A priority date in USCIS is essentially your official “place in line” for a green card or immigrant visa in the U.S. immigration system.

What the priority date is

  • It is the date the U.S. government views your petition as officially filed and accepted , not the date you hoped to immigrate.
  • For most people, this date is recorded on the Form I‑797C receipt notice USCIS sends after accepting your petition (such as I‑130, I‑140, or a labor certification).

How it is assigned (by category)

  • Family‑based (non‑immediate relatives) :
    Priority date = date the relative’s petition (e.g., I‑130) is received by USCIS.
  • Employment‑based (with labor certification) :
    Priority date = date the Department of Labor receives the labor certification application (PERM).
  • Employment‑based (no labor certification) :
    Priority date = date the immigrant petition (e.g., I‑140) is filed with USCIS.

These dates are not set until the petition is properly filed and accepted , and they stay with you even if you later move employers or change attorney.

Why priority dates matter

  • The U.S. caps how many green cards can be issued each year by category and country , so people are served in order by priority date.
  • Each month the Visa Bulletin shows cut‑off dates; when your priority date is “current” (earlier than or equal to the cut‑off), you can move forward with adjustment of status or an immigrant visa.

Quick tips for tracking your date

  • Check the top of your Form I‑797C ; your priority date is usually listed there.
  • Monitor the State Department’s Visa Bulletin monthly to see if your priority date is “current” for your category and country.

If you share your category (e.g., EB‑2 India, F‑2A) and the date on your receipt, you can usually tell roughly where you fall in the queue.