Resources & References

All data sources we use, official government links, and answers to common questions.

GreenCardClock Tools

Priority Date Estimator
Estimated green card timeline based on your country, category, and priority date
Salary Explorer
Search salary data by employer, job title, location, and wage level
Employer Sponsorship Tracker
Research employer H-1B filing history, wages, top roles, and sponsorship score

Official Government Sources

USCIS Visa Availability & Priority Dates
Official USCIS guidance on priority dates and visa availability
State Dept Visa Bulletin
Monthly visa bulletin with Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing
USCIS Processing Times
Live processing time estimates by form and service center
DOL OFLC Performance Data
All H1B LCA and PERM disclosure data — fully public
USCIS I-485 Pending Inventory
Quarterly snapshots of pending I-485 cases by country/category
State Dept Monthly Immigrant Visa Statistics
Monthly immigrant visa issuance data, spillover figures, and annual caps by category

Financial Tools & Services

Useful services for H-1B, F-1, J-1, and green card applicants handling taxes, international transfers, student loans, and U.S. credit.

Advertising disclosure: GreenCardClock is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you sign up or make a purchase after clicking through. This never affects the price you pay and does not influence which partners we choose to feature. We only list services that are directly useful to employment-based immigration applicants.

Wise
International transfers
Low-fee international transfers at the real exchange rate
Send money to and from the U.S. at the mid-market exchange rate with transparent fees. Useful for H-1B, F-1, and green card applicants supporting family abroad or receiving funds from overseas.
Wise is a regulated payment provider. Exchange rates change in real time.
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Remitly
Remittances to India, Philippines, Mexico
Send money home with locked-in rates and fast delivery
Specialist remittance service with strong coverage in India, Philippines, Mexico, and other high-demand EB-category countries. Express and economy delivery options.
Remitly is a licensed money transmitter. Delivery times and fees vary by corridor.
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Sprintax
F-1 / J-1 / nonresident tax filing
Tax filing built for F-1, J-1, and nonresident filers
Nonresident tax filing, Federal and state. Used by most major U.S. universities for their international student population. Handles treaty benefits, 1040-NR, and FICA refund claims.
Sprintax provides tax preparation software. Not a substitute for a CPA on complex cases.
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MPOWER Financing
International student loans
International student loans without a U.S. cosigner
Education loans for international students at U.S. graduate and undergraduate programs. No cosigner and no U.S. credit history required. Useful for F-1 applicants planning to transition to H-1B and employment-based paths.
Loans involve material long-term financial commitments. Review APR, repayment terms, and alternatives carefully.
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Prodigy Finance
Graduate school loans
Graduate school loans for international students
Loans for international graduate students at partner schools. No cosigner or collateral required. Covers MBA, STEM master's, and select professional programs relevant to H-1B and EB-2 paths.
Loans involve material long-term financial commitments. Review APR, repayment terms, and alternatives carefully.
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Deserve
Credit cards for visa holders
Credit cards for students and visa holders without SSN history
Credit card options designed for applicants with a limited or nonexistent U.S. credit file, including students and new H-1B holders. Building U.S. credit history early helps with eventual mortgage, auto, and visa documentation needs.
Credit products have APRs and fees. Read the terms and build credit responsibly.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Priority Date?

Your Priority Date is the date USCIS received your employer's I-140 petition (or PERM application if that was filed first). It marks your place in the immigration queue. The earlier your priority date, the sooner you become eligible for a green card.

What is the difference between the Final Action Date and the Date for Filing?

The Final Action Date (FAD) is when USCIS can actually approve your green card. The Date for Filing (DFF) is an earlier date that allows you to file your I-485 adjustment of status application while you wait — meaning you can get work authorization (EAD) and advance parole sooner.

What is the 7% per-country cap?

U.S. law limits the number of employment-based green cards any one country can receive to 7% of the annual worldwide total (~9,800 visas/year). Countries like India and China, which generate far more demand than 7%, face extreme backlogs while lower-demand countries get their visas in months.

What is visa spillover and how does it help?

When visas in one category or from one country aren't used (because demand is lower than supply), they 'spill over' to other categories. The biggest benefit comes from unused family-based visas rolling into the EB pool at year end — this can add 50,000–100,000+ visas to the EB pool, incrementally helping oversubscribed countries like India.

What is an LCA and why is it public?

A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is a form employers must file with the Department of Labor before sponsoring an H1B worker. By law (INA Section 212(n)), employers must make LCAs publicly available in their 'public access file.' The DOL also publishes all certified LCAs quarterly.

Is this website legal advice?

No. GreenCardClock is an informational tool that aggregates and visualizes publicly available government data. Nothing here constitutes legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Always consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice specific to your situation.

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