Employment-based immigrant visas are numerically limited. The priority date and the applicable Visa Bulletin category and country of chargeability determine when final action may occur.
Timeline & Money
What Happens After I-140 Approval?
I-140 approval confirms that USCIS approved the employer's immigrant petition. The applicant must still have an available immigrant visa number and complete consular processing or, if eligible, adjustment of status before becoming a permanent resident.
Reviewed August 21, 2026
After approval, some cases move to the National Visa Center while others remain waiting for visa availability. Applicants should keep contact information and family information current and continue preparing civil documents without ordering time-sensitive items too early.
EB3WFS tracks the operational handoff, communicates case-status milestones, helps maintain document readiness, and coordinates with the licensed professionals handling the next legal steps.
Petition approval is not the physical Green Card
The I-140 is the employer's immigrant petition. Approval is evidence that USCIS accepted that petition, but the applicant has not yet completed final admissibility review or been admitted as a permanent resident.
The next available action depends on visa availability and whether the applicant will process through a U.S. embassy or consulate or is eligible to adjust status inside the United States.
The priority date and Visa Bulletin
The priority date establishes the applicant's place in the relevant immigrant-visa line. The State Department publishes monthly Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing. The applicable chart, category, and country can matter differently at different stages.
A date can advance, remain unchanged, or retrogress. Applicants should not treat one month's movement as a guaranteed trend.
What applicants should do while waiting
Keep passports, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, marital status, and family information current. Report major changes promptly. Continue collecting durable civil records and translations, but follow instructions before ordering time-sensitive police certificates or medical examinations.
Children nearing age 21 need a separate CSPA review. Marriage, divorce, arrests, immigration violations, serious medical issues, or changes in the job or employer also require prompt attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions applicants ask about this topic
Does I-140 approval guarantee immediate travel?
No. Visa availability, final processing, medical and document requirements, and final government adjudication still remain.
Can the Visa Bulletin move backward?
Yes. Retrogression can occur when demand exceeds the available numbers.
Should I complete the medical exam after I-140 approval?
Only when instructed for the final processing stage. The medical exam is time-sensitive.
Official and primary sources
Rules and agency procedures can change. Use these sources for the current government position.
Your Next Step
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