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 4 months and 14 days from August 1, 1994 to December 15, 1994.
The Third Preference Category, F-3 (married sons and daughters of United States citizens) moved forward 1 month and 16 days from October 22, 1991 to December 8, 1991.
The Fourth Preference, F-4 (brothers and sisters of United States citizens) priority date remained the same at January 15, 1988.
Petitions by green card holders:
The Second Preference, F-2A (Spouse and minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holder) retrogressed one year from January 1, 2008 to January 1, 2007.
The Second Preference, F-2B (unmarried sons and daughters, over 21 years of age, of green card holders) moved forward 2 months from June 1, 1999 to August 1, 1999.
Petitions by employers:
The Third Preference (professionals and skilled workers) of Employment-Based Petitions (Labor Certification) priority date moved forward by 3 months from April 1, 2005 to July 1, 2005. The priority date for unskilled (other) workers moved forward by 1 month and 14 days from May 1, 2003 to June 15, 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 March 2011 priority dates for the Philippines are as follows:
| FAMILY CATEGORY: | Priority Date: | |
| First Preference | Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age) | December 15, 1994 (In February 2011, the prioritydate was August 1, 1994.) |
| Second Preference | (2A) Spouse and minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holder (2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (over 21 years old) of green card holde | January 1, 2007 (In February 2011, the priority date was January 1, 2008.) August 1, 1999 (In February 2011, the priority date was June 1, 1999.) |
| Third Preference | Married sons and daughters of US Citizens | December 8, 1991 (In February 2011, the priority date was October 22, 1991.) |
| Fourth Preference | Brothers and sisters of US Citizens. | January 15, 1988 (In February 2011, the priority date was the same.) |
| LABOR CERTIFICATION: | ||
| Third Preference | Professional/Skilled Workers | July 1, 2005 (In February 2011, the priority date was April 1, 2005.) |
| Other workers | Non-Skilled Workers | June 15, 2003 (In February 2011, the priority date was May 1, 2003.) |
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