication from the U.S. Department of State that lists, for each preference category and country of chargeability, the priority dates that are currently being processed. Our Visa Bulletin section presents the same figures in a more readable form.
When is each Visa Bulletin released?
The State Department usually publishes the following month's bulletin in the middle of the current month, often between the 10th and the 20th. There is no fixed date and it is not announced in advance.
What is the difference between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing?
Final Action Dates show when a visa number can actually be issued or a green card approved. Dates for Filing show the earlier point at which applicants may submit documents to the National Visa Center. USCIS decides each month which chart adjustment of status applicants must use.
How is the filing chart determined?
USCIS announces the designated chart each month on its Adjustment of Status Filing Charts page, separately for family-sponsored and employment-based cases. Our Visa Bulletin section reports that announcement when available. The USCIS designation determines which chart applies to adjustment filings.
What does Current mean?
Shown as C in the official bulletin. Visa numbers are available to every qualified applicant in that category, regardless of priority date.
What is a priority date and where do I find mine?
It is the date your petition was filed, or for most EB-2 and EB-3 cases the date the labor certification was submitted to the Department of Labor. It appears on the I-797 approval notice for the I-130 or I-140.
Why does my priority date have to be earlier than the cutoff date, not equal to it?
That is how the State Department defines the cutoff. Numbers are authorized only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the date listed. A priority date that matches the listed date is not yet reached.
What is retrogression?
A cutoff date moving backward from one month to the next. It happens when more applicants have been reported than there are numbers left in the fiscal year for that category and country.
Why do the dates jump forward and then stop?
The fiscal year runs from 1 October to 30 September. Early in the year dates often advance to generate demand; later in the year they slow or retrogress so that issuances stay within the annual limits.
What does chargeability mean, and can I change mine?
Chargeability is the country against which a visa number is counted, normally the applicant's country of birth. Specified exceptions can permit use of a spouse's or parent's birth country. The applicable exception depends on the family relationships and circumstances.
Why are China, India, Mexico and the Philippines listed separately?
Demand from those countries exceeds the per-country limit, so the State Department publishes separate cutoff dates for them. All other countries share the All Other column.
Does the Priority Date Checker tell me whether I can file?
No. It only compares the date you enter with the published bulletin data for the category and country you select. Filing rules depend on the chart USCIS designates, your status, and other factors it cannot assess.
Do you predict future Visa Bulletin movement?
No. We publish the official figures and describe what changed. We do not forecast where dates will go.
What is the difference between adjustment of status and consular processing?
Adjustment of status is applying for a green card from inside the United States through USCIS. Consular processing is applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad through the State Department.
What is the difference between USCIS and the State Department?
USCIS, part of the Department of Homeland Security, decides petitions and applications filed inside the United States. The State Department runs consulates abroad and publishes the Visa Bulletin.
How do proposed rules become law?
An agency publishes a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register, accepts public comment, then publishes a final rule with an effective date. Courts can pause or strike down a rule, which is why we cover both rulemaking and litigation.
What does a preliminary injunction against a policy mean for applicants?
A preliminary injunction temporarily restricts enforcement within the court order's scope while litigation continues. Its coverage can be nationwide or limited to particular parties or classes, and later court action can change it. Our coverage identifies the scope stated in the relevant order.
Where can I check official processing times?
USCIS publishes processing times by form and office on its website, and the State Department publishes visa wait times by consulate. Our coverage explains how to read those figures, but the official pages are the source.
How do I find a licensed immigration attorney?
The American Immigration Lawyers Association directory, state bar referral services, and the Department of Justice list of recognized organizations and accredited representatives are the standard starting points. We do not recommend individual practitioners.
Need to understand a term?
Use the glossary for plain-English explanations of immigration terminology.