What is the ‘final action date’ in the Visa Bulletin?

The final action date is one of the dates published in the Visa Bulletin, the U.S. Department of State’s monthly bulletin. It indicates when a case can be completed – that is, when the government is authorized to issue the visa or approve the adjustment of status for a given category and country.

In practice, you compare your priority date (tied to the moment your petition entered the queue) with the final action date for your category. If your priority date is earlier than the final action date, your case is, from an availability standpoint, ready to receive a final decision.

For categories such as EB-1, tracking this movement helps you understand when it may be possible to move forward. The bulletin is revised with each edition, so the dates shift over time.

Since the dates change with each publication, the best approach is to consult the official Visa Bulletin and, if in doubt, review the figures with a specialist before taking action.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.