Visa Bulletin · China-mainland bornCutoff dates and priority date calculator
Family-sponsored and most employment-based green card categories have annual limits, and applicants born in mainland China often have to wait in line. Each month the U.S. Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, which shows how far each category has moved. Below are this month's cutoff dates for applicants born in mainland China, plus a calculator: enter your category and priority date to see whether it is current, how far away it is, and how the category has moved over the past two years.
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How to read the Visa Bulletin
- Priority date. Your place in line. For PERM-based employment cases it is the labor certification filing date; for NIW, EB-1 and other cases without PERM, the I-140 filing date; for family cases, the I-130 filing date. It appears on your I-797 approval notice.
- Final Action Dates (Chart A). A green card can be approved, or an immigrant visa issued, only when your priority date is earlier than this date.
- Dates for Filing (Chart B). If your priority date is earlier than this date, you can get ready early: consular applicants can submit documents to the National Visa Center (NVC), and applicants in the U.S. can file Form I-485 early in any month USCIS designates this chart.
- C and U. "C" (Current) means every priority date qualifies this month; "U" (Unavailable) means no visa numbers are available this month.
- Birthplace, not citizenship. The line you are in depends on your country of birth (chargeability), not your passport. People born in mainland China generally remain in the China line even after becoming citizens of another country. In some cases you may use your spouse's country of birth (cross-chargeability); this needs individual review.
Before you rely on the calculator
- The "rough projection" simply applies the average pace of the past 24 months to the future. It is not a prediction. Cutoff dates can stall, retrogress or jump, and changes are often largest when the new fiscal year starts on October 1.
- We update this page once a month from the official Visa Bulletin. Before filing anything, check the current State Department and USCIS announcements.
- If a child is close to 21, whether a date is current can decide whether the child can immigrate with you. Also run the CSPA age calculator.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Visa Bulletin published?
The State Department usually publishes the next month's bulletin around the middle of each month. USCIS then announces which chart applies to I-485 filings in the U.S. for that month. We update this page after each new bulletin.
My priority date is current. What next?
If you are in the U.S. and eligible, you can file Form I-485 to adjust status (or wait for a decision if it is already filed). If you are abroad, follow the NVC's instructions to submit documents and wait for an interview. Our I-485 eligibility check is a good first step.
What happens to a pending I-485 if dates retrogress?
A pending application generally stays on file but cannot be approved until the date is current again. Work and travel permits can usually continue to be used, subject to their own validity and rules.
What are the EB-5 set-aside categories?
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 reserved part of the EB-5 numbers for rural areas, high-unemployment areas and infrastructure projects. Investors in those projects use the matching set-aside category, which can move differently from the unreserved category.
I was born in Hong Kong or Taiwan. Which column applies?
Chargeability follows your place of birth and is not necessarily the mainland China column. Tell your attorney where you were born so the correct column can be confirmed under State Department rules.
Official sources
- U.S. Department of State: Visa Bulletin
- USCIS: Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
Related reading
- How to read the Visa Bulletin
- PERM timeline
- CSPA age calculator
- Form I-485 guide
- Family-based immigration: who can sponsor whom
Is your date getting close, or are you wondering whether switching categories (for example EB-3 to EB-2, NIW or EB-1A) could shorten the wait? Book a consultation with David Wang ›
This page is general information, not legal advice. Cutoff dates are compiled from the State Department's Visa Bulletin and may change through corrections or policy updates; rely on the official announcements. Projections are arithmetic estimates only and do not predict future movement.