Over the last year, immigrant visas have gone back and forth between being available and retrogressing. There are still many unanswered questions as to what this situation means for Adjustment of Status applicants, but USCIS has finally provided some answers regarding what’s occurring with retrogressed Green Card applications.

Some of the most important information USCIS has released includes:

What information can a regressed applicant expect to receive after their interview?

So long as the officer determines the potential approval of the Form I-485, and the only roadblock is the lack of immigrant visas available, he or she will give the AOS applicant a Notice of Interview Results. This document will detail why USCIS is continuing the application. 

How soon after the visa becomes available again USCIS will resume adjudication of the AOS application?

The USCIS will finalize processing based both on cut-off dates from the Visa Bulletin of the current month and the individual’s priority date. Often, cases of retrogressed Green Card applications require updated evidence.

Additionally, the first date of each month frequently sees a high number of immigrant visa numbers become available. Because of this, USCIS commonly takes months to complete adjudication.

Will USCIS notify you when a visa number becomes available?

No. If you wish to know when a visa that matches your priority date, country of chargeability, and category becomes available, as well as the visa cut-off date for the current month, you may:

• Take a look at the current Visa Bulletin
• Call the Department of State at 202-663-1541.

Where will USCIS hold the various types of cases until a visa becomes available again?

Employment-based Cases of Retrogressed Green Card Applications

• If your case was received before March 6, 2017, it will be held at the Texas Service Center (TSC).
• If your case was received on or after March 6, 2017, it will be held at the National Benefits Center (NBC).

What’s the best way to follow up with USCIS on these retrogressed Green Card applications once a visa becomes available again?

The USCIS Contact Center offers a variety of ways to get in contact and follow-up on your retrogressed application. However, they ask that people refrain from making status inquiries until at least 120 days have passed after a visa becomes available.

Originally published February 5, 2020. Updated January 31, 2023.