Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. 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 later 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 November 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) | February 8, 1997 (In October 2011, the priority date was January 8, 1997.) |
| 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 holder
| February 15, 2009 (In October 2011, the priority date was January 8, 2009.) July 15, 2001 (In October 2011, the priority date was May 1, 2001.) |
| Third Preference | Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. | June 22, 1992 (In October 2011, the priority date was June 8, 1992.) |
| Fourth Preference | Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. | August 22, 1988 (In October 2011, the priority date was August 1, 1988.) |
| Labor Certification: | ||
| Third Preference | Professional/Skilled Workers | December 22, 2005 (In October 2011, the priority date was December 8, 2005.) |
| Other workers | Non-Skilled Workers | November 15, 2005 (In October 2011, the priority date was September 15, 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)
Website: www.gurfinkel.com