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 by 2 months from January 1, 1997 to March 1, 1997.
The Third Preference Category, F-3 (married sons and daughters of United States citizens) priority date moved forward by 2 months from January 1, 1995 to March 1, 1995.
The Fourth Preference, F-4 (brothers and sisters of United States citizens) priority date moved forward by 3 months from January 1, 1991 to April 1, 1991.
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 3 months from January 1, 2010 to April 1, 2010.
The Second Preference, F-2B (unmarried sons and daughters, over 21 years of age, of green card holders) moved forward by 1 month from August 1, 2002 to September 1, 2002.
Petitions by employers:
The Third Preference (professionals and skilled workers) of Employment-Based Petitions (Labor Certification) priority date moved forward by 24 days from December 15, 2004 to January 8, 2005. The priority date for unskilled (other) workers remained the same at March 22, 2003.
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 US), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.
The October 2010 priority dates for the Philippines are as follows:
| FAMILY CATEGORY: | Priority Date: | ||
| First | Unmarried sons and daughers of US citizens (over 21 years of age) | March 1, 1997 | |
| Preference | (In September 2010, the priority date was January 1, 1997.) | ||
| Second | 2A. Spouse and minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holder | April 1, 2010 | |
| Preference | (In September 2010, the priority date was was January 1, 2010) | ||
| 2B. Unmarried sons and daughters (over 21 years old) of green card holder | September 1, 2002 | ||
| (In September 2010, the priority date was August 1, 2002.) | |||
| Third | |||
| Preference | Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens | March 1, 1995 | |
| (In September 2010, the priority date was January 1, 1995.) | |||
| Fourth | |||
| Preference | Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. | April 1, 1991 | |
| (In September 2010, the piority date was January 1, 1991.) | |||
| Labor Certification | |||
| Third | Professional/Skilled Workers | January 8, 2005 | |
| Preference | (In September 2010, the priority date was December 15, 2004.) | ||
| Other | Non-Skilled Workers | March 22, 2003 | |
| workers | (In September 2010, the priority date was the same.) | ||
Four offices to serve you: PHILIPPINES: 8940258 or 8940239; LOS ANGELES; SAN FRANCISCO; NEW YORK: TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1-866- GURFINKEL (1-866-487-3465)
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Website: www.gurfinkel.com