For some aliens that seek permanent residency, there is a waiting period. The waiting period results from the backlog that has formed over the years because there are yearly limits to certain categories of aliens that can become permanent residents.  During October of each year, new visas are issued for applicants in the various immigrant visa categories. 

The Visa Bulletin is published monthly by the Department of State and contains a listing of the various classifications and the availability of immigrant numbers for each classification.  The availability is determined by ones priority date, typically the date on which the petition requesting immigration classification was received by the service. An alien's priority date must be earlier than the cut-off date in the Bulletin for the visa category in order for an alien to have a visa number available. 

Please click the Visa Bulletin to obtain the latest information. 

Removal

The expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability.

Check case status

• Department of Labor Processing times for Labor Certification petitions
• National Benefits Center 
• Nebraska Processing Time
• Texas Processing Time
• Vermont Processing Time
• California Processing Time
• General CIS Processing Time
• Visa Bulletin - Contains waiting period for various family-based and employment-based petitions
• Consular Visa Wait Times