Significance of the October 2005 Retrogression of Permanent Resident Visa Numbers

The U.S. Department of State recently released its October 2005 Visa Bulletin, the official publication in which the U.S. government announces which permanent residency applications can move forward into the final stage of processing. For the first time in many years, the Visa Bulletin indicates a “retrogression” in the priority dates for certain countries in the various employment-based green card classifications. This retrogression means significant delays in obtaining legal permanent residency (LPR) for people born in those countries. The information in this document is intended to provide a brief background on permanent residency, the anticipated delays, and the significance of the “priority date” associated with a specific case.