# How The Visa Bulletin Works > Individuals can obtain their green cards through different bases, such as through an approved family or employer petition, and through humanitarian programs, such as asylees and refugees. Once the petition is approved, one is only able to adjust status if… > URL: https://legalservicesincorporated.com/immigration-law/visa-bulletin-how-does-it-work/ > Last modified: 2026-03-26T23:06:36+00:00 Individuals can obtain their green cards through different bases, such as through an approved family or employer petition, and through humanitarian programs, such as asylees and refugees. Once the petition is approved, one is only able to adjust status if there is a visa immediately available for them. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, which include spouses, unmarried children under 21 years of age, and parents, are exempt from this restriction. Because the number of visas available for immediate relatives are unlimited, they are eligible for “concurrent filing,” allowing them to file their adjustment of status application together with the family petition. For others, visa numbers are limited and are subject to category- and country-restrictions. The below chart summarizes the October 2015 Visa Bulletin and how it works.** ** - [FAMILY-BASED PREFERENCES](#family-based-preferences) [A. APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES](#a-application-final-action-dates-for-family-sponsored-preference-cases) - [B. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS](#b-dates-for-filing-family-sponsored-visa-applications) - [EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES](#employment-based-preferences) [A. APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES](#a-application-final-action-dates-for-employment-based-preference-cases) - [B. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS](#b-dates-for-filing-of-employment-based-visa-applications) TABLE OF CONTENTS - [FAMILY-BASED PREFERENCES](#family-based-preferences) [A. APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES](#a-application-final-action-dates-for-family-sponsored-preference-cases) - [B. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS](#b-dates-for-filing-family-sponsored-visa-applications) - [EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES](#employment-based-preferences) [A. APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES](#a-application-final-action-dates-for-employment-based-preference-cases) - [B. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS](#b-dates-for-filing-of-employment-based-visa-applications) ## FAMILY-BASED PREFERENCES **First**: (**F1**) Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens **Second**: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents - (**F2A**) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents - (**F2B**) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents **Third**: (**F3**) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens **Fourth**: (**F4**) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens ### A. APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES Family-Sponsored All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed CHINA-mainland born INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES **F1** 15JAN08 15JAN08 15JAN08 22NOV94 01JUN01 **F2A** 15APR14 15APR14 15APR14 01MAR14 15APR14 **F2B** 15JAN09 15JAN09 15JAN09 01AUG95 01OCT04 **F3** 22MAY04 22MAY04 22MAY04 08JUN94 01OCT93 **F4** 08FEB03 08FEB03 08FEB03 22MAR97 01MAY92 ### B. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS Family-Sponsored All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed CHINA-mainland born INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES **F1** 01MAY09 01MAY09 01MAY09 01APR95 01SEP05 **F2A** 01MAR15 01MAR15 01MAR15 01MAR15 01MAR15 **F2B** 01JUL10 01JUL10 01JUL10 01JAN96 01JAN05 **F3** 01APR05 01APR05 01APR05 01MAY95 01AUG95 **F4** 01FEB04 01FEB04 01FEB04 01MAY98 01JAN93 Refer to Chart A to check **whether a visa is available** (and whether you can apply for adjustment of status) by comparing your priority date (date petition was filed) with the dates indicated on your Category and Country of Origin. Refer to Chart B to check **when you can submit your adjustment of status application** and be placed on the queue for visa processing. ## EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES **First**:  Priority Workers **Second**:  Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability **Third**:  Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers **Fourth**:  Certain Special Immigrants **Fifth**:  Employment Creation ### A. APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES Employment-Based All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed CHINA-mainland born INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES **1st** C C C C C **2nd** C 01JAN12 01MAY05 C C **3rd** 15AUG15 15OCT11 08MAR04 15AUG15 01JAN07 **Other Workers** 15AUG15 01JAN06 08MAR04 15AUG15 01JAN07 **4th** C C C C C **Certain Religious Workers** U U U U U **5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5)** C 08OCT13 C C C **5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)** U U U U U ### B. DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS Employment-Based All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed CHINA-mainland born INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES **1st** C C C C C **2nd** C 01JAN13 01JUL09 C C **3rd** 01SEP15 01OCT13 01JUL05 01SEP15 01JAN10 **Other Workers** 01SEP15 01JAN07 01JUL05 01SEP15 01JAN10 **4th** C C C C C **Certain Religious Workers** C C C C C **5th Targeted Employment Areas/Regional Centers and Pilot Programs** C 01MAY15 C C C “C” means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and “U” means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is **earlier** than the cut-off date listed below.) In addition to guidance regarding visa availability and when to submit an adjustment of status application, the charts provide other information. For example, Chart A above shows that DOS is currently not issuing visas for Certain Religious Workers and Regional Center Applicants across the board. However, Chart B indicates that applicants from these categories can now submit their applications (with certain exceptions, such as Chinese Regional Center applicants) and lodge their place in the processing queue.