PD (Priority Date)
The priority date (PD) is the date that establishes an immigrant's position in the queue for a green card (permanent residence). Because the number of immigrant visas issued each year is limited by statutory caps and per-country limits, the priority date determines when an applicant can take the final steps toward obtaining their green card.
For family-based immigration, the priority date is typically the date when the U.S. citizen or LPR sponsor files the I-130 petition with USCIS. For employment-based immigration, the priority date is usually the date the labor certification application (PERM) is filed with the Department of Labor, or the date the I-140 petition is filed if no labor certification is required.
The U.S. Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin that lists "cutoff dates" for each preference category and country of chargeability. If an applicant's priority date is earlier than the cutoff date listed in the bulletin, their visa number is "current" and they can proceed with their green card application (adjustment of status or consular processing).
Wait times vary enormously depending on the category and country of origin. Some categories have no backlog and are immediately available. Others have crushing delays. For example, Filipino siblings of U.S. citizens (F4 category) have faced wait times exceeding 20 years. Indian nationals in the EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based categories face backlogs estimated at decades.
The per-country limit — which caps any single country at 7% of the total immigrant visas available in a category — disproportionately affects applicants from high-demand countries like India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines. Reform proposals such as eliminating or raising per-country caps have been debated for years but have not been enacted.
Related Terms
LPR (Lawful Permanent Resident)
A foreign national authorized to live and work permanently in the United States, commonly known as a "green card holder." LPRs can be placed in removal proceedings if they commit certain crimes or fraud.
Cancellation of Removal
A form of relief allowing certain long-term residents to avoid deportation. Requires 10 years of continuous physical presence, good moral character, and proof that removal would cause "exceptional and extremely unusual hardship" to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent, or child.
Removal Proceedings
The formal process in immigration court where a judge determines whether a foreign national should be ordered removed (deported) from the United States or allowed to remain under some form of relief.
Title 8
The section of U.S. federal law that governs immigration and nationality. Standard removal proceedings, asylum, and most immigration court matters fall under Title 8 authority.