How to read the Visa Bulletin
Final Action Dates, Dates for Filing, chargeability and retrogression without the jargon.
Two charts, two purposes
The Department of State publishes the bulletin monthly. Final Action Dates tell you whether a green card can actually be approved this month. Dates for Filing tell you whether you may submit the I-485 (USCIS announces each month which chart it will honor).
Your priority date
For employment-based cases it is the date the PERM was filed, or the I-140 receipt date for NIW and EB-1. For family cases it is the I-130 receipt date. Your date must be earlier than the listed cutoff to be current. "C" means current for everyone; "U" means unavailable.Chargeability
You are charged to your country of birth, not citizenship. Cross-chargeability lets a spouse use the other spouse's country if it is more favorable.Retrogression
Cutoff dates can move backwards when demand exceeds the annual limit, usually late in the fiscal year (which ends 30 September). A case that was current can become not current; USCIS then holds it until the date moves forward again.On Visaline
The Visa Bulletin page shows the current cutoffs, and your case page flags whether your priority date is current under each chart.This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney.