For those going through the process of obtaining a U.S. green card, the Visa Bulletin published monthly by the U.S. Department of State is a very important reference. Correctly understanding and interpreting this bulletin plays a key role not only in the overall processing timeline but also in determining when a green card can actually be approved. In particular, for those in the green card process, as wait times have grown longer in recent years, understanding the visa bulletin has become even more important.



■ The Visa Bulletin Contains Two Types of Dates

The U.S. Department of State provides two reference dates for each immigration category when it publishes the Visa Bulletin each month. One is the Final Action Dates (when approval is possible), and the other is the Dates for Filing (when an application can be submitted). Which of these two charts applies to you depends on how you are processing your case.

- If you are pursuing Adjustment of Status (I-485) within the United States: you can only file based on the Dates for Filing chart if USCIS specifically states that it is applying that chart for the given month. Otherwise, you must follow the Final Action Dates.

- If you are processing your immigrant visa abroad, such as in Korea, through Consular Processing: you must always base your judgment on the Final Action Dates. Applicants living in Korea who are preparing for an immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Korea can use this chart to check when an actual interview and visa issuance become possible.



■ Judgment Is Based on Your Priority Date

The date you need to compare against the visa bulletin is your Priority Date. For EB-3 unskilled workers, the priority date is usually the date the PERM labor certification was filed. If this date is earlier than the Final Action Date listed on the bulletin, the visa interview and green card approval process becomes possible. Conversely, if it hasn't yet reached the bulletin, you must wait until the point when approval becomes possible.

For example, if the Final Action Date for EB-3 unskilled workers (All Chargeability Areas) on the December 2025 bulletin is listed as August 1, 2021, and your priority date is sometime after 2022, you would not yet be able to receive green card approval, and no visa interview would be scheduled.



■ You Must Also Check USCIS's Applicable Standard

Each month, USCIS announces on its website which chart (Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates) will apply for that month. This applies only to Adjustment of Status (I-485) applicants within the United States; those processing abroad only need to look at the Final Action Dates. However, those staying in the United States must always check this announcement first when determining whether they can adjust status.



■ Accurate Judgment Affects Your Future Timeline

The visa bulletin is not simply a prediction of 'about when the visa might come out' — it is an official indicator that clearly shows the priority the U.S. government has assigned to immigrant visa issuance among applicants worldwide. Accordingly, this bulletin also serves as the reference point when analyzing when an interview can be expected after filing PERM or I-140, or whether CSPA protection is available when a child turns older than 21.



■ Check the Final Action Dates

Those in the green card process must compare their priority date with the current Final Action Dates on the bulletin to plan their overall timeline and preparations. Since the criteria required differ at each stage of processing, accurate interpretation of the bulletin and a strategic approach through expert guidance are necessary. It is important to remember that a green card is not simply issued in the order applications were filed, but that the order is determined according to the legally established 'visa bulletin.'