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 6 months and 17 days from April 15, 1996 to November 1, 1996.
The Third Preference Category, F-3 (married sons and daughters of United States citizens) moved forward by 1 month and 14 days from April 1, 1992 to May 15, 1992.
The Fourth Preference, F-4 (brothers and sisters of United States citizens) moved forward by 1 month and 23 days from May 15, 1988 to July 8, 1988.
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 4 months and 9 days from July 22, 2008 to December 1, 2008.
The Second Preference, F-2B (unmarried sons and daughters, over 21 years of age, of green card holders) moved forward by 3 months and 21 days from December 1, 2000 to March 22, 2001.
Petitions by employers:
The Third Preference (professionals and skilled workers) of Employment-Based Petitions (Labor Certification) priority date moved forward by 21 days from November 1, 2005 to November 22, 2005. The priority date for unskilled (other) workers moved forward by 3 months from May 1, 2005 to August 1, 2005.
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 September 2011 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) | November 1, 1996 (In August 2011, the priority |
| Second Preference 2A. 2B. | Spouse and minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holder Unmarried sons and daughters (over 21 years old) of green card holder | December 1, 2008 (In August 2011, the priority March 22, 2001 (In August 2011, the priority date was December 1, 2000.) |
| Third Preference | Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. | May 15, 1992 (In August 2011, the priority date was April 1, 1992.) |
| Fourth Preference | Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. | July 8, 1988 (In August 2011, the priority date was May 15, 1988.) |
| Labor Certification: | ||
| Third Preference | Professional/Skilled Workers | November 22, 2005 (In August 2011, the priority date was November 1, 2005.) |
| Other workers | Non-Skilled Workers | August 1, 2005 (In August 2011, the priority date was May 1, 2005.) |
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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