Overview
Lawful permanent residence (LPR)
A green card (Form I-551) grants permanent resident status. The path depends on your category: employment-based (EB-1 through EB-5 and PERM), family-based, humanitarian, or the Diversity Visa lottery. Priority dates determine wait times for most categories.
Employment-based green cards are issued to priority workers (EB-1), advanced degree professionals (EB-2, including National Interest Waiver), skilled and other workers (EB-3), certain special immigrants (EB-4), and investors (EB-5). Most EB-2 and EB-3 cases require a PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor before USCIS will accept the I-140 immigrant petition.
The Visa Bulletin, published monthly by the State Department, shows "priority dates" for each EB and family category by country of birth. When your priority date is current, you can proceed to adjustment of status (Form I-485) or consular processing.
Green card holders can live and work permanently in the U.S., sponsor qualifying family members, and eventually apply for naturalization after meeting residency and other requirements.
Visa types in this category
High-signal items · last 90 days
What to watch
Ranked by impact: rule changes, fee updates, open comment periods, executive actions, and processing shifts. Not just newest: most consequential.
- Published Fed. RegisterOpen for commentsProposed ruleImproving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States
The Department of Labor is proposing new rules to strengthen wage protections for foreign workers on EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based green cards and certain temporary work visas obtained through the PERM labor certification process. The changes aim to ensure prevailing wages are…
Public comments accepted through May 26, 2026.
- Published State DeptProcessingAnnual Limit Reached in the EB-5 Unreserved Category
The annual visa cap for the EB-5 immigrant investor green card category has been reached, meaning no additional EB-5 petitions can be approved under the unreserved visa allotment for the current fiscal year. Applicants who have not yet received approval should monitor future…
- Published State DeptLottery / selectionUpdate on Diversity Visa (DV) Program 2025: Close to Reaching 7 Percent Cap for Egypt
The Diversity Visa (DV) program for 2025 is approaching its 7 percent administrative cap for applicants from Egypt. This means visa availability for Egyptian nationals under the DV lottery may soon be exhausted for the current fiscal year.
- Published State DeptLottery / selectionUpdate on Diversity Visa (DV) Program 2026
USCIS has released an update on the Diversity Visa (DV) Program for 2026, though specific details are not provided in this notice. This typically includes information about application deadlines, selection procedures, or visa availability for the upcoming fiscal year. Interested…
- Published State DeptAnnual Limit Reached in the EB-3 and EW Categories
The EB-3 and EW (Employment-Based Third Preference and Exceptional Worker) green card categories have reached their annual numerical limits for the current fiscal year. This means no additional applicants can be approved under these categories until the next fiscal year begins.…
- Published State DeptProcessingChanges to Entry Period for 2027 Diversity Visa (DV) Program
The Department of State has updated the entry period for applicants selected in the 2027 Diversity Visa (DV) program lottery. Selectees must enter the United States within a specified timeframe or forfeit their visa. Check the official DV program website for your specific entry…
- Published State DeptProcessingAdjudicating Immigrant Visa (IV) Applicants in Their Country of Residence
USCIS is updating procedures to allow consular officers to adjudicate immigrant visa applications in applicants' countries of residence rather than requiring travel to a specific post. This change streamlines the visa process and reduces travel burdens for green card applicants.…
- Published State DeptProcessingDiversity Visa Issuance Updated Guidance
The U.S. Department of State has issued updated guidance on Diversity Visa issuance procedures. This guidance may affect DV lottery winners and their processing timelines. Details on specific changes are not provided in the available information.
All updates · newest first
Full update feed
Every update from this category in chronological order, excluding items already shown above.
- Apr 10, 2024USCIS Adopts Department of Labor Definition of “Science or Art”USCISNeu
- Apr 9, 2024USCIS Announces Information Regarding EB-5 Regional Center AuditsUSCISNeu
- Mar 29, 2024USCIS Announces Filing Location Change for Certain Employment-Based I-485 and Related FormsUSCISNeu
- Jan 5, 2024USCIS Issues Policy Guidance on “Ability to Pay” Requirement When Adjustment of Status Applicants Change EmployersUSCISNeu
- Dec 13, 2023USCIS Changes Filing Location for Form I-907 for Pending Form I-140USCISNeu
- Dec 12, 2023USCIS Updates Guidance and Clarifies Policy on Family-Based Conditional Permanent ResidenceUSCISNeu
- Nov 21, 2023USCIS Expands myProgress to Form I-485 and Form I-821USCISPos
- Nov 9, 2023USCIS Changes Filing Location for Form I-907 With Form I-140USCISNeu
- Oct 26, 2023USCIS Updates Guidance on EB-5 Regional Center ProgramUSCISNeu
- Oct 11, 2023USCIS Provides Additional Guidance for EB-5 Required Investment Timeframe and Investors Associated with Terminated Regional CentersUSCISNeu