Petitions by citizens:
The priority date for the First Preference Category, F-1 (unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens, over 21 years of age) moved forward 5 months and 17 days from March 15, 1995 to September 1, 1995.
The Third Preference Category, F-3 (married sons and daughters of United States citizens) priority date moved forward 11 months and 29 days from May 22, 1992 to May 1, 1993.
The Fourth Preference, F-4 (brothers and sisters of United States citizens) priority date moved forward by 1 year from April
1, 1988 to April 1, 1989.
Petitions by green card holders:
The Second Preference, F-2A (Spouse and minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holder) moved forward by 6 months from January 1, 2008 to July 1, 2008.
The Second Preference, F-2B (unmarried sons and daughters, over 21 years of age, of green card holders) moved forward by 11 months and 22 days from March 8, 1999 to March 1, 2000.
Petitions by employers:
The Third Preference (professionals and skilled workers) of Employment-Based Petitions (Labor Certification) priority date moved forward by 1 month and 24 days from June 22, 2003 to August 15, 2003. The priority date for unskilled (other) workers remained the same at June 1, 2001.
Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes the priority dates for that particular month. This means that visas (or green cards) would now be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current”, but retrogressed (or became “unavailable”) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.
The July 2010 priority dates for the Philippines are as follows:
| FAMILY CATEGORY: | Priority Date: | |
| First Preference | Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (over 21 years of age) | September 1, 1995 (In June 2010, the priority date was March 15, 1995.) |
| Second Preference 2A. | Spouse and minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holder | July 1, 2008 (In June 2010, the priority date was January 1, 2008.) |
| 2B. | Unmarried sons and daughters (over 21 years old) of green card holder | March 1, 2000 (In June 2010, the priority date was March 8, 1999.) |
| Third Preference | Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. | May 1, 1993 (In June 2010, the priority date was May 22, 1992.) |
| Fourth Preference | Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. | April 1, 1989 (In June 2010, the priority date was April 1, 1988.) |
| Labor Certification: | ||
| Third Preference | Professional/Skilled Workers | August 15, 2003 (In June 2010, the priority date was June 22, 2003.) |
| Other workers | Non-Skilled Workers | June 1, 2001 (In June 2010, the priority date was the same.) |