US Releases April Visa Bulletin with Updated Green Card Timelines

The US Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for April, setting out updated timelines for immigrant visa applicants preparing to submit documents to the National Visa Center.

The bulletin provides guidance on when applicants may proceed with their cases, based on movement in priority dates across family-sponsored and employment-based categories. Advances in these dates indicate progress in processing backlogs, while delays or reversals may signal increased demand or limited visa availability.

Shifts in the bulletin are closely monitored by applicants and legal practitioners. Forward movement brings individuals closer to obtaining permanent residency, whereas retrogression, when dates move backwards, remains a risk, particularly later in the fiscal year. This occurs when visa demand approaches or exceeds the limits set by law.

The April bulletin notes slower visa issuance for certain countries due to stricter national security and public safety measures. To manage overall demand, visa availability has been adjusted for applicants from other regions. Officials have indicated that further retrogression may be required if applications continue to exceed monthly quotas.

Current regulations set the annual global limit for employment-based visas at a minimum of 140,000. Family-sponsored visas are capped at 226,000 per year. In addition, a per-country limit restricts each nation to 7% of the total allocation, or 25,620 visas, while dependent areas are limited to 2%, equivalent to 7,320 visas.

Within family-sponsored categories, visas are distributed as follows: 23,400 are allocated to unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (F1). The F2 category covers spouses and children of permanent residents, with F2A receiving the largest share and F2B, unmarried adult children, allocated 23% of that category. Married sons and daughters of US citizens (F3) are assigned 23,400 visas, while siblings of adult US citizens (F4) receive 65,000.

Employment-based visas are also divided by category. Priority workers and individuals with advanced degrees each receive 28.6% of the total allocation. Skilled workers and other eligible applicants share the same proportion, although “other workers” are limited to 10,000 visas. 

Special immigrants and investor visas each account for 7.1%, with a portion of investor visas reserved for projects in rural areas, regions with high unemployment, and infrastructure development. For those applying to adjust their status through USCIS, the “Final Action Dates” determine when applications can be approved. 

The bulletin’s charts outline these dates by category. Applicants are advised to review the bulletin regularly, as changes can affect eligibility and filing timelines.