yearly quotas?

[Timemachine]

When reading all these news articles coming out about immigration, i noticed that they usually mention a total number of immigrants let in each year (It was around 255,000 in the last article i read).  Does this mean that they have a yearly quota or cut off?  What happens when they reach 255,000 and it's not even close to the end of the year yet?  The reason i am asking is because i am getting ready to submit my application in the next few weeks and i was wondering if anyone knows if there is a disadvantage to submitting at the end of the year verses at the beginning of the year?  I would imagine that you'd just be in queue and they'll get to you when they get to you but i guess i'm just paranoid!  thoughts?

[PMM]

Hi

When reading all these news articles coming out about immigration, i noticed that they usually mention a total number of immigrants let in each year (It was around 255,000 in the last article i read).  Does this mean that they have a yearly quota or cut off?  What happens when they reach 255,000 and it's not even close to the end of the year yet?  The reason i am asking is because i am getting ready to submit my application in the next few weeks and i was wondering if anyone knows if there is a disadvantage to submitting at the end of the year verses at the beginning of the year?  I would imagine that you'd just be in queue and they'll get to you when they get to you but i guess i'm just paranoid!  thoughts?

The quota doesn't apply to spouses and dependent children.