Visa retrogression

When the USCIS Visa Bulletin moves backward — your priority date that was current last month isn't current this month.

Visa numbers are issued under per-country annual caps. When demand outstrips supply, the State Department retrogresses the cutoff date. India-born EB-2/EB-3 see retrogression most dramatically — sometimes shifting backward by years. Doesn't affect your priority date itself, just whether you can file or have an I-485 approved. AC21 §104(c) extensions of H-1B beyond the 6-year cap exist precisely because of retrogression.

Related terms

Priority date
The date your green card application 'started' — determines your wait under USCIS Visa Bulletin.
AC21 (American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act)
2000 statute that codified H-1B portability + 1- and 3-year extensions past the 6-year cap for green-card-pending workers.

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This is an information-only tool, not legal advice. You are responsible for your decisions. When in doubt, consult an immigration attorney.