What is the priority date?
If your category is employment-based and requires a labor certification, the priority date is original date that a labor certification is filed with the State Workforce Agency. If your category is employment-based but does not require a labor certification, then the priority date is established on the date the CIS receives the 1-140 Immigrant Visa Petition. However, the priority date does not attach to your case until the 1-140 has been approved. In order for an individual to obtain an immigrant visa, a visa number must be available to you. This is referred to as the priority date being current. The priority date is current if there is no backlog in the category, or if the priority date is on or before the date listed as current in the State Departments monthly Visa Bulletin. This Bulletin is accessible at www.travel.state.gov. You may sign up online to have the Visa Bulletin automatically e-mailed to you by the State Department each month. Back to Top Q: What is retrogression? A: Retr
