U.S. embassies and consulates are using a tiered approach to triage immigrant visa applications based on the category of immigrant visa as they resume and expand processing.  While our consular sections, where possible, are scheduling some appointments within all four priority tiers every month, the following lists the main categories of immigrant visas in priority order: 

Tier One: Immediate relative intercountry adoption visas, age-out cases (cases where the applicant will soon no longer qualify due to their age), certain Special Immigrant Visas (SQ and SI forAfghan and Iraqi nationals working with the U.S. government), and emergency cases as determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Tier Two: Immediate relative visas; fiancé(e) visas; and returning resident visas 

Tier Three: Family preference immigrant visas and SE Special Immigrant Visas for certain employees of the U.S.government abroad 

Tier Four: All other immigrant visas, including employment preference and diversity visas