Definition
Visa Retrogression
When a category's priority date moves backward in the Visa Bulletin.
Retrogression occurs when more applicants than expected become eligible to file in a category, forcing the State Department to push the priority date backward to manage demand. Retrogression can delay green cards by months or years.
See also
More immigration terms
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Visa Spillover
The reallocation of unused visa numbers from one category to another.
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Visa Stamp
A travel document placed in a passport by a U.S. consulate authorizing travel to a U.S. port of entry.
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Visa Waiver Program
A program letting nationals of designated countries enter the U.S. for tourism or business without a visa.
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Voluntary Departure
Permission to leave the U.S. on your own without a removal order on your record.
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Waiver
A USCIS approval forgiving a ground of inadmissibility.
Not legal advice. Definitions are provided for educational use. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney.