Visa & Green Card
EB2 / EB3 India Priority Date
Where your India priority date stands, Final Action vs Dates for Filing, and when you can actually file I-485.
- For India applicants
- Visa Bulletin
- EB-2 / EB-3
Educational estimate only. Not legal, tax, immigration, or financial advice. Full disclaimer below.
What is a priority date?
Your priority date is your position in the green card queue. For employment cases that go through PERM, it is the date DOL received your PERM application. Each month the State Department’s Visa Bulletin publishes cutoff dates; when the cutoff for your category (EB-2 or EB-3) and country (India) reaches your priority date, a green card number becomes available.
EB-2 India vs EB-3 India
EB-2 (advanced degree / exceptional ability) and EB-3 (skilled worker / professional) each have separate India cutoffs that move independently. Neither is always faster — the gap shifts month to month, which is why some applicants with two approved I-140s watch both and consider a downgrade or upgrade.
Final Action Date vs Date for Filing
Final Action Date (Table A) is when USCIS can approve your green card. Date for Filing (Table B) is an earlier cutoff that — when USCIS authorizes it — lets you file I-485 early to obtain an EAD and Advance Parole while you keep waiting. Each month USCIS announces which chart it will honor.
Why the PERM filing date matters
For PERM cases, your PERM filing date is your priority date. Filing PERM earlier locks in an earlier place in line — which, given India’s multi-year backlog, can mean years of difference. That is why the DOL PERM and PWD queues at the start of the process matter so much for your final timeline.
Can I file I-485?
You can file I-485 once your priority date is current under the chart USCIS is honoring that month. For India EB-2/EB-3 this usually means a long wait after I-140 approval. Use the priority date checker to compare your date to the current bulletin, and always confirm eligibility with your attorney.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a priority date?
Your priority date is your place in the green card line — for PERM cases, it is the date DOL received your PERM filing. When the monthly Visa Bulletin cutoff for your category and country reaches your priority date, a visa number becomes available to you.
What is the difference between EB-2 India and EB-3 India?
EB-2 is for advanced-degree or exceptional-ability roles; EB-3 is for skilled workers and professionals. For India, both are heavily backlogged, and their cutoff dates move independently in the Visa Bulletin — sometimes EB-3 is ahead of EB-2, sometimes behind.
What is the difference between Final Action Date and Date for Filing?
The Final Action Date (Table A) is when USCIS can actually approve your green card. The Date for Filing (Table B) is an earlier cutoff that, when USCIS authorizes it, lets you file I-485 early to get an EAD and Advance Parole while you wait for the Final Action Date.
Why does the PERM filing date matter?
Because for PERM cases the PERM filing date is your priority date. The earlier your PERM is filed, the earlier your place in line — which is why starting the PERM process sooner directly improves your green card timing.
Can I file I-485 with an India EB-2 or EB-3 priority date?
Only when your priority date is current under the chart USCIS is honoring that month (Final Action Date, or Date for Filing if authorized). For India, this usually means waiting years after I-140 approval. Check the current bulletin and confirm with your attorney.
Can I move between EB-2 and EB-3?
Some applicants with an approved I-140 pursue an 'EB-3 downgrade' (or upgrade) to take advantage of whichever category is more current. This keeps your original priority date. It is very case-specific — discuss with your immigration attorney.
How often does the Visa Bulletin update?
The State Department publishes a new Visa Bulletin monthly, usually around the 8th–15th for the following month. USCIS then announces which chart (Table A or Table B) it will accept for I-485 filing that month.
Where is the official Visa Bulletin?
The official source is the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin at travel.state.gov. Always verify current cutoff dates there and confirm your filing eligibility with your attorney — this page is educational only.
Written / reviewed by Deepak Middha · CA, Series 65
Last updated: July 4, 2026
Disclaimer, assumptions & sources
This tool is for general education and planning only. It does not replace advice from a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, USCIS, IRS, State Department, or other official source. Rules, limits, forms, fees, dates, and government processing information may change. Always verify before filing, investing, or making immigration, tax, or financial decisions.
- For educational use only — not legal advice.
- Not tax advice.
- Not financial advice.
- Not immigration advice.
- Numbers, forms, fees, dates, rules, and limits may change at any time.
- Always verify with official sources before acting.
- Consult a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, or the relevant official agency (USCIS, IRS, State Department) when it matters to your situation.
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