What is ‘priority date becomes current’ in EB-2 NIW?

In the U.S. employment-based immigration system, the priority date is your place in the queue. When it becomes current, it means your turn has arrived: the petition has moved far enough in the line to proceed to the final step and allow green card issuance.

The Visa Bulletin, a monthly publication from the Department of State, sets this threshold. It publishes, for each category and country of chargeability, the date through which the queue is being processed. When your priority date is on or before the date listed in the bulletin for your category, it is current.

In practice, this unlocks the next steps, such as gathering final documentation, filing for adjustment of status, or continuing with consular processing, depending on your situation. Before that point, the process remains on hold even if the petition has already been approved, because a visa number is not yet available.

Since the bulletin’s movement depends on visa supply and demand and can change each month, it is best to follow the current Visa Bulletin and confirm the reading for your category with an official source or an immigration professional.

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.