Definition
Priority Date
Your place in line for a visa number, based on when your petition was filed.
For family cases, the priority date is the date USCIS received the I-130. For most employment cases, it is the date the PERM labor certification was filed. For EB-1, EB-2 NIW, and EB-5, it is the date USCIS received the I-140/I-526. You wait until the Visa Bulletin cutoff is later than your priority date.
See also
Not legal advice. Definitions are provided for educational use. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney.